convert 5 lug to 6 lug

[sonnyman28]

Im trying to convert my 72 chevy stepside to 6 lug. Any advice on how to do this.

[sneakysnake]

The easiest way is to buy the disc conversion hubs they sell to convert drums to disc, they fit a 71-2 spindle.

[chris71]

for the rear you have a few options, just get the axles/drums from a 5 lug 12 bolt and swap, get a complete rear out of a junk yard or swap meet, and i believe you can even have the axles/drums redrilled for a 5 lug pattern if you take it to your local machine shop

[chris71]

whoops, i meant find a six lug rear, missed that you want to go to a 6 lug, most guys i think convert to 5

[chris71]

i think the easiest and cheapest way is to find a buddy or guy who wants to go from 6 to 5 and just pull both trucks together puttem on stands and swap over

[ChevLoRay]

I don't know about other vendors, but Early Classic Enterprises has 6-lug rotors that fit their spindles AND those same spindles will also allow a GM or GM replacement rotor to fit, too.

[70rs/ss]

Yeah, most of the board vendors sell the 6-lug rotors. As for the rear, a 5-lug rear is wider than a 6-lug rear, unless you pull the 6-lug axles from a 72 4X. So if it were me, and it's not, but this is the way I'd do it, just buy new aftermarket axles as 72 axles are 36 years old and can fail. New axles are about $200-300 and again a board vendor, or Summit can hook you up. On another note, you can sell your 5-lug stuff for enough money to buy new axles and probably the rotors as well, as said above, most guys want to go to 5-lug not the other way!

[uncle]

You can use the axles from a 70 2wd if it's the right width.

[Longhorn Man]

most 70 trucks were the wide version, you can pirate axle shafts and drums from them.


I just wonder why you would want to do this. The rotors cost 5 times as much as 5 lug rotors (and is a wear item) and there are a billion 5 lug rims out there. most of the 6 lug rims on the markert have the wrong offset and center hole size.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

.....The rotors cost 5 times as much as 5 lug rotors (and is a wear item)....

They cost more, but don't cost 5x more .

[Longhorn Man]

on... $125, verses $35.
A little closer to 4 times the cost.
my bad.

[lowdownstar]

I don't know if i can help you out or not but i have 6lug disk break set up in my truck with lowerd control arms that i am looking to trade for a 5 lug setup! maybe we can help each other out.

Ray

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

on... $125, verses $35.
A little closer to 4 times the cost.
my bad.

I don't question your math skills, but your research dept is runnin' behind .

Take a look: http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...ruck/CP4R5.htm

These 6-lug rotors (P/N CP4R6) are $129 for the pair. They have a "limited lifetime" warranty & will fit 71-87 spindles. I got on the net & shopped 2 major parts houses in my local area for 1974 GM C10 front rotors (Autozone & O'Reillys). The 1yr warranty P/N's were $29.99; the "limited lifetime" P/N's were $52.99.

So it's closer to a $12 difference in my area for the similar warrantied part which is less than 1x the cost (23% difference). I'm not including tax on the locally purchased parts or shipping on the CPP parts, which adds to the overall expense & varies by location.

That's only half the battle for the 'Sonnyman28' though..... He's still going to have to deal w/the rear bolt pattern which will require new/different axles, machining the existing ones, swapping the rear, or utilize adapters. It's not cost effective IMHO . . .....

[Longhorn Man]

gonna have to fire the researchers huh?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

gonna have to fire the researchers huh?

Nah.... that would be extreme. Just withold the Dew for 1wk.... that ought to get their attention .

[Longhorn Man]

That's unhumain...
Yeah... I don't like you anymore.

[scottrod71]

Man, I wish I'd known earlier. I swapped my 6 lugs to 5 lugs and finally threw away a set of rear axles with all the drum brake setup. I also pitched the stock front spindles but it was a drum setup too. I listed the stuff as a giveaway on here. I'd swap with the guy above if I were you.

[cparman]

master power brakes sells a disc brake conversion with 6 lug rotors. I have two VERY good 6 lug drum brake spindles, as I just did the conversion. I also have a 3.73 6 lug rear under my truck, and could be talked out of it. PM me if you are interested.

[Jcentsr6]

Just a question: Why swap to 6 lug?? And alot of people are tryin to swap to 5 lug...maybe you can find someone to change parts with.

I had everything from my sway left over...bud got rid of it...seams noone wanted it. Sorry.

[coontz74]

What if a person already has 6 lug drums like on my 69. What is the benefit of swapping to 5 lug if I were going to run 18's or 20's anyway?
I mean, I'm going to swap to disks but I can't find a definite answer as to why I need to go 5 lug?

Any help? Sorry to Hijack....

Sorry...just saw this was 3 yrs old...

[SCOTI]

It's relevant to personal choice... What you like for your truck and/or what's available in the wheels you like.
It's not a necessity.

[coontz74]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

It's relevant to personal choice... What you like for your truck and/or what's available in the wheels you like.
It's not a necessity.

Thanks for the info SCOTI...I posted a whole new thread in the suspension forum too.

I'm just so new at this that I'm not sure what direction I want to go. I know what I want it to look like when I'm done but just don't know how to get there the easiest...