6 lug to 5 lug axle exchange?

[otsenre]

I have a 68 chevy 6 lug 1/2 ton coil spring and a 72 5 lug leaf springs. I want to install 72 axles on the 68. What is my easy road to go about this? The front axle I think I will just swap out, but rear concerns me because of the coil and leaf spring difference. Any info appreciated

[kgt]

I think the widths are different by a bit..??..if i remember... as are the perches of course, I redrilled my 6 bolt axles to a 5 bolt pattern on my 68.....

[DMARCUM123]

i just had my redrilled and the center turn down. good for a cruiser

[otsenre]

Originally Posted by kgt

I think the widths are different by a bit..??..if i remember... as are the perches of course, I redrilled my 6 bolt axles to a 5 bolt pattern on my 68.....

I am not sure I am following what you mean exactly by redrilling? What is the width difference?

[weircc]

my truck is a 70 with a 12 bolt coil spring i found a mid 70's Chevy truck with a 12 bolt and swapped axles didn't change housing was very simple cost me about 50$ hopefully you can go this route just make sure the axles are same length

[westofb]

I am thinking I read this too, that the 71-2 housings/ axles are different in width length than the 67-70. I you could cut the perches off and swap them around. I know they sell a kit that comes with perches but not cheap, around $130 if I remember right. Find someone with a hollander interchange manual...might help you find axles you need to do what weircc did.

[HuggerCST]

The 72 axles & drums will bolt into the 68 housing, but each axle will be 3/4" longer than the '68 axles, so unless you put a spacer behind each brake backing plate, your brake shoes won't be all the way in the drums.

[sneakysnake]

Here are the perches if you want to swap the whole thing
http://www.stockcarproducts.com/trkarm1.htm

If you find a 70 you can just swap out the inner shafts, but like mentioned the earlier pre 70's are a 1 1/2 narrower.