6 lug to 5 lug

[Big70]

So I have a guy selling these axles I wanna know if they will fit into 70 C10 12 bolt. He told me all I need to worry about is measuring from back of axel housing where the four bolts hold on backing plate to the lip kind of close to the pumpkin... he said there were two different size axels 21” 1/4 and 20”?.?.? Need help cause if I can use these axels I want to jump on them. I’m planning on taking the truck to 5 lug. I do get 21 1/4 to the inside lip closes to the pumpkin. Any help is good help!! Thank you in advance!!!

[AussieinNC]

I would suggest you look at this kit...it comes with axles, studs, gasket and new brake drums....

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/1970-...Kit,46220.html

There are other kits available from other vendors...including Amazon etc...

[Big70]

Wow nice thank you!!!

[randy500]

Be careful with that kit, there are 2 housing widths and from your measurement you have the wider housing, i believe the kits are for the narrow housings.
The wider housings use standard 71-2 axles.

[Grumpy old man]

Pretty sure the 70 with 6 lug are short axles , Rock auto has the 6 to 5 lug conversion kit with axles/ lugs/brake drums/ and axle bearings for $276.79


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https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...le+shaft,10439

[Mike C]

Consensus is that 70 is the wider housing. Only year that was 6 lug and wider. But as a change over year, I would expect to see a few of the older ones as well on early trucks.

That’s assuming it hasn’t been changed. I know my Jimmy has had at least 5 different axle housings in it in the 42 years it’s been in the family.

[AussieinNC]

Might be an idea to pull the current axles and measure before looking at any replacements, regardless of the source of the parts....

I believe 70 is a changeover year on widths, so be careful.

Looks like the Rockauto deal is better as it contains the axle bearings and seals...but not the differential cover gasket...

Have fun

[Grumpy old man]

If you find out you do have the longer axles in your 70 I have a good set of 5 lug axles I can list in the parts section for you .

[Big70]

Thank you very much grumpy! What are the measurements of the shorter and longer? How do you measure? The guy I talk to said you don’t even need to pull them to find out...now that you nice people have showed me these link I don’t even see why I would buy used ones... how much would you want for yours grumpy? Like always any help is always good help!!!

[Grumpy old man]

I'll get some pictures later today . $100.00 + shipping for both


1965-1969 is 30.5 long

1970-1981 is 31.3125 (5/16)

some '70 were the narrower and some the wider in 6 lug versions.