Changing to 5 lug drums?

[Deficit Spending]

I recently got DM310's '66 SWB. He has already done a ton of work, now it's time for me to finish things up. He kept the stock rear end, had the axles drilled for 5x5, installed the lugs, now I need to put on new drums. I tried a '73 drum, but the hole where the axle is supposed to fit is too small on the drum. I then went to buy '71-'72 drums, because I thought they were 5 lugs, but that doesn't appear to be correct. Should I take the '71-'72 drums and have them cut for the 5 lug, or get the '73 and on, and have the middle hole machined?

Thanks

[shortbed70]

71-72 drums are 5 lug if there for a half ton truck. If there not 5 lug take the drums back and get the correct ones or machine the center of the later 70's drums center hub bigger.

[protrash64]

You can get the deep backing plates from GM and go with the wider pads in rear, also. The drums should be availble at a local parts store. I dont know all the particulars, but this is a nice upgrade.

I'm with S/B70......the drums you picked up should work. 71-72 are 5-lug.

[Deficit Spending]

OK, update. This is a 12 bolt rear, does this matter?

[Deficit Spending]

Well I'll try again. The local parts stores, Kragen, and Autozone, show 5 lug, but I won't know until I order then, again, if the hole for the axle is correct. I'm not sure these guys know what going on? But then I'm not doing much better.

[aggie91]

I am not 100% sure about this, but I think that the hub register on the axle for the 6 lug axle is 3.56". The newer (71 up) 5 lug axle may have a smaller diameter register on the axle. 6 lug drums were still available on the 71 up for the 4 wheel drive trucks...

If you redrilled the stock axles, I am not sure that a stock 5 lug drum will work without machining the center of the drum larger to fit the axle or machining the hub register down to fit the drum. It has been WAY to long since I did this, but I believe that I machined the axle's heb register down to fit the 71-72 drums...

[Deficit Spending]

Originally Posted by aggie91

I am not 100% sure about this, but I think that the hub register on the axle for the 6 lug axle is 3.56". The newer (71 up) 5 lug axle may have a smaller diameter register on the axle. 6 lug drums were still available on the 71 up for the 4 wheel drive trucks...

If you redrilled the stock axles, I am not sure that a stock 5 lug drum will work without machining the center of the drum larger to fit the axle or machining the hub register down to fit the drum. It has been WAY to long since I did this, but I believe that I machined the axle's heb register down to fit the 71-72 drums...

You are right about the hub centers being the issue. It seems I can buy 6 lug w/the proper hub size, and have them machined for 5 lug, or go w/the 5 lug, and have the center machined bigger, which I think might be easier, and nicer.