Dual Rear wheels on a single wheel axle

[Martinbee]

Hi I am planning on fitting dual rear wheels to my '64 Chevy C10 and would be interested if this is possible on the standard axle can anyone shed some light or point me in the correct direction.

Thanks

[PGSigns]

I would say it is possible but may not be a good idea. First you would need to have adapters made to go from 6 to the larger 8 lug wheels. Then that puts a lot of weight on the stock flange and axle bearing. That is a lot of load to try and control with the small setup we have. Are you building this to look cool or to carry the heavy load of a duelly? That info may help with getting answers.
Jimmy

[tincan1966]

I agree that adding that much more rolling mass to a 12 bolt would surely shorten bearing life. I think the 7/16 stud size would scare me too.

It was all the rage in the '70's to have duals on mini trucks, and tandem axels, too.

You can do it on the full floater type axles in a 3/4 and 1 ton.

[60-66]

I agree with what the guys have said above but they did make a kit for this back in 1963. This is my 63 Camper as of this spring. I finally took the camper off and put the original bed back on. Its a C10 292 3 speed with 22,000 miles. It worked well but it had helper springs and handled Okay but really needed sway bars for being top heavy. We used it as is and original owner took his family to California from Wi when the truck was new.

[PGSigns]

Cool pics. Interesting that the lug nuts are on backwards. Are there tapers on the face for them or just a flat surface? Doesn't look like the adapters center up using the axle stub.
Jimmy

[60-66]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

Cool pics. Interesting that the lug nuts are on backwards. Are there tapers on the face for them or just a flat surface? Doesn't look like the adapters center up using the axle stub.
Jimmy

Yes it appears they look backwards, I don't think there was a taper on the hub for the studs/nuts, and it was designed to go on this way. I remember having to tap it off of the axle but it didn't take much so it was a decent fit on the flange. It stayed on many years, these were put on along with the camper in 1963. Why he didn't buy a C20 still baffles me for as heavy as the camper was.

[aerotruk63]

A C20 could be ordered with dual rear wheels in 63 and still retain the single style front wheel. Notice the trailing arms in the rear instead of the leafs on a C30

lilred66 found this one.

[Martinbee]

Thanks Gents I was doing it more for the look than the practically of a duelly as it is not something you see in the UK, most people make engine changes fit bigger wheels and tires, so far i have -
Front End
Heidts mustang II front cross member, Heidts front suspension twin tubular a arm, forged dropped spindle, 11"disk brakes, rack and pinion steering, rebearinged column.
1990 camaro brake master cylinder.

Rear end
Pro street Hauser Racing built Hi-bred Chevy 10 bolt axle with Moser half shafts and Ford SVO 11" disk brakes on Tri Link rear, new bearings, seals + studs.

Suspension
Full air suspension, four corner independent, twin 1500 front, twin 2600 rear, twin aluminium reserve tank, dual 400 series Viair pumps, competition manifold air control block, high pressure olive fittings and competition lined. New shock absorbers all round.

Engine
350cid Chevrolet four bolt mains, stroked and machined to 383cid (6277cc), Eagle forged crank, h beam rods, high compression crower pistons, competition cams camshaft. all other components are new. Edelbrock victor inlet manifold fitted with 800 cfm Holley carburettor

Gearbox
Chevrolet TH400 with heavy duty clutch pack.

Wheels
10 x 15 rear 8 x 15 front Cragar classic smoothes in Orange with $100 Bills shown on the rim

[PGSigns]

Sounds like a cool truck. Post some pics if you can. If for looks you may be able to pull it off. You will need a lot of room for wheels and tires and will have to deal with the centered mounting position and about 10" either side.
Jimmy

[Captainfab]

It sounds as though your truck has been converted over to 5 lug?

If so, I think the biggest issue you will encounter will be finding suitable 'dually' wheels that are 5 lug. Of course I suppose you could have a couple adapters made that will adapt 6 or 8 lug wheels to your 5 lug. There are some applications of 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 ton vehicles that have a 5 lug pattern, but the bolt circle is fairly big. One such application that I have been looking at for about the last week is a class B Motorhome with 19.5" wheels.

[luvbowties]

At one time J C Whitney made a kit for putting on dual "stock" wheels--stock, as in NOT Budd's. Essentially consisted of grossly long 'nuts', made from hex bar with threaded ends. Bolt 1st wheel on with female-threaded ends; then a flange, then a 'pipe-type spacer' approx. 5" long & similar in diameter, then 2nd flange; bolt 2nd wheel on to exposed male threaded ends using original nuts. You could then use stock wheel covers/hubcaps on outer wheels: both wheels installed in original direction, not reversed. *The flanges were welded to the ends of the pipe-spacer.

Sounds cheesy, but I used a set successfully on a Dodge 3/4 ton, that I made into a wrecker, for several years. Planned to only use it locally, but surprisingly, it drove quite stably! So, longer trips soon became commonplace.
Sam

[TJ's Chevy]

Buddy of mine told me to just weld two rims together and you have dual wheels. lol! Though I doubt it would work...sounded like a funny idea...

[Martinbee]

Ha Ha now there is a plan.........

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by T.J. MCCAULEY

Buddy of mine told me to just weld two rims together and you have dual wheels. lol! Though I doubt it would work...sounded like a funny idea...

Didn't early Toyota box-vans have something similar for their duallies?
Sam