My thoughts on Axles, and questions

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

We all see the posts here about using stock 5 lug axles in 67-69 rear axle housings and the advice is usually "no problem use the 71 up axles in your housing and use wider brake drums". My question is: wouldn't that move the bearing surface on the new axle out too far? There is only so much polished surface for the axle to ride on, and aren't 71-72 brake drums the same part number as 73-81 or so brake drums?

Has anyone actually used 71-72 axles in a 67-69 rear housing and fixed the length problem by using wider drums?

I am not saying it is not possible, I'm just saying I can't get my mind around how you can do it (and that happens alot by the way )