72 axles in my 63

[63 extreme low]

Can I use 72 axle shafts in my 63 rear end housing? Are they longer than the stock ones? Any cheap options?

[Captainfab]

No they won't work. 1) the '72 axles are 3/4" too long 2) the '72 axles are 30 spline and the '63 axles are 17 spline. Cheap options depend on your skills or if you have to pay someone to do the work, but plugging and re-drilling the axle flanges might be the less expensive option. You'll also need the '71-'74,'75 brake drums.

[63 extreme low]

CPP sells spider gears for the five lug swap, whats that about?

[burlapen]

I am running 72 axles in my 63 housing. I also changed out the 3rd member to the 72 as well. Basically I setup the 72 third member in the 63 housing and didnt realize the spline count was different until I went to put the 6 lug axles back in...so I just ran the 5 lug axles from the 72. I never noticed a length difference but I didnt check that closely. It ran this way for probably 6 months with no problems.

[Tx Firefighter]

They're definitely longer axles.

[fleetsidelarry]

Originally Posted by burlapen

I am running 72 axles in my 63 housing. I also changed out the 3rd member to the 72 as well. Basically I setup the 72 third member in the 63 housing and didnt realize the spline count was different until I went to put the 6 lug axles back in...so I just ran the 5 lug axles from the 72. I never noticed a length difference but I didnt check that closely. It ran this way for probably 6 months with no problems.

! Curious. Doesn't the bearing ride on a shoulder on the axle (i.e., the axle IS the inner race) and how would the brake drums cover the shoes? I guess maybe the wider drums from the newer axles are masking the mis-match and the machined shoulder is wide enough (I seem to remember it is) for the bearing to still ride on it.

[Captainfab]

Those are 30 spline side spiders to replace the 17 spline spiders in the '63 & '64 rear ends when converting to 5 x 5 axles.

Originally Posted by 63 extreme low

CPP sells spider gears for the five lug swap, whats that about?

[Captainfab]

I don't doubt that this went together, but I seriously doubt that everything is correct since the axles themselves are 3/4" longer.

Originally Posted by burlapen

I am running 72 axles in my 63 housing. I also changed out the 3rd member to the 72 as well. Basically I setup the 72 third member in the 63 housing and didnt realize the spline count was different until I went to put the 6 lug axles back in...so I just ran the 5 lug axles from the 72. I never noticed a length difference but I didnt check that closely. It ran this way for probably 6 months with no problems.

[burlapen]

I went out to the garage for some further investigation
The drum does appear to stick out a bit, but I cant tell if the shoe is riding entirely on the drum or not. More of a concern is obviously if the correct part of the axle is riding on the bearing. I took some pics.

[burlapen]

The 63 axles had this shield which the 72 did not have

[63 extreme low]

My axles didn't have that shield. I just got a whole 72 leaf spring axle, guess I will put that in.

[fleetsidelarry]

Originally Posted by 63 extreme low

My axles didn't have that shield. I just got a whole 72 leaf spring axle, guess I will put that in.

looks like that might be the best.

burlapen (and others interested), FYI:

A picture of my '71-'72 rearend (in my '66)(note the fit of the drum to the backing plate vrs burlapen's):



and a picture of the '65 rear end in my '65 donor:


let me know if the pictures need resizing, please

[63 extreme low]

thanks for all the feedback guys!

[63 extreme low]

So Captainfab you make and sell parts AND you are a fountain of knowledge too. DAMN OVERACHIEVER !!! Thanks again, by the way installed the disc brackets on the 68 camaro they fit great!