64 Panel rearend question

[scubasteve16]

I was working on my Panel today and noticed that the brake drums were not all the way up against the backing plates so I did some checking. They are all they way against the axels just not backing plates. I called the prior owner. He said he put 70 axles in the factory 64 rear end so he would have 5 bolt axles instead of the factory 6 lug. From reading here I know this is not going to work. Now my question is if I put a complete rearend from a 68-72 Chevy truck will everything line up or will I have to change where the arms mount up? I am hoping it will all line up as I am not no expert welder and dont trust my welding skills enough to weld on the rearend.

[Captainfab]

You're right, that definitely isn't a good situation. I don't know what some people are thinking when doing things like that.

A rear end from a '71 or '72 will be a bolt in swap for 5 lug axles except for the panhard bar. Your '64 originally came with the long panhard bar that attaches to the passenger side axle tube. The '65-'72's attached to the passenger side of the center section. I have changed rear ends to the '65 and up style and just heated the short panhard bar and put a slight bend in it so it will bolt up.

Up thru early 1970 all truck rear ends were 6 lug, and are the same width ar your current rear end. The late 1970 rear ends were 1.5" wider, but still 6 lug. Then starting in 1971, they were 5 lug. Of course 1972 was the last year for the trailing arm rear suspension.

The easy solution would be to just buy the 5 lug conversion axles for your rear end. However since yours is a '64 you will also need to replace the side spider gears at a cost of about $100.00. Of course this is assuming your rear end is a '63 or '64.

So I guess it boils down to what your budget allows.

[raycow]

The trailing arms will bolt up, but the panhard bar mount is different. If you don't want to weld, a bolt-on bracket is available from ECE which comes with a custom panhard bar, but it only works right if you are seriously lowered.

If you want to use the stock 65-up setup you will need the later frame bracket, so more welding again. However, it might be possible to bend up a custom bar that will connect the stock 64 bracket to the later axle housing.

Ray

[scubasteve16]

Ok well I can change some spider gears thats no problem...So looks like im buying the conversion axles for my rearend...as i am not welding as i cant trust my welds and the other options I would have to spend to much money by having others do it.....this thing is a money pit....lol...