Rear axle troubles...... HELP!!

[Rocco65]

Hello ladies and gentlemen, I am new here and have read enough on here to know there is alot of knowledge floating around inside this forum. My son and I purchased a 64 SWB stepside and while taking her home I noticed it going down the road a little sideways favoring the drivers side. Once we got it home we took the bed off and noticed someone fabed up an axle for it and botched it up badly! The truck was converted to front disc and a newer rear end, now 5 lug on all four corners, and lowered. The welds on the rear are atleast 2 inches thick on both perches and the rear is not centered with a homemade torsion arm. They must not have known how to read a tape measure because the rear is 6 1/2 inches from backing plate to spring perch on one side and only 4 1/2 on the other. Can I cut off the perches and re-weld them on correctly or would that be unsafe??? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

[flips72]

sure can, that is if your welding skills are up to the rask. good luck, and welcome to the forum.

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum

Yes you can, if you have the equipment and skills to do it. I would consider purchasing a new set or trailing arm mounts. By the time you cut those off, they may be in sad shape. They can be found at CPP and ECE for not much $$.

[Rocco65]

I planned on purchasing new trailing arm mounts, but was very leary about reusing the axle after the botch job they did welding it the first time. I also considered converting it to leaf springs, but I am afraid of ruining the ride of the truck. Thanks for the info on the new trailing arm mounts.

[Clyde65]

you can get a 6 lug 12 bolt rear and convert/replace the axles to 5 lug pretty easily.

[Captainfab]

You could always look for another '71-'82 12 bolt or '83-'87 10 bolt, or even a '63-70 12 bolt and get the conversion axles. I know around here you can't hardly give away a truck differential......unless it's a 3.73 posi.