rearend search/ what to use

[rich67]

i"m building a swb 67. want to go with a 12 bolt for strentgh. would like to stay with 5lug since i have a newer model 5lug disc for front. havent done anything yet so completely new ideas are ok. would also like to hear opinions on the best shocks for your money since im doin doin bags yet. coil spring truck. also have 6lug fronts and rears and 8lug fronts and rears at my disposal. any help, opinions or ideas appreciated. thanx rich

[rich67]

also arent 71-72 5lugs wider than my 67? or am i backwards? and will car 12bolts work?

[leftcoast66]

I believe its 73 and newer is wider by an inch and a half or so, can't remember exact number. 71 and 72 are 5 lug but same diameter as the earlier 6 lugs. I hope that helps.

[rich67]

that narrows down to finding a close 71-72. that way only have to convert rear to disc. thanx for info dude.

[gearys 5600]

Actually..The 71-72 rearends are a little wider than the 67-70

[rich67]

1-1/2" i thoought i read somewhere on the site. what would stop a guy from taking his axles from his ho52 or dana 60 to the machine shop and have them redrilled for five lug?

[oldblue1968chevy]

Redrill axles

conversion axles

swap 71 72 rearend (bolts in)

Or fab in a 73-87 (gotta weld perches)

[jbice70gmc]

Actually they made the narrower rearends half way through 70 and then started putting the 1 1/2" wider rearends in. So if you find a 70 model make sure you measure.

[rich67]

Originally Posted by jbice70gmc

Actually they made the narrower rearends half way through 70 and then started putting the 1 1/2" wider rearends in. So if you find a 70 model make sure you measure.

they wouldnt be five bolt though would they?

[67swb72klb]

5 stud started in 71 with the disc breaks

[jbice70gmc]

Originally Posted by rich67

they wouldnt be five bolt though would they?

No your right the narrower rearends are 6 lug. I just had to order new axels from Moser because I have 5x5 wheels also. $245.00 for the axels. But there are lots of people here on this site that have the wider rearends with really nice wheels. Just have to get wheels with the proper backspacing.

[gringoloco]

63-early 70: narrow 6-lug
Late 70: wide (.75" per side) 6-lug
71-72: wide 5-lug
73-80: wide 5-lug (leaf)

[rich67]

so i could run a 71-72 5 lug 12 bolt and get wheels with 3/4 inch deeper back spacing correct? duh! never payed attention to the backspacing talk. all makes sense now! the lite bulb always works, just sometimes somebody else has to pull the chain! thanx folks, rich

[54Caddy]

the only thing with that wider rear end if you want the rim to have more lip its harder to do wont tuck as easy.

[rich67]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

the only thing with that wider rear end if you want the rim to have more lip its harder to do wont tuck as easy.

behind wheel arches?

[rich67]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

the only thing with that wider rear end if you want the rim to have more lip its harder to do wont tuck as easy.

if larger backset used, wouldnt that take you back to factory outside to outside of wheels?

[gringoloco]

Yes, it would. Just remember, whatever you add to the back gets removed from the front, hence the shallower lip.

[rich67]

So if i go with a widerwheel in the back would have to go with even larger backset to keep wheels lined up correct? I know this seems simple but buyin the parts and dont want to get wrong stuff. Got enuff of that stuff!
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[Ackattack]

When I was restoring my 68 it came with a 72 5 lug rear, so that's what I used. I rebuilt it with new bearings, seals, new posi unit.

I wish I would have just gone with a 9". Shortened to where I wanted it, and then had new axles made with a 5x5 pattern. That's what I'd do if I could do it over again.

[kieth]

I just had the machine shop drill my 6 lug rear axles and put 5 lug in it. The center of the axle hub has to be turned down also......when I did my front brake conversion we got the correct 5 lug pattern and life was good, and it did not cost very much. Kieth