drilling out rear drums for 5 bolt pattern? can I do it myself? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68_GMC_910 · 09-14-2002, 08:29 PM

well, I have a nice, new big drill press and I'm itching to use it more... would it be possible to drill out the drums myself or would it be recommended to take it to a shop and get it done there?

wait... my first question whould be can I buy 5 bolt drums for my truck? I heard of people drilling out the rears so I assumed they're not available...

my new 72 · 09-14-2002, 08:53 PM

Why would you need to drill out the drums. I think I may be misunderstanding what you want to do. I have five lug rear drums on my 72 and I can buy new drums all day long. Am I missing something here?

Low67C10 · 09-14-2002, 09:20 PM

Drilling the drums is easy, goes through like butter, its the axles that suck to do. Besides the fact that the steel is hard and doesnt like to drill out very easy, you have to drill the axles alot more accurately. On mine, I bought the 5 lug wheels that I wanted and since almost no 5 lug wheels have center holes big enough to clear the stub on a 6 lug axle, I cut down the stub on the lathe until the new wheels barely slid over it. After that, locating the holes in the axle was as easy as using a transfer punch through the lug holes in the new wheels. Looking back, Id have been better to order a set of aftermarket axles w/ all the dimesions already cut. Really, the drums dont have to be drilled all that accurately at all, you can even drill the holes oversized as long as the drum was still being centered by the axle stub.

bbs1965 · 09-14-2002, 09:43 PM

5 lug truck drums are everywhere

1971LT1SWBPOSI373 · 09-15-2002, 12:08 AM

I wouldn't waste the time. 5 lug drums can be had anywhere, new or used......

68_GMC_910 · 09-15-2002, 07:56 PM

thanks, guys... I'll be out on the lookout for the parts to get a 5-lug rear and front (discs) soon...

*Gee_Emm* · 09-15-2002, 10:38 PM

The front discs and spindles can be had from the 73 and up series. I wouldn't bother with the work of drilling and the loss of meat from the rear drums.

Low67C10 · 09-15-2002, 11:35 PM

Will the factory 5 lug drum work with the brakes on a 6 lug rear end?

*Fast68Chevy* · 09-16-2002, 01:22 AM

depends on what year 6 lug rear axle, 70 yes, 64-69 no, unless you make 3/4" thick spacer to go in behind the brake backing plate and on top of the axle tube flange, or you can find a big 10 or heavy half gmc(76-79) and take brake back plates with brakes and stuff undisturbed, and the drums and axle shafts and put that all on/in your current axle.

otherwise, with thew 3/4" spacer trick you just need 71-up shafts and drums
brakes all 2" same thing. cept for the big 10 and heavy halfs(2 and 3/4" wide)

i am familiar with appearance of factory 203 hubs and also with 205 and 208 hubs, and auto hubs too, and appearance differences between 203, 205, and 208. i know 205 is gear to gear and the other two are not, i have alot more faith in a 203 over a 208, by farrr and if i didnt then you would know something is wrong with me lol.,

good luck

09-14-2002, 08:29 PM	#1
68_GMC_910 what would Neal do? Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 150	drilling out rear drums for 5 bolt pattern? can I do it myself? well, I have a nice, new big drill press and I'm itching to use it more... would it be possible to drill out the drums myself or would it be recommended to take it to a shop and get it done there? wait... my first question whould be can I buy 5 bolt drums for my truck? I heard of people drilling out the rears so I assumed they're not available... __________________ 1968 GMC 910 Long Step 250/3onTree 1969 Chevy C10 longfleet, 350/350

09-14-2002, 08:53 PM	#2
my new 72 faster, faster, faster Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Houston ,Texas ,USA Posts: 1,354	Why would you need to drill out the drums. I think I may be misunderstanding what you want to do. I have five lug rear drums on my 72 and I can buy new drums all day long. Am I missing something here? __________________ I'm going to Law School, wanna debate? It's good practice.

09-14-2002, 09:20 PM	#3
Low67C10 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 66	Drilling the drums is easy, goes through like butter, its the axles that suck to do. Besides the fact that the steel is hard and doesnt like to drill out very easy, you have to drill the axles alot more accurately. On mine, I bought the 5 lug wheels that I wanted and since almost no 5 lug wheels have center holes big enough to clear the stub on a 6 lug axle, I cut down the stub on the lathe until the new wheels barely slid over it. After that, locating the holes in the axle was as easy as using a transfer punch through the lug holes in the new wheels. Looking back, Id have been better to order a set of aftermarket axles w/ all the dimesions already cut. Really, the drums dont have to be drilled all that accurately at all, you can even drill the holes oversized as long as the drum was still being centered by the axle stub. __________________ No, Its not a 454

09-14-2002, 09:43 PM	#4
bbs1965 Open Sundays 10 till 10 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Waxahachie,Texas 75165 Posts: 1,009	5 lug truck drums are everywhere __________________ 817-846-5476 parts for sale always 30 minutes south of Dallas on I35 WWW.BBSAutoSalvage.com bbs1969@direcway.com

09-15-2002, 12:08 AM	#5
1971LT1SWBPOSI373 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 460	I wouldn't waste the time. 5 lug drums can be had anywhere, new or used...... __________________ 1971 Shortbed 350/350 w/ Posi-traction 3:73's 1996 Chevy Silverado TJ in Springfield, Virginia Likes old Chevy trucks Drinks Miller MGD

09-15-2002, 07:56 PM	#6
68_GMC_910 what would Neal do? Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 150	thanks, guys... I'll be out on the lookout for the parts to get a 5-lug rear and front (discs) soon... __________________ 1968 GMC 910 Long Step 250/3onTree 1969 Chevy C10 longfleet, 350/350

09-15-2002, 10:38 PM	#7
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 3,991	The front discs and spindles can be had from the 73 and up series. I wouldn't bother with the work of drilling and the loss of meat from the rear drums.

09-15-2002, 11:35 PM	#8
Low67C10 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 66	Will the factory 5 lug drum work with the brakes on a 6 lug rear end? __________________ No, Its not a 454

09-16-2002, 01:22 AM	#9
Fast68Chevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2000 Location: IL Posts: 0	depends on what year 6 lug rear axle, 70 yes, 64-69 no, unless you make 3/4" thick spacer to go in behind the brake backing plate and on top of the axle tube flange, or you can find a big 10 or heavy half gmc(76-79) and take brake back plates with brakes and stuff undisturbed, and the drums and axle shafts and put that all on/in your current axle. otherwise, with thew 3/4" spacer trick you just need 71-up shafts and drums brakes all 2" same thing. cept for the big 10 and heavy halfs(2 and 3/4" wide) i am familiar with appearance of factory 203 hubs and also with 205 and 208 hubs, and auto hubs too, and appearance differences between 203, 205, and 208. i know 205 is gear to gear and the other two are not, i have alot more faith in a 203 over a 208, by farrr and if i didnt then you would know something is wrong with me lol., good luck Last edited by Fast68Chevy; 09-16-2002 at 01:26 AM.



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