My search for a gear swap donor in my '48 1 ton Eaton axle has come to an end. I found a good early 14 bolt from a 76 P/U then mated CC hubs from a 80 GMC (no idea if it was a SRW or DRW) This combination gets me 63" overall WMS to WMS. Your guidance has really narrowed my quest finding the correct brakes. If at all possible I want to stay with drums. That said, if all the salvage guys want to hose me I may end up with disc brakes for the same $.
My 14 bolt measures 42.5" spring perch ctr/ctr. The HO72 is 41.5". The truck has 1/2" spacers on the outside of each spring eye pin. By moving all the spacers inside I push the springs outward 1" and they fit the 14 bolt perfectly. After looking at ruffstuffindustries perchs, I think I'll leave the springs alone and go with their adjustable ones. The rear axle always sat too far forward to center in the fender wheel opening and looked weird.
