So, if that's your plan you want to switch to 6, 8, or 10 lug stud-piloted Budd wheels. Or modern 8 or 10 lug hub-piloted Budd wheels.
In theory your idea could work, would probably require actually pulling apart different hubs and measuring. Also have to think about getting the backing plates to fit the old axles, and machining spacers and bushings if needed or the bearings.
After all that you still have original axles, not that there is anything wrong with them, you would have new brakes, but they are nothings special either, and slow gears.
A more logical approach is to find the 22.5 wheels from a 56-59? Chevy 1.5 ton, but even those would need bushings to adapt to your hubs, as your old wheels are hub piloted on 4.75" diameter, and the newer wheels are 5.25".
If you really want to switch a bolt pattern with easily available 22.5 rims then I think the logical choice is find entirely new axles. One way is to drop down to the 8 lug P30 axes (and narrow the front one) then use the semi truck wheel adapters, at well over $1000 a set.
A perhaps better, or stronger way is small Rockwell/Meritor axles like from a Chevy TopKick or small Freightliner, these can be had with hydraulic disc brakes. about a 12,000lb rating for the rear. Front and possibly rear would need to be narrowed, and I don't think it would be easy to get the front narrowed enough to even fit.
Here is a picture of these axles I swapped under a 61 f350 to get faster gears, disc brakes, and 22.5" wheels.
[IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/57/757/6/38/53/2946638530080251109etTGQM_th.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/57/657/7/11/35/2287711350080251109kBIUJt_th.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/60/460/3/1/96/2382301960080251109ukWuYX_th.jpg[/IMG]If I were you I would be looking for the 56-59? 22.5 wheels, and make the adapter bushings, as any other choice is many times the money.
Grigg
