The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts spindles, wheels, and tires

As I am sure that this topic has been beaten to death I apologize in advance. I have a 1950 4403 that I am attempting to place back into service after sitting for probably six years. Long story short My grandfather gave the truck to me after he had purchased it from my dad. I Ultimatley would like it to pull my camper from jobsite to jobsite as I travel more than I'd like. Okay on to my question. I was researching old car manual project and I noticed that the spindle size for the 3600, 3800 and 4400 are the same diamaters. Wouldn't it be possible to simply swap the hubs from any of those models? In turn wouldn't that alow someone to run an eight bolt wheel on a 1.5 ton truck? The more about this i read the more confused I become as I am not wanting to do p-30 cut and swaps (although Grigg your work is phenominal, just a little to advanced for my blood). that would also allow a simple rear axle swap to a 1 ton without much modification. not withstanding wrong tire size looks, what do all think?

You could swap 3/4 or 1 ton axles if you really wanted.
Your front axle beam and the spindles are the same, but brake parts and obviously hub is different.
You would then have smaller brakes and still some difficulty finding drums and such if you need them.
Were I in your shoes I'd either keep it like it is, not seeing any real advantage to swapping 3/4 or 1 ton parts. Or I'd swap newer axle parts that are more likely to have brake parts available for some time yet.

To use P30 parts you'd need the axle beam from a 2 ton. Then ream the bushings out of the P30 spindles to fit the 2 ton bushings inside of them. That's about all the machine work necessary beyond fabricating or assembling a drag link.
The rear from a P30 is an easy swap.

Your in the same boat as myself. I have a 1954 chevy COE and wanting to go to a 8 lug up front, I cant find a 8 lug axle or any parts to swap spindles or much info. I swapped out the rear 10 bolt with a 8 lug out of a tow truck.

Keep us in the loop.

There is an 8 lug I beam P30 front axle you could swap spindles with.
Smaller brakes than the 5/10 lug version.

I can't really see a problem with going with an 8 lug hub.

One issue I see is with the brakes. I would go with a 52 and newer, in order to get Bendix style brakes. Of course the 3800 trucks will have the larger brake drums.

Wheels, not for sure what to tell you. Are you going with SRW or Dually? Wanting to update to newer Steelies or Aluminum? If you go SRW, the most backspacing you can have is 4.25" don't know about duallies.

One of the advantages of going to 8 lug, is being able to swap in a later 14 bolt axle for better gearing.

Anyhow, I'm all for it.

I think 8 lug on a big truck is sort of wrong, and on a COE with lots of front axle weight...?

The later model P-30 8 lug axle with disc brakes is the same as the 10 lug version except for hub/rotor and caliper bracket, they use a smaller diameter rotor than the 5/10 lug version. So it's a pretty stout front axle beam and bearings but not as good on the brakes, but still pretty large disc brakes.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=725027#Post725027

I would not use an 8 lug axle from the older trucks, they're relatively wimpy compared to the axle you'd be removing.

So the question is where can we find a axle or parts? I have been looking for about 2 months and no luck. So are you saying I can swap hubs on my 5/10 lug axle to the 8 lug? The other question is, the lug pattern is it 8 x 6.5. I have wheels already powder coated.

Thanks for the help

http://www.dvap.com/salvage/1951chevrolet-truck-3600-51ctnv01c/

Here's a start.

Just FYI- the 3600 and 3800 use different front leaf springs. The hole for the center pin is the same, you'll have to oblong the holes for the u-bolts.

What axle are you talking about? original axle or a later model P-30 axle?

If the original 2 ton truck axle you can swap spindles and everything outside of them from a later model P-30 axle with disc brakes. Info in link above.

If talking about a 5/10 lug P-30 I-beam front axle then you could swap hubs, caliper brackets, and dust shields from an 8 lug version of same axle.

The 8 lug is on 6.5" pattern.

[quote=Whitedog]http://www.dvap.com/salvage/1951chevrolet-truck-3600-51ctnv01c/

I was able to find that same axle for sale local but with the standered dually wheels they would be such a crazy offset. Or are you saying I use that axle and swap out hubs, brakes and so forth,

Grigg, Sorry let me start over.
I would like to keep my set up under the truck but swap out spindels, brakes, hubs if I can to get to the 8 lug I'm looking for. If I need to buy a P30 style axle and start over I will also.

I looked at 8 lug from a older RV last weekend but it was 80 inches wide and my truck is about 71 inches.

I'm very sorry, everything else on the truck I'm good with but this front axle is killing me.. I feel stuipid at this point. HAHA

I have been suggesting using your original axle beam and disc brakes and hubs from a P-30, see link in my post above, now several above.

I will read that post again. Thanks for your help.

I mean i could probably just say [censored] on it and buy new tires and just drive it. the only thing that i see is that i really have no need for a 1.5 ton truck. But the whole darn thing is kind of sentimental to me. i learned to drive on that exact truck. when my dad bought 20 years ago it had been sitting in a mechanics lot for years with a brand new 235 sitting in it. we used to haul around 250 bushels of corn for quite a while. years later my grandfather acquired it and gave it back to me about a year before he died. I do remember the thing running about 60 mph a few times empty but that was pretty wound up. My major thought was what if i converted it to newer 3/4 ton to 1/ton running gear and run it would that make it drive down the road a little easier. I have even thought about converting to 4wd. just cant seem to find a lot of info on that either.

I guess I'm a little confused on what you are planning to do.

Anyhow, yes you could just use the Hubs and brakes from a donor. Or you could use a whole axle assembly from a donor.

With all due respect--where is it written that you have to have a "need" for a truck in order to have it? It was your family's truck, passed down from your dad and grandfather. That's reason enough! Leave it the way it is, drive it in a parade once in a while, and just enjoy your family heirloom.

I'm not sure what changing things around will really gain you, given the intended use or lack of use. Plus it seems functional as is and has meaning and significance as is.
Just drive it, save the time and money the changes would cost and buy some fuel and drive.

Rich and Grigg. Thanks for the insight. Never thought of it that way. Merry Christmas.