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Joined: Jan 2007
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Hi there. I have recently been gifted with a 51 Chevy pickup. no engine or tranny and in pieces of course. i have done a search but can't seem to figure out why the rear wheels are 6 lug and the front a 5 lug. any ideas. I would like to figure out what i have before i try to figure out where to take it.

thanks
Greg

Joined: Oct 2003
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Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
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Welcome to the Stovebolt!

Originally both the front and rear were six lugs. Someone has changed the front to five. There are several ways that might be done and it would take more information to know which...

Does it have drum brakes or disks brakes on the front? Does it have leaf or coil springs in the front?


1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble...
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Cruising in the Passing Lane
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welcome to the shop Greg - lookin around here for awhile will fill in the blank spots for ya!

sounds like someone changed someting in the front - if it's still the original straight axle, then prolly the front hubs and drums from a 50's car were installed, not unusual when folks want to run fancy rims, which aren't as available in the 6bolt pattern - the 6 lug back axle will be original

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me
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drums brakes with leaf springs.
thanks for the welcome

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'Bolter
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I would guess that someone replaced the front hub assembly with one off a car of about the same vintage.


Fred
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Fred is right.

Check the brakes, backing plates and the front bearings really carefully. This is a common modification but if not done right it may be unsafe.

Hubs and drums from an early 50's Chevy car is typical and results in a 5 x 4-3/4 bolt pattern. But the same approach can put larger drums from a Pontiac, Buick or Olds of that some era so your pattern could be 5 x 5 or even something else.

The same approach can be used to put 5-lug disk brakes on the front of one of these trucks and there are kits with parts and instructions.


1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble...

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