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I want to replace the rear axle in my 50 and also want to retain my 6 lug wheels. I can't afford to go any wider on the track width as the wheels I have are offset with quite a deep dish. Narrower by an inch or two might even work. Anyway, I have read alot of posts and seems most go to S-10 and 5 lug wheels. Any suggestions?

I can think of 2 possabilities in order to keep the 6 lug wheels. 1 is to check out an older Japanese bran mini truck, like a Toyota, Nissan, or Isuzu (not Mitsubishi, they're different bolt pattern) or the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon/Hummer H3. Not sure of the axle widths, though, but those have the 6 x 5 1/2 bolt pattern. You will have to go to metric lug nuts, though.

There is a list of possible donors in the tech tips. There are a LOT of different rears that will work if your looking for 5 lug. If you want to retain your 6 lug I believe your looking at up through 1962 trucks. That would also give you an open drive shaft and higher gear.....what tranny are you running? If your going with later model tranny you could change out the torque tube with a rear end out of a 55-56 and get from a 4:11 gear to an open drive line with a 3:90 gear and your axles work.....your axles may even work up to a 1962.
BUT if you use your same housing you will have to weld on perch blocks to tie it down so the rearend will not twist.

The 1965 & 66 had a few 6 lug rearend axles on them as I just got one for mine and had the spring perches welded on for the new complete rearend make sure you use a jig to set up the perches.
62Blue
Don

The '63-'67 Chevy and GMC half tons had 6 lug axles with 62" drum to drum measurements. All you have to do is move the spring perches and shock mounts. You can even get 3.07 gears.

Jeep pickup had 6 lug

I'm running a 57 vintage 235 with a 85 Camaro T5 so the gearing isn't my primary issue. Well lets put it this way, not an issue as long as it isn't too low (numerically). I think with this combination a 3.90 would be OK. I was also thinking of the early Japanese mini trucks as a possible donor. They were plenty strong enough and although I haven't had the chance to measure one I think about the right width. I know I'll have to weld some spring perches on no matter what I find to fit. My luck would never allow otherwise! With all the crushing that went on around here in the last couple of years they might be hard to find.

I tought that 1/2 ton chevy trucks were six lug until '72. I like the mini truck idea, as you're running a six it should hold up pretty well. Likely to have less horse power loss as well.

Back in the early 80's I had a Plymouth Arrow pickup (Mitsubishi) that the motor gave up in. I also had a 289 hi-po out of an old Mustang of mine. Long story short, it went in the mini truck and I never had a problem with the rear end. I broke alot of transmissions (C4's aren't the strongest) but those are some tough little rear axles. 6 lug too!