The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop drilling camaro axle to 6 lug??

I don't have the rearend handy or i would just measure the axle flange...question being has anyone drilled a 5 lug camaro (70s) axle to 6 lug? I really want to keep my original 6 lug wheels as they are fully restored with new Coker radial whitewalls, plus I want to keep the look of the 6 lug. Anyone tried this before? I'm just wondering if there is enoug material to go out to the 5 1/2 pattern vs the 4 3/4 on the camaro. thanks a ton.

I doubt it, they wouldn't use that much extra material.


Try here, Yukon makes a good product. You may be able to find a axle all ready with a 6 lug pattern. 8.2 and 8.5 interchange a lot of parts.

http://www.yukongear.com/DiffDetails.aspx?DiffID=45&PartsLink=PartCats.aspx%3fSearchMode%3dDiff%26TypeID%3d5%26Type%3dGM%26DiffID%3d45%26DiffName%3dGM%2b8.5

Joe

yeah, lots of 8.5 axles out there, but it would be a miracle if one had teh same exact length, wheel bearing ID and spacing from flange to bearing. Yukon won't make custom axles ther are mass production only. I hate to have to get a set of custom axles from Moser or Currie. I'm running a 270 GMC with a blower backed by a T5 and the old stocker is not going to be up to task.
I had talked with Yukon earlier about this but getting all the various dimensions wasn't worth their time...

What year truck are you working with? The earlier 1/2 tons came with either an HO33 Eaton or the GM 12 bolt, both far stronger than the 10 bolt that came in a Camaro.

it's a '53 chevy truck...and I have a 8.5 and a set of 3.73 gears and a posi. yeah a 70 or earlier I think would fit, a tad longer than the camaro, but then need to find a rear, with the right gear and a posi.

Could you get some custom made adapters? If done right, you could offset the wheels if going custom. To bad they don't list the axles by size, looks like a lot of trucks use them. Maybe stick your gears in a different housing?

Joe

if you find the ratio you're looking for, the gears in the diff can be welded to 'create' posi. it's a very common practice by four wheelers

yeah, you can buy adapters off teh shelf, I just dont like them for strength reasons as well as offsetting the wheel an inch to the outside. Welding teh spider gears in an open rearend is not an option. You can do it in the dirt or offroad only, but on the street it's only good for wearing out your tires and snapping axles. I can always machine a ring that could be welded to the outside of the axle flange and go behind the flange as well to add some strength, there's more than enough material to weld carefully and keep the HAZ away from the bearing surface..but more than likely bite the bullet and spend a few hundred bucks on some custom axles. Doing it right is always the most expensive way unfortunately...unless anybody has a spare 6 lug 60 inch 3.73 posi cheap or near Texas???...;)

in the dirt or offroad only?
naw, street racers do it on a routine basis
but, to each their own