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| | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 131 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 131 | Hello,
I started tearing down my 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Truck and ran across something that I am stumped on with the front brakes. It looks like a previous owner swappped the complete front hubs to a 5 lug setup. The back plate was mounted using the top two holes and then since the bottom two holes did not line up they welded the bolt to the back plate. The drum has a 5 lug pattern. This is the case on both the driver and passenger sides. The rear end appears original and is still 6 lug. I understand people go to 5 lug for various reasons on the front AND rear but why would someone put 5 lug hubs only on the front of the truck? I am assuming this was done early on in the life of the truck. Also It looks like maybe this was from a car since it is 5 lug. Does this sound correct?
Thanks
Last edited by 1866yellowboy; 10/17/2012 7:59 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | the front hubs from cars of the era fit the truck spindles, if the backing plates were changed as well, maybe it has Bendix brakes instead of Huck? the person who modified things is the only one who could possibly tell you why he did it, never know what happened down on the farm  | | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 131 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 131 | It does look like it has Bendix brakes on the front and still has the Huck brakes on the rear. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 32 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 32 | I am glad you brought this subject up, I am thinking about upgrading the front end on my 55 3100 so I would be left with 6 lug rear end also. The question I have is can the rear axles be changed to 5 lug maybe car axles?
Thanks
Larry | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | Larry - you'd need to get the axle flanges redrilled for the proper 5 bolt pattern or find a different rear end, the axles don't interchange
Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 32 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 32 | Thanks, I guess rear end change would be the best move.
Larry | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,426 ODSS President | | ODSS President Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 1,426 | Daily driver only vehicle, Huck brakes. 70 k miles, can lock up the brakes with the best of them. You guys are getting caught up in advertising; 'upgrade' is money in their pockets, not yours.
~ Cosmo
1949 Chevy Half Ton
Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities.
"...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes
"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."...Yogi Berra
"Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." ...Eric Hoffer
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,596 | Just because you can lock up your brakes doesn't mean they will perform the same as upgraded brakes. Your stopping distances could be different. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,878 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,878 | The big problem with Huck brakes is keeping them adjusted properly. They have a habit of wearing out only one brake lining on a side. Back when a lot of cars ran those brakes, flat-rate mechanics had a nasty habit of only changing the worn-out brake shoe, and hiding the other new one somewhere. After a few of those situations, they would have enough pigeonholed parts to rebuild their own brakes, or do a shade-tree job at home using parts they didn't have to pay for! Dad had to watch his employees like a hawk to prevent those kinds of shenanigans, and it cost more than one wrench jockey his job for pulling stunts like that!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
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| | | | | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 608 | Jerry,
I knew a few guys/oldtimers back in the day that would just flipflop the shoe sets from left to right and adjust them up.
So as to get the almost umworn back shoe to wear and then the next time a whole reline was in order.
Not saying its right but......
regards
steve sr. | | |
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