Technical HELP wheels won’t fit Chevy rear end.

So like the title says I’ve been banging my head against the wall. So the car has a GM rear end casting number 3707306gm7. But the Bolt pattern does not measure 5x 4.75. It’s more like 5x 4 11/16. My buddy’s Chevy steel wheel didn’t fit, both early ford and new ford steelies didn’t fit. Is there another bolt pattern that I am unaware of??? Thanks in advance

 

maybe you could move the camera back a ways, so we could see the whole rearend? from a few different angles. and also what you're measuring from.

I bet it's really a Chevy rear end, and there's something funky with the wheels you're trying? but more pictures would sure help us help you figure it out.

(the casting number is the 55-64 style drop out center Chevy rear)

 

https://www.trifive.com/threads/rear-end-differential-numbers.171313/

 

Late model with metric studs? Seeing how you measure stud would help.

 

What Chevy steel wheels did your buddy lend you? GM went to a smaller metic 5 lug pattern around the turn of the Centry.

 

Yeah I tried to upload a picture of how I was measuring it but the picture was too big. I knew those comments were coming…… I’m measuring it correctly. Like fastcar1953’s picture shows. I’ll try and upload some more pictures but I guess my camera is too good lol

 

How accurate is the tape measure? Get one of these.

 

There's sure not much of the center sticking through the drum either. Looks a little odd. Maybe it's just the angle I'm looking at it.

 

Looks like chevy 5 x 4 3/4. Tape measure looks a little off.
Do the wheels fit but just the wrong pattern?
Most metric rear ends would have disc brakes.
Lug nuts std or metric? That would help.

 

Being a wood worker my whole life I have to ask, is the tip of your tape measure bent do to frequent droppings?

 

It’s normal, that’s how early 8.2’s with drop outs are.

 

Find another wheel that you can verify fits an original 49-70 Chevy car, and see if it fits. It has to.

 

What I would do is to put a wheel nut on the two studs, using a vernier gauge measure the distance between the two nut flats, call this measurement "A". Measure the width of the nut, call this measurement "B". Take half the measure "B" from measurement "A" and you have an accurate measurement.

 

The drum looks like a 55 - 64 Chevy passenger car. As does the end of the axle shaft.
Does the axle housing have a drain plug? If it does not, it's a 55 - 56 Chevy. If it does have a drain plug, it's a 57 - 64 Chevy.

 

Bent stud will keep the wheel from fitting, will the drum come off?

 

I was at the scrap yard when my housing was torched from a ‘64 Bel Air station wagon, no drain plug, never had one.

 

If the lug bolt pattern on your buddy's "Chevy car" wheels is a tad too large he probably has 5 lug wheels off an Impala or Caprice that were five on five. I know from 77 and up into the mid 80's they could come either way, the small brake cars had 5 on 4-3/4 with 11 inch rotors and the big brake cars had 5 on 5 with 12 inch rotors. My wife had a 79 ex cop car Impala 4 door that had 5 on 5 .

 

5 on 5 started in 1971 on full size Chevys. That's why I suggested you find a wheel that fits an original 49-70 chevy car to check the bolt pattern, to confirm that it is indeed 4.75"