2 different bolt patterns what would you do?

I have a 55 1st series GMC 3/4 that my grandfather restored/modified when I was in highschool. Because of the 4.56 gears and 16" split rims we changed the front axle to a 1/2 ton with 50 chevy car drums (5 bolt 5 X 4 3/4). The rear was a bit harder (cause most early 1/2 tons are closed drivetrain) but we put a 70s buick rear axle that was under a 58 chevy truck at the junk yard in it. This was great cause it is a 3.55 posi but bad cause it has HUGE drums and a 5X5 pattern. Now the truck is mine and I want to go chrome reverse or some period correct or at least the same rims. So do I try and swap out the rear drums and backing plates (cause the drums are so big) and have the axles redrilled for 5 X 4 3/4 or redrill the front drums for 5X5? Or do I disk the front stright axle and have those rotors redrilled?

 

I would re-drill your rear axles to 5 on 4.75". Finding wheels in the 5 on 4.75" bolt pattern will be much easier than finding wheels in the somewhat oddball 5 on 5" pattern.

 

I'd see about finding a 71-81 Camaro rearend, but watch the ratios.

or don't worry about the mis match, no one gets flats these days!

 

I can make chrome reverse wheels with both of those bolt patterns... Jason

 

Bear metal what do you get for a set of 15x7 chrome reveses in 5X5

 

haha, glad to hear that from you. i thought i was the only one who doesn't sweat getting a flat. rarely do i have a spare or even a jack in my cars. never been stranded yet because of a flat. i figure all but the smallest towns have a tire store or service station that can set you up, and a AA card will get me to one.

 

I live in the country and flats are a way of life. With a P metric tire I am sure it will get a flat. Plus it is a ugly long box with a spare so I have one on it to make it look shorter. I have dreams of going to the salt some year with it so I would like to have it the same.

 

a long bed truck has plenty of room in the bed for two spares, what's the problem?

 

Or just carry a spare out of a car that has a 5x5 and 5x4.75 pattern on it... 80s-90s Chevy wagon donut maybe, I have one stashed away, the one time I needed it I put that on the car and that was flat too. Said some things you can't say on TV at that moment -

 

I'm sure bear metal can make a spare with both a 5 x 5 and a 5 x 4.75 bolt pattern for you, if you can't get two spares on the bed...

 

I have one, just want them the same.

 

wants and needs are to different things. all you need is a multi pattern spare.

 

I know, but I am going to fix it. Going to d d it so I want chrome reverses. Working on new cars everyday makes me wish for a time when dist are the ones that control spark not the pcm.

 

carry 1 spare with an adapter

 

What about checking on changing the front rotors with a disc from somewhere like speedway that'd possibly be set up for the 5x5 pattern? That way the only thing you'd have to change on your front end would be the discs.

 

nothing..honestly i would do nothing about it..

 

Either redrill the rear or swap to another axle. I have the rear from under a '73 Chevelle under mine. It would be another to look for.

I have a set of unilug mag wheels that are 5x4-3/4 and 5x5. In your situation I'd probably run those and skip the spare.

 

Ok I will leave it till I go to disks or swap axles.

 

multifit Cragars with WWWs ?????

then dump it on its tits!