6 To 5 Lug convertion on 36 Chevy P/U

Need some advice guys! I'm wanting to convert my front end on my 36 chevy P/U from 6 lug to 5 lug. I've been told that I can use 53 chevy car hubs and drums!! Any inpute would be apprieciated.

Thanks!

 

on my 38 chevy coupe I used 55 truck spindles and 50 p***enger car hubs and drums. I had to make some special spindle bushings since the 38 had a smaller king pin but the angle on the 55 spindles was correct and the original steering arms bolted up. As far as the p***enger car spindles working with the 36 brakes I cant help there. I do know the later brakes work much better since they are the floating type.

 

Thanks for the responce, and insight. I thought a simple hub and drum swap was to good to be true.

 

Do you want to run disc or drum?

 

I used '54 front brakes on my '37 car. Was in a old Rod & Custom article. Drill 2 holes in the backing plate and used spacers. Use the inside race from the 37 and all the other from the '54.
Not sure the '36 is the same, especially the truck.
Seems like I remember an article where they swapped the spindles on a '36 but not sure.
A Street Rodder article used the '54 hubs and converted to disc brakes using Corvette calipers and rotors. Just made a caliper bracket.

 

For right now I'm wanting to run drum. The basic truck was an original early 60's father and son build. They built the truck really cool. They left the body alone, but put an original numbers matching 348 tri-power out of a 59 Impala, top load 3 speed, and a 52 olds rearend, it's been stored for over 40 years. I'm trying to keep it as original to their build as possible.

 

yes, you can use I think 50-54 chevy car spindles, drums, and backing plates. The early chevy cars still used king pins on the independent suspension. And I am almost certain that the kingpins are the same size. I am running 54 chevy pu spindles (which work with the car spindles) on the 39/40 chevy axle I have on my pu. I did have to drill out 2 of the steering holes to a larger size.

 

BOOM!!! your reply has me on the hunt. This is the same thing that the old timer told me. On the hunt again, "the fun part"

Thank You

 

i dont know how this slip past me but heres a artical for reference..hope this helps you

 

How 'Bout just re~drilling what ya got ?

I re~drilled the '48 Ford Hub/Drum ***y to 5on5 Pontiac bolt circle for my G***er project.

Any GOOD machinest can do it EASY

 

scratch my 1st reply..this is the one you want

 

because the brakes **** better

 

slamedpup...

any chances you could email all those scans to me.....I can't read them on here...plus that looks like good info for my next project...

 

OldFart,

I think you mention that the truck you are working on has a Olds rear end . If it does that would have 5 on 5 bolt pattern instead of 4 3/4 on 5 . You can get the drums ,bearings, backing plates and brake shoes from a 54-57 Olds and install them on your spindles.The upper two backing plate mounting bolts and spacers will be the same but the lower two bolts will need to be drilled in the backing plate to match your spindle.A new set of spacers will need to be made and correct length bolts installed for bottom two holes.Be sure use at least grade 5 or better boltsThis will give you a really health drum brake (wider shoe) and 5 on 5 bolt pattern.

 

An oldtime drag racer named Fred Goeski has a company called Wheel Adapter in L.A. . He has or can make anything you want . His CNC mill made two adapters for my RPU while we waited in his office talking about the old days . Trippy guy .

 

yea but the adapter you have to have to convert the 6 to 5 is 2'' thick..tried that before on a 6 lug minitruck

 

The info is incredible wow, thanks for stepping up to the plate guys. Sorry it took me so long to reply, been moving to a new house and shop. Only 42 miles from Mo-Kan now. Hmmm, can we say party!!!!