Ok guys something that has been bothering me is that i have early 5X5 1/2 bolt pattern on the front axle and late 5 x 41/2 on the rear.Is there a conversion to take the rear to 5 x 5 1/2 ?or is this just a silly question?is it too much h***le or is it worth it.The rear is an 8 inch axle from a 72 torino if thats any help...........Marq
Check with the wheel supliers, there are adapters made to go from the 4 1/2 pattern to the 5 1/2 pattern. Or take out the axles ans have them redrilled for the 5 1/2 pattern if the flange has enough outside diameter. jerry
Seems to be a few more wheel choices for the smaller bolt pattern. Might be easier to get the front hubs & drums redrilled to the 4 1/2" car bolt pattern. 2 of my cars have 4 3/4 front and 4 1/2 " rear, I'm going to buy some steel wheels & run 40 ford style trim rings & caps, can get dual pattern wheels with 4 1/2 & 4 3/4 on same wheel. Vintique is one supplier. Usually can get rear axles drilled for new pattern, if there is enough meat, for about $75 but you gotta pull the axles, chance messing up the seals etc.
I don't think there is enough of flange to go 5 on 5 1/2 on ford 8 inch axles. Check the diameter before you go to the trouble of pulling axles. I agree with Bellm and would go to the smaller bolt pattern up front>
has nobody done this?the reason i want the 5 0n 5 1/2 pattern is for looks really and a spare tyre as there is no way i'm redrilling my front for a smaller bolt pattern...........Marq
I'm finishing the same setup(Torino 9" in a '51 Ford truck).There's not enough on the rear axle flange to redrill to 5 1/2" in my opinion.I never thought of drilling the frts to 4 1/2",that might be the way to go.Thanks,BELLM.
check out (late model) truck magazines, there are lots of advertisers that'll make you adapters. the thing you need to watch for, is wheel clearance with the adapter...some early ford wheels don't have much room on the backside.
I redrilled my own hubs at home on my 49 f1, took the hubs off and down to a machinist to get the rear of the hub lathed flat so the lug heads would fit flush and had him build me a pilot for a 1/4 drill hole in it, I got some adaptors off 4t6frd and bolted them to the hub so my new holes would be as true as I could do then put my pilot in one of the empty holes for the 5 x 4 1/2 and proceeded to drill on my mighty craftsman 10" drill press turned out pretty good I think all inspired by Trinity's Tech O matic thread
That fine looking deathtrap piloted by the handsome 19 yr old in my avatar (My God the last 38 years have been cruel to me) had the 40 Ford hubs redrilled for 4 3/4" wheels. That way I could use the bald tires off my daily driver 56 Chev 4dr, as well as the engine & ******, when I wanted to drive the roadster. Honest truth. Marq you can probably get adapters to go to 5 1/2" wheels for the rear. Everyone says they are safe. They show up on E-bay from time to time. Don't blame you for wanting to keep that look. Good luck!!
Check with Speedway I pretty sure they sell an adapter for what your looking for......look in the circle tack section not the hotrod.....RP
Just to show how little I know about Ford rear ends, Is there a posibility you could use a rear axle from a 1/2 T pickup (or a big Ford car or a Lincoln) in your housing? I know I've swapped an axle from a Mopar 9 1/4" rear with the 5 x 5.5 pattern for an axle from an earlier Mopar 9 1/4" with a 5 x 4.5 axle. I have a 9" ford with 5 x 5.5 bolt pattern disc brake rear end laying around back of my shop that came out of a Lincoln. Gene
This may be of no help to you but others may find it interesting. I'm running the same front and rear as you. The eight inch rear came with 14" wheels. I changed to 15" by putting early International truck wheels on it. The width is not as wide as the F100's on the front but if the fronts run narrow tires with wider rears I hope no one wil notice. Maybe they can be redrilled as well
Marq, I'm getting ready to drill some hubs. I'll post some pics and PM you when it happens. Like everyone else I would go with the smaller bolt pattern on the front. There won't be enough flange to support your 5 on 51/2.
There must be a way to sort out the problem to a 5 on 5 1/2 bolt patter as i dont want to spoil the look of the wider bolts on the front.There are some real clever guys here so get those big EGG HEADS into gear and work it out............Marq
You'd have to deal with an axle bearing problem but that could probably be overcome, but you could snag some 9" axles from a 5 on 5 and have them resplined for the little rear. Those flanges will support 5 on 51/2. Now there's a $20.00 cure for a .$.10 problem. Probably wheel adaptors is your best bet.
Excellent!! I guess there's a lot of us with that problem. Keep us informed, I wanted to do my fronts in the 4 1/2 bolt pattern, too.
It aint the money but the asthetics that matter,you want a piece of art you have to pay for it.That is how i veiw the 5 x 51/2 bolt pattern it is art...............Marq
I think Gene is on the right track, try some axles out of a 9" from an F150. Make sure they are the tapered shaft. I am pretty sure the bearings are the same, just cut the axles to length and have them resplined. Or, just narrow a truck 9" and use it.
I found this thread during a search. I was hoping to revive the discussion and get a look at the drilled front hubs. I checked into having some truck axles cut down to fit my 57 housing and was told that the tapered axles could not be shortened. The shop advised that the pre 1973 could be shortened otherwise you needed to buy new made to order axles. I have no Idea if this is fact, but it came from the axle guy so I have to trust it until I find out otherwise. I am not really wanting to go down on the bolt pattern, because I like the old 16 inch steel wheels, and the 5 1/2 pattern . I considered adapters but they are 1.25 inches a piece. That may look weird or cause clearance problems. what else have you guys done to remedy this problem.
a buddy did this on his 32 ford woodie turned 32 sedan highboy ....used a 8" axle......then machined a ring to fit behind the axle flange that was recessed so that his new ring would be flush with the axle flange.....he had it welded and remachined flat....then drilled for 5.5 pattern ....granted he's a machine shop teacher.....but it can be done....
I think id find someone with a axle book and start learning what pickup or ford van have a simular lenght axle in your 28 spline. If .5 to .75 longer cut off that much spline and slide into your housing, Checking for big bearing verces small bearing on the axle. There are alot of differnt offset ford rears meaning differnt axle lenghts. Just my two cents
Did you ever drill your hubs? I seached your threads but didn't see it. I want to put 4 3/4" pattern chevy car wheels(I have several sets)on my model A axle, haven't bought any brakes, spindles, hubs, etc yet. I want front drums, cheaper the better(as long as their SAFE!). Recommendations????
I don't want adapters, and after stumbling onto some more posts, redrilling hubs is no big deal. which brakes/hubs best lend themselves to mods, and are economical?
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