I'm swapping an 89 Suburban front end onto my 62 GMC to get cheaper, easier to find front end parts, power disc brakes, and power steering. Might as well not buy the $$$ aftermarket 6 lug rotors, as I need new wheels anyway. Gt some Torque Thrusts for a smokin' deal... 5 on 5" bolt pattern, same as most 1/2 ton 73-87/91 GM trucks.
My rear end on the GMC's were Dana 44's, where the Chevy's were usually GM 12 bolt. The Dana's in these are REALLY hard to find parts for, and not even sure if anyone makes axles for them anymore... The Dana 44 is a fantastic design of a rear end otherwise. The GM 10 bolt is good enough, but I'm looking for the same width, and most of the 10 bolts are 1.5" wider. These wheels and tires would be a squeeze in the rear with much wider (trimming/rolling the lip if that is enough).
I kept thinking that I'd like to keep a Dana 44, as the no-C-clip design is far better than the GM's C-clips, and the overall design is better. I'm having a hard time finding a Dana that is the right width, or swap info on these. Then I'm faced with the same off the shelf parts problem, as most Jeep Dana's or Mopar units won't have the 5 on 5 bolt pattern I need... Any advice here on what to look for? Most GM trucks that used them were using the front Dana 44 only, GM Corporate rear. GM cars were limited to some hi-po 80's-90's Camaros and Vettes, 5 on 4-3/4", and IRS on the vette.
Now I've been digging around and found that some Ford 9" rears in some trucks, and some 73+ cars have the 5 on 5" bolt pattern that GM uses. Now I'm getting somewhere!
Has anyone had any experience with any rear end retrofitting like this? I need one that's about 60-62" wheel mounting surface width. Disc brakes would be nice.
Still haven't totally ruled out rebuilding my Dana 44 and having custom axles made, but if I ever wanted discs, the drum backing plates are welded to the axles on these! Have to cut them off and weld on the GM brake mounting flange.
Still may look into a newer GM rear from a Jimmy or Blazer, the ones that use the discs that have an E-brake drum inside the rotor hat. Not sure on 5 on 5 pattern for those either, however.
My rear end on the GMC's were Dana 44's, where the Chevy's were usually GM 12 bolt. The Dana's in these are REALLY hard to find parts for, and not even sure if anyone makes axles for them anymore... The Dana 44 is a fantastic design of a rear end otherwise. The GM 10 bolt is good enough, but I'm looking for the same width, and most of the 10 bolts are 1.5" wider. These wheels and tires would be a squeeze in the rear with much wider (trimming/rolling the lip if that is enough).
I kept thinking that I'd like to keep a Dana 44, as the no-C-clip design is far better than the GM's C-clips, and the overall design is better. I'm having a hard time finding a Dana that is the right width, or swap info on these. Then I'm faced with the same off the shelf parts problem, as most Jeep Dana's or Mopar units won't have the 5 on 5 bolt pattern I need... Any advice here on what to look for? Most GM trucks that used them were using the front Dana 44 only, GM Corporate rear. GM cars were limited to some hi-po 80's-90's Camaros and Vettes, 5 on 4-3/4", and IRS on the vette.
Now I've been digging around and found that some Ford 9" rears in some trucks, and some 73+ cars have the 5 on 5" bolt pattern that GM uses. Now I'm getting somewhere!
Has anyone had any experience with any rear end retrofitting like this? I need one that's about 60-62" wheel mounting surface width. Disc brakes would be nice.
Still haven't totally ruled out rebuilding my Dana 44 and having custom axles made, but if I ever wanted discs, the drum backing plates are welded to the axles on these! Have to cut them off and weld on the GM brake mounting flange.
Still may look into a newer GM rear from a Jimmy or Blazer, the ones that use the discs that have an E-brake drum inside the rotor hat. Not sure on 5 on 5 pattern for those either, however.