'53 GMC rear dual wheel axle swap
 

I'm looking for some help/advise on getting the rear end in my '53 GMC 1 ton swapped out for either a 4.10 or 3.73 gear ratio rear end and maintain the narrow tread width as close to the original as possible. I would like to run 17" wheels and if that's not possible then 16" wheels. I'm not sure if the modern 17" wheels have the same bolt pattern as the old 8 bolts. I need to do some research on that. I have tried a 10 bolt dually rear end from an early 80's I beleive. It is way to wide! I read up on these rear end swaps and found a C&C rear end out of a '98 GM. It was way too narrow and would not fit in due to my frame width and spring mounts. My frame is 36" wide as compared to a modern 34" C&C truck. I have the original dually rear end and have a center section I can swap out to get me the 4.10 gears but getting the 16" or 17" wheels to fit is going to take some more figuring out. Then, I found a 14 bolt out of a '71 3/4 ton single wheel GMC. It has the same spring perch width and bolts right end, but the 16" wheels I have won't quite fit on the hubs. I'm wondering if I need a dually rear end out of a pre '71 GM truck. At any rate I just need narrow and be able to fit 16" or 17" wheels. Anyone been down this path before?

Re: '53 GMC rear dual wheel axle swap
 

Skeet, If I'm right, your truck should have an H072 axle in it. They came in 1 tons til about 70. GM also used a H052 in 3/4 ton truck same vintage. They both used the same center sections. They put 4.10's in the 3/4 tons. Easy swap (other than the weight! LOL)