HO72 to 6 lug?

[Campbel45]

Is it possible? Has anyone done it? Initial googling says some have done it but not a whole lot of info...

Reason being is I've got a lead on 1971 K20 rolling chassis and plan to put the running gear under my K10. I'm interested in changing my gear ratio from the 3.07 to 4.10 and getting stronger axles to boot.

However, I really dont want to get rid of my 4 nub 15" steelies, 4x4 15" dog dish hubcaps, and 33 duratracs just to make the swap.

I know the 14 bolt FF can go to 6 lug with a conversion kit (expensive but doable), so can the HO72?

Thanks!

[burnin oil]

Easy answer is no. You would have to redrill the pattern on the hub. Not an easy job and the holes would be pretty close if not overlapping. Either way you would weaken the hub. I love HO52/72 axles but you would be better served with a 14bolt 6 lug axle from a 90s 2500 light duty truck.

[whitedog76]

I don't see why it can't be done. The problem would be with your hubs. The hubs on the 67-72 (maybe even the 60-72?) are similar to the 14 bolts, they are iron and the drum presses on the rear.

Ther earlier hubs from the 47-59 trucks are just a flat flange that use a hat style drum.

I guess what I'm saying, the early hubs on the later axle may be an option. Of course, there's the braking issue and whether or not your wheels will fit over the hub register.

[burnin oil]

All three of my ho52/72 axles had rear mounted drums. The 57 axle was a dually so maybe thats the difference. That one lost the huck brakes for 14 bolt 3.5" wide shoes. Bolted right in with the right parts and bigger wheel studs.

[whitedog76]

Not to be argumentative, the rear hubs on my 54 3600, are just flat flanges with the hat style drum. I parted out a 49 that was the same, with the exception it had huck brakes. My wife has flowers in the drums now, btw. I parted outed a 54 3800 with single wheels, I swear it was the same also. My best guess is the hubs I speak of are used on the single wheel AD trucks???
Anyhow, going the 6 lug route doesn't seem real practical just to be able to use a set of rims.

[burnin oil]

Maybe the switch was with the 55-59 body style or being duals. All I know I that the 70 hubs swapped right on. Only did that since they already had the larger lugs instained. Hubs looked identical. If I remember I will measure them to check for the flange depth. Both rears had the hat style drums.

[kwmech]

It can be with about 4-500 dollars plus worth of machining and re-drilling. Unless you have your own machinery. Then in the future if you need a new drum or something you can have that custom machined also

[Bigdav160]

I'm not sure there's space to drill a 5.5" bolt circle on a full floating hub