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Technical 53 GMC rear axle swap

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by casper50, Oct 5, 2020.

  1. casper50
    Joined: Aug 4, 2013
    Posts: 243

    casper50
    Member
    from alaska

    I've begun my work on my daughter's 53 GMC. Going to do a rear axle swap first. Wanting to use a 99 S10 4X4 ZR2 rear. It's just 1" wider on the outside of the hubs than stock. The housing diameter is 2 5/8". All the kits I see are for 3" axles. Does anyone make a kit that would work?
     
  2. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    What specific kit are you looking at? There are ways to deal with the small axle tube size, but the method depends on what you have to work with. How wide are the springs?
     
  3. casper50
    Joined: Aug 4, 2013
    Posts: 243

    casper50
    Member
    from alaska

    haven't picked a kit as I can't find one that works for the axle I have. Springs are 1 3/4" wide.
     
  4. KenC
    Joined: Sep 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,045

    KenC
    Member

    guthriesmith and squirrel like this.

  5. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,802

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I’ve been running trailer leafs on my LSR Roadster since 1987. Trailer supply parts houses are a godsend to leaf spring guys along with circle track suppliers. I Think ouside the box instead of hot rods for a lot of parts.
     
  6. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,174

    Budget36
    Member

    1-3/4 box tubing, 2-1/2 in hole saw. Die grind the tubing to fit the tube.
    Locate it and weld it on
     
  7. casper50
    Joined: Aug 4, 2013
    Posts: 243

    casper50
    Member
    from alaska

    Budget good plan. Thanks everyone.
     
  8. oldtom69
    Joined: Dec 6, 2009
    Posts: 583

    oldtom69
    Member
    from grandin nd

    Budget36-if you hate hole-sawing as much as I do ,a better plan is to use 1 1/2X3 tubing,hole saw it on the 3 inch side,cut it in half to make 2 brackets for the same amount of hole- saw noise!!! LOL
     
  9. oldtom69
    Joined: Dec 6, 2009
    Posts: 583

    oldtom69
    Member
    from grandin nd

    actually I do the hole-sawing on the milling machine,I can slow it down to save saws-a money saving tip is after the 1/4 pilot bit is though,take it out and replace it with a piece of 1/4 solid rod.if you are cutting on anything odd shaped there is quite a bit of side load on that drill bit,broken and bought too many of them!!
     

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