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?
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?
I've used parts from a local trailer company for spring seats, lug studs and nuts etc. Usually much cheaper than other sources and readily available. Something like this would work with just a little grinding: https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Leaf-Spring-Suspension/TruRyde/TRSS238.html
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.
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
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!!