Help me get my rear end + wheels squared away!

[ShortHaul]

Hey all... I need help.

Here's the scoop, I have a 1970 C10 SWB that has been 5 lug swapped. It has the CPP drop spindle and disc brake kit up front, and a 5 lug 10 bolt rear end out of a Squarebody with the Huge ass drum brakes.

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

I bought a set of Wheel Vintiques Series 62 in 15x8 and 15x10.
Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

And even scored some kickass Goodyear Eagle GTII's in 295 for the rear!
Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr


I went to test fit them (1st and only smart thing Ive done on this project...) and no dice.

The fronts rub ever so slightly on the spindle where the tie rod bolts in.

The rears are nowhere near fitting, due to the massive rear brake drum that came on (some of) the later (76-87) trucks.

Mine look like this: And are 11 5/32"x2 3/4"
2083R_FRO__ra_p by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

The ones that'll fit my wheels look like this: And are 11"x2"
2065R_FRO__ra_p by awesome_adawson, on Flickr


My question is... and please dont hesitate to jump in with opinions or advice... how to best go about fixing my problems

Problem #1
Fronts rub spindle slightly:

Fix #1 Grind down spindle in area of contact to make it fit. (probably wont need much, but still kinda sketchy to grind on spindle?)
Fix #2 Run a 1/4" spacer, available for $36 a pair, hubcentric, on ebay.
Fix #3 return wheels to wheel vintiques, and order custom offset, @ $25 more per wheel.

Problem #2
Rears don't fit big brake drums

Fix #1 replace entire rear brake setup with smaller 11"x2" drums found on 72-75 5 lug rear ends. Including drum, shoes, backing plates and spring kits. Approx $250+, IF i can find the backing plates... which aren't listed on any of the online auto parts sites, nor are they on classic industries.
Fix #2 return wheels and cry.


I REALLY want to run these steelies, with some OG caps (already purchased) and those meaty goodyear 295's! The wheel vintiques are the only steelies ive seen in 15x10 that'll take a 3 nub cap. I looked around in the squarebody threads but it looks like those dudes are all running the ralley's.

Anybody dealt with this sort of thing before? How hard is it to swap the drum setup on my rear end to the earlier model 5 lug 11"x2" drums? Help me out here!

[68bowtie]

I have those wheels on my 68 (same size even). I have 71-72 5-lug drivetrain. I went with spacers on front. So I’m a little biased but I vote for fix #2 for both. Maybe you can find a 71-72 rear end?

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by 68bowtie

I have those wheels on my 68 (same size even). I have 71-72 5-lug drivetrain. I went with spacers on front. So I’m a little biased but I vote for fix #2 for both. Maybe you can find a 71-72 rear end?

Attachment 1795018

Such a great looking truck!!! That’s it, I’m not giving up!
Any chance you recall the spacer you used up front? Brand, size? Hub or lug centric?

[ShortHaul]

I read your build, looks like 5/16” spacer and a little bit of grinding...

These are the ones I’m looking at.
https://m.ebay.com/itm/2-Hub-Centric....c100935.m2460

[ShortHaul]

OK, so update... I'm going with option #1-#2 on the fronts. Wheel spacer ordered, going to grind away a little spindle and make er fit!

Rears are another story. Ive done a bit of research and the 72+ 5 lug small brake drums "should" bolt right to the axle flange with no problem, I just need to source a set. Turns out that the backing plates are going to be the tough ones to find. Everything else (drums, shoes springs etc) are readily available from any part store, but the backing plates are nowhere to be found!
So far the only way I've found them is to buy an entire rear end... which is not practical. Anyone got a lead on some?

[Boog]

Check the parts for sale forum below. And of course any salvage yard close to you.

[Ironangel]

I'm not understanding why the 8"wheels are rubbing on CPP drop spindles...Protocol is make the wheels fit the truck. My 8" Series 30 and factory rally's all have cleared my stock and drop spindles, what gives? Also, get a 12-bolt rear axle and junk that 10.

[Boog]

Wheel to spindle fitment does vary some among the aftermarket brands. I had to grind some off the spindle arms as my factory 15x8" truck ralleys rubbed there too. It knocked the wheel weights off. I also had to clearance the lower control arms as so many do.

[Aberdare]

Personally - just my two cents worth... return the wheels and find something that fits your truck PROPERLY. Consider this important fact... your tires are the only thing touching the ground, and your rims join the tires to the suspension.

Spend the extra money... or consider driving only the boots on your feet, as I would rather not be sharing the roadway with a vehicle that shouldn't be there.

You may not like my comment, but it's the honest truth.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Ironangel

I'm not understanding why the 8"wheels are rubbing on CPP drop spindles...Protocol is make the wheels fit the truck. My 8" Series 30 and factory rally's all have cleared my stock and drop spindles, what gives? Also, get a 12-bolt rear axle and junk that 10.

Yeah I was bummed they didn’t fit right out of the box, but as Boog said, there’s variance in all the parts. Add in the fact that it’s 5 lug swapped, doesn’t exactly surprise me that something that was supposed to fit doesn’t. It’s really close, could probably get away with just grinding the spindle, but I went ahead and got some spacers just to be sure. And yeah I hear ya on the 12 bolt... but that’s money I really didn’t want to spend right now. Lord knows there’s more than enough work to do on this truck as it is!!

Originally Posted by Boog

Wheel to spindle fitment does vary some among the aftermarket brands. I had to grind some off the spindle arms as my factory 15x8" truck ralleys rubbed there too. It knocked the wheel weights off. I also had to clearance the lower control arms as so many do.

Thanks Boog, making me feel a bit better.

Originally Posted by Aberdare

Personally - just my two cents worth... return the wheels and find something that fits your truck PROPERLY. Consider this important fact... your tires are the only thing touching the ground, and your rims join the tires to the suspension.

Spend the extra money... or consider driving only the boots on your feet, as I would rather not be sharing the roadway with a vehicle that shouldn't be there.

You may not like my comment, but it's the honest truth.

Lol. I guess I did ask for advice, so every bit is welcome... However, rest assured, I have no plans to drive this pile up north to the frozen tundra which you call Home you and yours will be safe from my murderous deathtrap of a pickup truck.

However, my dear friends in the lower 48 may need to heed your warning, hide your kids, hide your wives, my 1/4” spacer equipped menace to society will be rolling down a highway near you!

Annnnyways, moving on...

I will be testing out the spacers tomorrrow, see if that clears the spindle or if I’ll have to grind a bit.

Thanks for all the replies (yes, Abe, even yours

[Redneck Rydes]

Take the rear drums to a machinist, and have them mill the fins off,did mine years ago,worked great.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Redneck Rydes

Take the rear drums to a machinist, and have them mill the fins off,did mine years ago,worked great.

Hmmm. Never thought of that. Thing is in my case here it’s not so much the fins, or the outer diameter of the drum that’s the issue, it’s the front face, the mounting surface. If you look at the two examples of drums I posted above, you can see that the mounting surface of the smaller drums is flush, or even proud, to the res of the drum. On the big drums it’s set back a bit, recessed if you will. The wheel has a flat mounting surface that won’t mate up to the recessed face of the big drum.

Now that I think of it, spacers might actually work for the rear as well... at least for a temporary option until I can source a better rear end.

Another question here, does anyone actually know for sure if the backing plates are different between the larger and smaller drum brakes? That is the only part I’ve had trouble finding.

[indymachinist]

Originally Posted by Aberdare

Personally - just my two cents worth... return the wheels and find something that fits your truck PROPERLY. Consider this important fact... your tires are the only thing touching the ground, and your rims join the tires to the suspension.

Spend the extra money... or consider driving only the boots on your feet, as I would rather not be sharing the roadway with a vehicle that shouldn't be there.

You may not like my comment, but it's the honest truth.

Hilarious overreaction here.

[ShortHaul]

So the saga continues... I thought I had a solution for the front wheels with a neat CNC'd 1/4' wheel spacer. But that fell flat when I realized the front hub has a stepped center bore, which the spacer only fits on the outer portion of...

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Ugh. So those will either have to be returned or bored out to a larger ID.

I test fit the wheels again and used a grinder to smooth out the radius of the spindle where its rubbing, but it still makes contact, even with the cup of the tie rod, so that's not gonna fly. It'll have to be spacer or different wheel.

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

So bummer. It's really a matter of the design of the backside of the wheels, as the ugly "Hurricane's" that are on there now are also 15's, just a bit narrower and have different design.

Back the drawing board...

[ShortHaul]

So close...

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

[Mts67C10K20]

Just a thought
Would this be a good time to go disk in rear
Brackets are cheap and most of the rest you can get at autozone
Just thought I'd put it in the mix
Good wrenching

[randy500]

I'm very surprised the rear drums interfere since so many square body trucks have the bigger brakes....
They brakes do interchange, I have made the switch probably 30 times at least on square bodies.

I used to sell a lot of 4wd rear ends and half the time I had to change the brakes out to fit the application.

I'm sending you a PM

[Boog]

Would those spacers work on the rears?

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Mts67C10K20

Just a thought
Would this be a good time to go disk in rear
Brackets are cheap and most of the rest you can get at autozone
Just thought I'd put it in the mix
Good wrenching

Good suggestion... funny you mentioned that I had just sent a pm to CaptainFab today about his rear disc brake kits... my only concern is that I’ll run into the same fitment issue, and then I’m stuck with the discs so I’d have to get new wheels. I found another rear disc kit that said “will fit MOST 15” wheels”, which basically means “every 15” wheel except mine”.

Originally Posted by randy500

I'm very surprised the rear drums interfere since so many square body trucks have the bigger brakes....
They brakes do interchange, I have made the switch probably 30 times at least on square bodies.

I used to sell a lot of 4wd rear ends and half the time I had to change the brakes out to fit the application.

I'm sending you a PM

Pm replied thank you. And yeah I was surprised too...

Originally Posted by Boog

Would those spacers work on the rears?

Also considered that, but the space needed to clear those drums is pretty significant, closer to 1/2” than 1/4, and that wouldn’t leave a whole lotta room on those wheel studs. I ended up returning the spacers for a set with the proper hub bore.

[Ironangel]

Too bad your so dog gone (cool lookin dog by the way) far away because I have a complete 72 C/10 12-bolt coil spring rear axle I'd let go cheap, drums included...Your moving in the right direction with the spacers. Somebody with a die grinder and a carbide bit could open up those ID's lickety-split. PS. My cat likes your dog.

[ShortHaul]

Originally Posted by Ironangel

Too bad your so dog gone (cool lookin dog by the way) far away because I have a complete 72 C/10 12-bolt coil spring rear axle I'd let go cheap, drums included...Your moving in the right direction with the spacers. Somebody with a die grinder and a carbide bit could open up those ID's lickety-split. PS. My cat likes your dog.

Ahhh man... tempting! You got a Fastenal nearby? They ship pretty cheap...

That’s my pup Sadie Sue, she’s an 11 year old Treeing Walker Coonhound. She mostly just hunts snacks and pets these days... and loves going on rides in the pickup!

[ShortHaul]

OK, update time!

Its been a busy last couple weeks, but I was able to make some progress!

For the front wheels, i found a 5x5 1/4 spacer with the proper hub bore diameter, and it fits, the wheels fit right over it, clears the spindle and tie rod by a good amount.

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

As far as the rears go... I was able to track down a set of the smaller rear drum setups from Randy500, but ended up replacing everything except for the backing plates! New drums, shoes, cylinders and spring kits.

The old...
Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

In progress...
Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

complete!
Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Building the drums was quite a chore... luckily I did one at a time so i had one available to look at while building the other, helped out a lot. Also i think the special spring tools they sell for building drum brakes are probably worth their weight. I of course didn't purchase them and went at it with needle nose pliers and a few vice grips lol. Second one certainly went faster than the first!

So once I had them built it was time for install... Had to completely disassemble the rear end to get them on... which was fun Got it all pulled apart, and it looks pretty good in there...

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

(This was upon re-assembly, and I hadnt placed the second spider gear, in case you're wondering)

Counted the teeth, and looks like i have the 3.07's. Nice for the highway, but sure would love to feel what its like with 373's

Got the brakes all put back on, and the rear buttoned up.
Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Now on to the whole reason for enduring this headache... fitting the wheels!

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

With Caps
Untitled by awesome_adawson, on Flickr

Im loving the look! Can't wait till Tuesday, when I get the tires mounted and get everything put together!

[ShortHaul]

Thanks to everyone who has pitched in and given advice along the way. Much appreciated!

Click on my build thread to follow progress, or to help me figure out why i cant get the brakes bled properly now