Conversion from 8-lug to 5 lug in front??

[SpecialOrder66D100]

Ok, I believe I want to gasserize my '66 D100 Utiline...

The truck has the 8-lug set-up allway around, but for now I'm only concerned with the front axle...

Will 5 lug drums and backing places work on my current spindles? Or am I best off to grab an entire 5 lug axle/spindle setup from a donor truck??

Also what's the best way to get some lift going on in the front for that gasser look? ..(cheaply )

Would any of the steering setup have to be altered??

[SpecialOrder66D100]

Nobody???

[Oldguy]

Patience Grasshopper! It takes a little time for answers sometimes. I think you have to change spindles from 8 to 5 lug so it would probably be easier to just swap the entire front axle. As for the lift, you can either get stiffer springs or use lowering blocks, which will actually raise the front since the springs are on top of the axle. Or maybe a combination of both? Good luck whatever you decide on. Mike

[SpecialOrder66D100]

Patience Grasshopper! It takes a little time for answers sometimes. I think you have to change spindles from 8 to 5 lug so it would probably be easier to just swap the entire front axle. As for the lift, you can either get stiffer springs or use lowering blocks, which will actually raise the front since the springs are on top of the axle. Or maybe a combination of both? Good luck whatever you decide on. Mike

Thanks for your input! A 5 lug axle should not be hard to find,,,nor very expensive!

[SpecialOrder66D100]

No steering mods required with lift??

[OregonDodgeboy]

In the front (for the gasser look and some stability), I'd look into doing a reverse shackle swap. It will handle much better that way, and you can effectively raise the front of the truck by building the spring mounts as tall as you want. Kinda like this:



http://www.shopih.com/CPT-RS-FANG-p-RS.html

Yeah, I got the idea from looking at stuff for the Scout I have, but I believe that the benefits are the same on any vehicle really.

Of course, another way is to have custom springs made, like back in the day. I remember seeing some that looked like they were nearly a half of a circle. Probably not much flex, though it wasn't necessarily desired either (I think).