Mike,
What a coincidence! I have a 55 Chev Cameo, and in 1968, I swapped the
engine, transmission, and rear end into the truck from a 1960 Pontiac
Parisienne. ( for our southern friends, just think Chevy with a Pontiac
nameplate). I solved the width problem by using chrome reversed wheels,
but I was still left with the problem of six stud on the front and 5 on
the rear. I solved the problem by finding the drums and backing plates
off the front of a 54 Chev car, and converted everything to 5 bolt.
I am not crazy about spacers. I have used them, and with ordinary
highway driving, I ended up losing a wheel because of broken studs. The
only way I would go this route, would be to have the hubs drilled for
larger wheel bolts.
I know they are getting expensive, but an older Ford 9" will fit
without the requirement to change the width. The newer 9 inch rearends
are more plentiful, but they will need to be narrowed.
This will give the flexibility of putting in whatever ratio your heart
desires.
For completeness, I am now running a 454 big block, TH400, Hon-o_drive
overdrive, and a Blazer rearend with 3.73 gears. I am going to
re-install a stock 1/2 ton rear end, just because I have one and it is
close to the same ration. To solve the reliability problem, I will not
be mounting fat tires back on the truck.
Bob
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