I'm a bit all over the place tonight trying to figure out a few things with my truck, and I need to see if some other things are possible to even see if my current rear axle could work for this build.

My current rear axle is geared at 5.83/8.11, Eaton 2-speed. From what I've come across I can use a Dana 60 front axle with 5.86 gears and be ok. The problem is wheels. Now I can find a used 2-ton front axle with gears that will work, but I don't like the 22.5" wheels. I'm planning on running something closer to 16" and those I don't believe I can make clear the brakes. On the rears I suppose I could use some massive spacer since it's a dually axle and it would clear, but I'm curious if I have any other options.

Can I change out the brakes or the hubs or change the bolt pattern on this to anything else at all? Or is it one of those things that's just way beyond what it's worth?

 

16" wheels and 5.83 gears will give you a top speed of about 40 mph........
Why not use the axles from a 1 ton or 3/4 ton, then you can use the common 8 lug wheels. A 3.73 ratio is a good one for a heavy truck.

 

Sorry, I meant 16" rims with 37" tires. After a whole lot of math I've found my current gear ratio to give me the closest to ideal rpms for best mpg. Not the best for highway driving but 95% of what I will be doing with the truck is in town. It would just be helpful to use what I have as regearing two axles to what I need would prove very expensive. Most axles that I need are geared around 4.10, which is alright but 4.56 would be better. The problem is is the carrier also has to be changed out as well as other modifications because they used two sizes, 3.31-4.10 and 4.56+. Finding a set of the larger ones is pretty difficult, usually you have to find a truck from the 70s. Course finding a front axle with my needs of 5.83 it also very difficult lol.

I'm thinking I might be able to find a way with an adapter and hummer wheels which have a huge backspacing thus room for the adapter plate without sticking way out. But I have to figure out brake clearance and if it will be an issue with this route. Lots of problems to have to be worked around and I'm not sure which route is better or cheaper at this point. I figure the rear axle will be the easier of the two as far as fitment, my saving grace might really be how far in a Hummer wheel normally fits (7" backspacing, mounts 2" from outside of wheel).

At any rate, whole lot of math left to go, lol.

 

Will the adapters you are using change the bolt pattern to 8 lug? if so, maybe you could run a 17 or 18 inch wheel that would clear your drums.....

I still think it would be easier to swap in complete matching axles.....better brakes, easier to get parts for. JMO though.

 

Yeah I'm thinking I'll have to, I just wanted to check my options and that idea came to me last night.

The brakes are very wide, probably too wide, but an adapter would probably have to be a good 6" thick, and it would have to go around the axle hub which is 6.5" wide and not something that can go through basically all wheels other than 2 ton ones. So nope on that idea.

Ah the joys of trying to figure it all out.