Spindle change

[Dartnabout]

I am mounting a 1968 shortbed Sweptline on a 1986 d150 frame to get the power steering. The bolt pattern is a 5.5" and I want to go to 4.5". Can I just change spindles or do I go with wheel adapters? I really would like to stay away from wheel adapters

 

[cudamark]

The spindle is the same from 81-8 on a D150 even though they changed the bolt pattern in '85? from 4 1/2" to 5 1/2". Maybe just use the earlier brake rotors and related hardware? What are you going to do in the rear? Carry two spares? Change the axle shafts?

 

[captainchrysler]

Spindles are the same from 74 to 93. 2WD rotors 74-84 will have the 5 on 4.5 pattern. Late 70's C-bodies and 81-84 2WD pickups have rotors with a slightly larger bearing with the 5 on 4.5 pattern. Axle shafts are interchangeable over the same years for either 8 3/8 or 9 1/4. 8 3/4 axles were used through 74 under pickups and had the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern for 2WD and 5 on 5.5 for 4WD. The The C-body axle is the same as the pickup except the mounts are set up for over spring instead of under. Complete brake set-up (backing plates, hardware, drums etc.) can be swapped if you want to keep/make it the larger 11 inch.