Hello,

I am purchasing a parts truck without tires. It is a full time 78 Dodge 1/2 ton with the 5 x 4.5 pattern.

I have some A body 14 " wheels that are the right BP but I don't think they'll clear the brakes etc.

There is a Dodge Van from the mid-70's sitting there.

As I recall those were 15" and 4.5 pattern.

Can anyone confirm that the wheels off of the van will interchange with the full-time 1/2 ton axles?

ROB

If it's a mid seventies 5 bolt dodge van rim, I 'm pretty sure you're good.

I used to own a 76 Dodge Van. My guess is that it is close to that era, real close. It is a 1/2 ton van with the raised roof and long wheel base.

I remember that the wheels interchanged from it to my A body BBP.

I'd like to use my 14 x 6 wheels but I am quite sure they won't clear the rotors on the Dodge 4x4 front end.

ROB

(quote)
Can anyone confirm that the wheels off of the van will interchange with the full-time 1/2 ton axles?

Not sure what you mean by "full time" all vans and trucks are 1/2 ton or bigger. 3/4 or 1 ton. Is it 4x4 maybe. They did make conversions for this. Not sure if the 4x4 wheels have a bigger center register as I never had a 4x4.

14" will not fit.
Any 15" wheel from the 60's or 70's will work. You need the proper bolt pattern, in fact a wheel from a modern mini van will work to get it home as they are metric and very close. I wouldn't drive on these for long but they'll get ya home.

OK thank you. It is a parts rig.

Get this, it is full time with a 360 good. It has a 4-speed / 203 combo. Kinda nice for a doubler (hardcore off road thing) and then an 8.75 rear. I could have sworn that they did away with the 8.75 in the early 70's. When I get it home I will do some more research. It looks to be a factory install, but I thought these used the 8.25 rear or 8.375 as some call it.

I just need to get it on and off of a trailer. Not something that will ever be driven again.

Thank you, ROB

Never seen a 78 1/2 ton that didn't have an 8 3/8 or 9 1/4. Somebody probably swapped it in there, good idea for a bit better ground clearance than the 9 1/4.

It is definately an 8.75 and it is is SBP. Must have come out of an earlier 2wd? I have had a few 4wd ones with the 8.75 but they were 5 on 5.5 BP.

You're probably correct.

the 5X4.5 bolt pattern is correct for 70's vans and trucks. the 5X5 was introduced in the mid 80's. Not sure what year. I was thinking the truck you found was a van, but after re-reading your first post I see it was the wheels that were on a van. I would still suspect the center register is bigger for 4x4 but I could be wrong. Never owned a 4x4. I always figured the only thing I would get from a 4x4 is farther into the woods before I got stuck.

the trucks got 8 3/4 up to 74 with the 5 on 4.5 wheel bolt pattern

4x4 8 3/4 would have the 5 on 5.5 wbp

i have a 72 4x4 truck 8 3/4 housing that had a 489 3.92sg with the 5 on 5.5 wbp

i have a set of c-body car axles that fit with the 5 on 4.5 to fit an eaily 2x and 4x4 with sbp

most likely swaped in to match the wbp

look to see if it is a c-body 8 3/4 that has had the perches moved to the 43" centers

make sure the gear in the 8 3/4 matches the front before running it,most likly does but I have had mixed matched gears to stay mobile.

yes,the range box is killer for a double set up

it is kool to know that a truck and c-body 8 3/4 share the same axles and housing widths..it can be used in early trucks or mid 80s truck with the stock wbp

oh and the A-body 8 3/4 BOLTS in to a truck on the same 43" perch centers to tuck 12s and 29x15x15 M/Ts

(quote)
4x4 8 3/4 would have the 5 on 5.5 wbp

ok must be the 4x4 thing huh?
My 78 truck and 77 3/4 ton van both have 5X4.5. both have the 9 1/4 rear. I had an 87 2x4 and that had the 5X5.5. Looked like a ford rim to me. We live we learn.
Again this makes me think the center register for the 4x4 is bigger too. No? Meaning the wheels found in the junk yard stll a no go.

It is home now. Both the van and truck were 78's. The wheels interchanged without issue including the register area.

On another note, I parted out an 89 Dodge van and it did have 5x5 BP wheels. It was weird since I thought Mopars only used the two BP's mentioned here.

The non-full time 4x4's from pre 75 were 8.75's that were indeed 5x5.5 wheels.

This truck has an 8.75 that uses the 4.5 pattern. My guess is that it was out of an earlier 2wd truck.

I have been toying with building a budget truck for the street. I will set the rear aside for later.

Thank you for your good help.

ROB

Rob
Glad you got it home. I learned a few things here. Thats what I like about this forum. I did mention that the bolt pattern changed in the 80's, but wasn't sure wich year. Had no idea of the register whole just seemed like it should be bigger on 4X4s for some reason.

As for the rear in it. if your fronts are the same 5X4.5 pattern, then I would guess it came with the 8 3/4 with the 5X4.5 pattern.
They wouldn't have used two different patterns, would they.

After 1975 or so, I have not seen or heard of an 8 3/4 in anything from the factory.

I'm sure you already have your answer by now.

57-74 4x2 8.75 axle 5 on 4.5"
69-74 4x4 8.75 axle 5 on 5.5"
75-84 4x2 8.375 or 9.25 axle 5 on 4.5"
75-79 4x4 9.25 axle 5 on 4.5"
80-93 4x4 9.25 axle 5 on 5.5"
85-93 4x2 9.25 axle 5 on 5.5"

The change in 1985 might have actually been mid-year 1984 on 2wd trucks.

I'm also guessing they never used the 8.375 axle in 4wd trucks but not positive.

Some got them. My 79 4x4 warlock had 8 3/8 from factory, all my 4x4 ramchargers had 9 1/4.