97 C2500 6-Lug to 8-Lug Conversion?

wiscomick · Jan 22, 2019

Hi guys, yes, I tried searching but there's a ton of clutter on this topic.

My truck is a 97 C2500 6-Lug 2WD truck with the 14SF. Just wondering if anyone has any information on what's needed to go 8-lug, if at all possible.

My reasons are purely that the wheels I'd like to run are 8-lug only. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

someotherguy · Jan 22, 2019

The rear is as easy as swapping the axle out.. front is another story. There's no direct-swap rotor, so you'd have to change the spindle. The spindle won't attach to the lighter duty upper ball joint so you'd have to re-drill the control arm for a different ball joint.. or change out the upper control arm with one from an 8 lug truck. (It will bolt right in.)

If this change is strictly just to run those 8 lug wheels I'd consider whether a set of quality adapters might get the job done instead. Obviously they're going to increase track width a minimum of about 1.5" or so on each side so if clearance is an issue, they're not gonna work.

Richard

EppNation · Jan 22, 2019

A 3/4 ton 6 lug?

You sure?

If it is truely a 3/4 ton then the 8 lug hubs should bolt on to your 14bsf and as far as front, I'm only familiar with 4x4 but maybe someone else can chime in: is the 2wd 3/4 ton front hub bearing still fastened with 4 bolts vs the 1/2 ton that has 3 bolts?

Post up a few pics of your truck please, and a pic of your RPO code sticker.

I know Chevy factories put some odd ball configurations based on parts available while trucks went down the assembly line (like a 1 ton SRW with a 14bsf), but I've never heard of a mis matched lug pattern to its corresponding chassis...

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someotherguy · Jan 22, 2019

EppNation said:
A 3/4 ton 6 lug?

You sure?

If it is truely a 3/4 ton then the 8 lug hubs should bolt on to your 14bsf and as far as front, I'm only familiar with 4x4 but maybe someone else can chime in: is the 2wd 3/4 ton front hub bearing still fastened with 4 bolts vs the 1/2 ton that has 3 bolts?

Post up a few pics of your truck please, and a pic of your RPO code sticker.

I know Chevy factories put some odd ball configurations based on parts available while trucks went down the assembly line (like a 1 ton SRW with a 14bsf), but I've never heard of a mis matched lug pattern to its corresponding chassis...

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

Light duty 2500.. thought everyone here knew about those by now? It's 7200 lb gvwr, has 6 lug hubs, and is essentially a 1500 with a 14sf out back and a slightly heavier spring pack. Still comes with the same light duty transmission you'd get with a 1500, still has same front end components, etc. It's not a toned-down version of a real 8600 lb gvwr 2500; it's a beefed-up 1500.

As far as front hub bearing attachments you're thinking 4WD; OP has a 2WD. You are probably correct though that in the rear you could use 8 lug axles providing they come out of a 14sf in a 2WD truck. The 4WD axles would be too long.

Richard

wiscomick · Jan 22, 2019

Yep, she's an oddball.

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someotherguy · Jan 22, 2019

Oddball...not at all!

There's plenty of 'em. Surely less common than a regular 1500 or an 8-lug 2500, but there's plenty of them out there, and they've been in the GMT400 lineup since the beginning. For parts trucks, I've owned a 1988 C2500 light duty (reg cab), a 1989 C2500 light duty (reg cab).. and as a personal truck, a 1994 C2500 light duty extended cab.