My son has installed his almost new 12 bolt in his 69 Chevelle. To our surprise the used axles we have seem to have the stud holes wallowed out so that correct studs do not fit, too loose. What options do we have?

Local supply houses did the "I don’t know" routine as there are 350 different studs in their catalog?

are they the press-in style or screw in bolts?
the axle flanges can be drilled for new studs or drilled & tapped for screw in bolts.

What vince said. You can go up to the 1/2" studs without any trouble.

Does that mean the wheel and brake drum will accomodate 1/2" or do they need mods too?

Is there a stud to ask for at the parts house. Yesterday they were not helpful.

Do the racers just drilll and tap for 1/2" bolts/special bolts?

I would take the axles to a shop to have it done. You want those in correctly.

The brake drum stud holes will need to be enlarged slightly to fit with the 1/2" studs. I drilled my drums myself, as I just started using 1/2" studs about a month ago with my new axles.

As another alternative, do a search here. If I remember correctly, there was someone else with a similar problem not too long ago - I think there are other studs that are slightly larger that you can press in yourself and need no drum mods.

I'll search for it also and post if I find it.

Here it is, see post #3: http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=122280&highlight=wheel+studs

You can try using Moroso 3 inch studs. They are suppose to fit stock axle holes, but I have to enlarge the holes slightly to get them in. After Moroso studs are installed you can't use stock studs any more. You can install these studs and then cut them off to the length that you need. I have seen people put a tack weld on the back of the studs, but this is not good because it messes up the heat treat on the axle flange.

Problem solved. I went to the local AutoZone. There I purchased 10 62 Corvette studs. Apparently they are identical to the Chevelle studs but, the shoulder is .003 inches bigger. Solved my problem.

Makes me wonder if we had a Corvette axle set.

Any way, the 12 bolt conversion is done, 373 posi vs. a 250 something peg leg is awesome.