A body/B body housngs length?

Well the 9 in had a spool and I'm guessing over time it just decided to go. The guy also has an body 8 3/4 but I'm worried about buying new rims I just bought new rims they are 3 weeks old that's why I don't want to go with a 5x4 bolt pattern. From what I was told the early b body is only 1 in wider and I can use my rims with that. As far as the perches it really doesn't matter I have new perches to weld on. I just wanted someone else's advice.