A body axel with multiple holes

I was fortunate to have a machinist for a neighbor in my younger days.
I took my A-body axles to him.
He made plugs for the access holes & welded them in.
You could still access the axle retaining nuts behind the flange.
Then machined the flange surface back flat & drilled a 4.5 bolt circle in the flange.
Installed 3-inch screw in 1/2in wheel studs.

Ran my car in the high elevens with this combo for years. No problems.