Question on an ak74 noob questions but avid

[Manny]

First post but hope to add my input in as many ways as possible.
So I picked up a ak receiver, and when I bid on it, key word bid, I did not realize it was an ak74 receiver.
But I made the mistake of ordering a pinned barrel and trunion for 7.62x39. So I have parts I know I can't use.
So here are the questions.
I have seen a vz 58 in 5.45x39
Can a person use a vz58 in the same caliber on a ak74 lower?
If not what is the next parts kit country I can use?
I can buy it already made but I have 7 ar15s.
Being I have built 5.56, 7.62x39, 300 black, 50 beowulf, 2 are pistols in .223
And 3 Glocks. 9,40,22tcm
So I have been around the builders area
So back to questions. Ignore the fact of ammo cost because the beowulf ammo is pricey as all heck
So even if I Hodge podge it all together which I know is not the best idea to do due to parts fitment issues .
What is the next best route even if piecing it together a little bit here and there how can I build this ak74 if parts kits are no longer available.
I wanted a folding stock but turns out that trunion is a horse of a different color and requires my lower to be drilled out larger. Not looking to add more holes to something that I already know very little about.
So I come to the nearest voice of reason.
So if anyone has been down this road hole and has an answer or knows a way to go about it. Please put in your your two cents .

 

[Exspiravit]

Vz58 shares nothing in common with a 74. You can't build a 74 kit on a vz58 receiver or a vz58 kit on a 74 receiver. Not without massive amounts of machining and kludging things together.

74 kits are out there, they just aren't as cheap as they once were. We have a couple folks on the forum who build, hopefully they'll chime in about sources.

How much have you read into the AK build process? It's a lot more complicated and requires a lot more specialized jigs and tools than slapping together an AR does. Headspace is a completely different animal, for example.

 

[Manny]

I have read into it a bit .I know you have to press the barrel into place, I understand the headspace is a animal of a different color, and if I get go no go gauge I can headspace with relative ease if that safe to safe.
But thank you for clearing up the vz58 build .That would have been another failed idea.
I had seen the kit and not sure what it was to be honest.
It appears the Bulgarian kit seems to be a safe bet but yet people talk about them like they are complete junk so I stand in a empty room looking at the colors on the walls .

 

[Exspiravit]

Bulgarian kits are far from junk, unless they're just used beyond worth.

 

[dalek]

If you want junk you need to look at the American shelf in the AK aisle. Can you say cast trunnions?

AFAIK the main AK74 kits out there are Bulgarian and Polish.