5-lug swap finished on the Z-7

[Chuck W]

Well, after a couple "gotchas" last weekend and then a busy week getting parts and dodging rain, I finished up the 5-lug/rear axle swap on the '80 Z-7 yesterday. I have a couple pics of the bits I'll get posted up, but nothing of the car yet as it's still covered in a nice sheen of ice.

Front-
-95 Must. spindles
-01 GT brakes (11" PBRs)
-braided stainless lines
-00 GT struts
Rear-
-swapped 6 3/4" rear for 7.5" Trac-Loc
-5-lug Ranger axles
-drums
-new stock upper arms

1" bore m/c

16x7.5" "waffle-star" wheels w/ some Continental all-season tires (225/55-16).

As mentioned in my other thread, the primary problem that slowed me down was the fact that the snout on the 6 3/4" diff is shorter than the 7.5...so I had to hunt a shorter driveshaft. Just grabbed something close as I'm going to be swapping a T-5 in eventually and will make any changes needed at that time.

The only other "problem" is I'm having a little trouble getting all the neg camber I need. I spent a little time yesterday slotting the holes in the tower and got a bit more, but I still need a touch more to get the setting I want. I may just elongate the holes at the strut to add a bit more there. The other option is to swap in the 94-98 arms I have, but I need to double-check fender clearances as I'll be going a bit larger in tire size next time (245's). Also, if I did that I'll need to get the 94+ tie rods as I'll be out of adjustment. As it is I had to turn each side out 1"+ (still have the entire threaded portion of the outer engaged though), and the extra width will push it past the limits. I do have a set of older CC plates (don't remember whose), but I'm not sure I want to use sperical bearing mounts on the daily driver.

I'll probably just slot the strut as that's the easiest route at this point. I'll just have to wait until the weather breaks a bit as we had freezing rain and crap, or just plain cold most of the weekend and it's supposed to get pretty cold the next few days.


Anyway...I guess this post has gotten a bit long. I'll get some pics up the day or so.
I also need to replace the front springs, but I'm trying to get a couple things together first before I do that. Mainly I need to figure out what springs I want to use. I have a couple sets of pretty high rated lowering springs, but I'm not sure if I want to use a 750# spring on the front of this thing or not. I'll probably just pull the C-kits off the front of the Tbird, but I need the coil-over bits for it first.

[LTDScott]

Are you sure the spindles you have are from a 94? 94/95 ONLY spindles and the stock control arms should allow for reasonable amounts of negative camber.

If you use 96+ spindles on the Fox arms, you'll definitely have camber issues.

And yes, if you do go with the 96+ arms/spindles, you will have to get longer inner and outer tie rods. Mine are SN95 stuff.

[Chuck W]

Are you sure the spindles you have are from a 94? 94/95 ONLY spindles and the stock control arms should allow for reasonable amounts of negative camber.

If you use 96+ spindles on the Fox arms, you'll definitely have camber issues.


Positive....they have the offset tie rod mount. Same as my other 2 cars. I made sure I got the right ones. I do have a couple other sets of struts in the garage, so I could just mod them in the warmth of the garage and then quickly R&R the struts and be done with it.

[twister]

I would just buy a pair of Maximum Motorsports CC plates, best bang for the buck

[Chuck W]

I would just buy a pair of Maximum Motorsports CC plates, best bang for the buck

Daily-driver = low-buck, trickledown mods :P The best bang for the buck is free...or a little of my time.

The K-member is already pushed forward (by the PO)..the front wheels sit about 1/2-3/4" forward as it is...so there's my positive caster.... ;) Besides, if I decide to use a CC plate w/ a spherical bearing...I won't buy new, I'll use the ones sitting in my garage.

[Evil86lx]

Low buck used part's is the only way I build my project car's.

The wife and kid alway's come first.

kyle

[nitroracer]

Nice work man! Im glad that car is turning into something.


Actually Im not to thank for the K-member. I bought it with a dying I6/auto setup and thats how it was all installed. I did the best i could with the VIN online and I think it was an original 4cyl car. I dont know why anyone would have ever swapped in an I6 but that is what seems to have happened.

The guy I bought it from got it as payment for working on another car. He had a turbo mont & an LTD on the property where I found that zephyr and a lot of parts somewhere else.

[anthonydalrymple]

Pardon my ignorance.... But WTF is a "Z-7"?

[anthonydalrymple]

Whoops.... sorry...... double post..... :(

[nitroracer]

A Z7 is a fastback mercury zephyr, the same thing as a fairmont futura.

[nitroracer]

A Z7 is a fastback mercury zephyr, the same thing as a fairmont futura.

[Marz]

A Z7 is a fastback mercury zephyr, the same thing as a fairmont futura.

It's not a fastback... it's a Sport coupe... like the Futura.

[Marz]

A Z7 is a fastback mercury zephyr, the same thing as a fairmont futura.

It's not a fastback... it's a Sport coupe... like the Futura.

[Chuck W]

Nice work man! Im glad that car is turning into something.


Actually Im not to thank for the K-member. I bought it with a dying I6/auto setup and thats how it was all installed. I did the best i could with the VIN online and I think it was an original 4cyl car. I dont know why anyone would have ever swapped in an I6 but that is what seems to have happened.

The guy I bought it from got it as payment for working on another car. He had a turbo mont & an LTD on the property where I found that zephyr and a lot of parts somewhere else.

It's not an issue really. While I don't think the car really needs the extra wheelbase, the little bit of extra pos caster is fine and the tires aren't rubbing.
It was originally an I4 car as verified by the VIN and my manuals. It just helped explain another question I had on the fuel system (it has a return line and the non-I4 cars didn't)

It's coming along slowly. I did some preventative repair around the sunroof a couple weeks ago and sealed up a couple spots and installed some generic weatherstrip around the sunroof to replace the dead factory stuff and to keep the water out. IT's not a perfect fit, but I keeping the water out was more important at this point than paying $120+ for concourse correct stuff (paid $30 instead).

Anyway, it's 12* F here, and will be cold the next couple of days, but hopefully by the weekend it will "warm" enough for me to mod the struts.

[Chuck W]

Nice work man! Im glad that car is turning into something.


Actually Im not to thank for the K-member. I bought it with a dying I6/auto setup and thats how it was all installed. I did the best i could with the VIN online and I think it was an original 4cyl car. I dont know why anyone would have ever swapped in an I6 but that is what seems to have happened.

The guy I bought it from got it as payment for working on another car. He had a turbo mont & an LTD on the property where I found that zephyr and a lot of parts somewhere else.

It's not an issue really. While I don't think the car really needs the extra wheelbase, the little bit of extra pos caster is fine and the tires aren't rubbing.
It was originally an I4 car as verified by the VIN and my manuals. It just helped explain another question I had on the fuel system (it has a return line and the non-I4 cars didn't)

It's coming along slowly. I did some preventative repair around the sunroof a couple weeks ago and sealed up a couple spots and installed some generic weatherstrip around the sunroof to replace the dead factory stuff and to keep the water out. IT's not a perfect fit, but I keeping the water out was more important at this point than paying $120+ for concourse correct stuff (paid $30 instead).

Anyway, it's 12* F here, and will be cold the next couple of days, but hopefully by the weekend it will "warm" enough for me to mod the struts.

[Chuck W]

A couple quick pics. Still none of the car w/ the wheels on it yet....I might be able to snap a quick one tonight.
It's not as nice as some of the other projects(or most of them actually :P ), but it's more of a daily driver at this point....soooo....

"new" axle
http://ustio.com/file_dump/chuck/Misc/Z7/axleswap.jpg

Front brakes
http://ustio.com/file_dump/chuck/Misc/Z7/frontbrakes.jpg

w/ wheel

http://ustio.com/file_dump/chuck/Misc/Z7/DSCF0007.jpg

[Chuck W]

A couple quick pics. Still none of the car w/ the wheels on it yet....I might be able to snap a quick one tonight.
It's not as nice as some of the other projects(or most of them actually :P ), but it's more of a daily driver at this point....soooo....

"new" axle
http://ustio.com/file_dump/chuck/Misc/Z7/axleswap.jpg

Front brakes
http://ustio.com/file_dump/chuck/Misc/Z7/frontbrakes.jpg

w/ wheel

http://ustio.com/file_dump/chuck/Misc/Z7/DSCF0007.jpg

[Chuck W]

Ok quick pic before the sun went down and the snow got any worse :P
http://ustio.com/file_dump/chuck/Misc/Z7/12_05_2.jpg

It's nothing like the white "box top" in the other thread ;) I'm hoping to make some better headway come spring on the interior and cleaning up the exterior a bit more.

[Chuck W]

Ok quick pic before the sun went down and the snow got any worse :P
http://ustio.com/file_dump/chuck/Misc/Z7/12_05_2.jpg

It's nothing like the white "box top" in the other thread ;) I'm hoping to make some better headway come spring on the interior and cleaning up the exterior a bit more.

[eric5oh]

You gotta fill those rear wheel wells!

[eric5oh]

You gotta fill those rear wheel wells!

[Chuck W]

You gotta fill those rear wheel wells!

Eventually.

The tires are the same size as what was on there, but the wheel is 1/2" wider. Not certain on the backspacing comparison though. They do appear to stick out a little farther than the 10-holes did. I'll be putting 245's on it next time around.

[Chuck W]

You gotta fill those rear wheel wells!

Eventually.

The tires are the same size as what was on there, but the wheel is 1/2" wider. Not certain on the backspacing comparison though. They do appear to stick out a little farther than the 10-holes did. I'll be putting 245's on it next time around.