Hub and rear differntial questions

[Ratchet1]

I have an 80 Fairmont (just starting on) that I would like to convert to Chevy 5 x 4 3/4" lug bolt pattern on the front and rear. In addition, my plan is to upgrade the rear end to either an 8.8 or 9". The horsepower will be approximately 500. The reason for the Chevy bolt pattern is that all of my wheels have the 5 x 4 3/4" bolt pattern.


1) What suggestions do you have for both the front and rear of this car?

2) What donor car(s) should I look at for the rear end?

[erratic50]

I suggest selling those Chevy wheels and buying wheels that fit a Ford. You'll spend 4x more fighting it, and when you're done it's a Chevy wheel.

or if selling isn't your thing save yourself a ton of aggregation and the time of selling them and go buy a shovel ..... now bury them.

8.8's in 4 lug mustang width were very common in
86-93 foxbody V8 mustang

1.5" wider found in
87-88 tbird (4 lug, available with disc in TC)
93 Cobra (4 lug)
94-95 Mustang (5 lug, superior sn95 discs)

the wider stuff can work with the correct wheel offset. Narrower allows for a deeper dish wheel

Good luck!

[endub]

My suggestion:
Be a Ford guy or dont.

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[BMW Rider]

I would expect the only way to get that bolt pattern would be custom made rear axles. The fronts would be pretty hard to re-drill, I don't know if you could find a hub/rotor that could be made to work. The cost and effort would very likely exceed the price of new wheels that just fit.

[erratic50]

It is possible to fashion adapter provided the wheels are the necessary offset. But not really worth it.

[Ratchet1]

Thanks for the advice. Not sure if I’ll bury them - rather sell them to buy real Ford parts.