The Ultimate Four Eyed Fox 5-Lug Conversion Thread

[82RS]

What a great thread, I love this site.

[Ausfox]

ok I went and just went thru all 9 pages of this and my head is going to explode!! I have purchased a 94/95 front set up for my 86 GT. I would like to keep the stock a-arms. I am not a fan of using spacers for some reason can i just buy 94/95 ball joints and have them pressed into my 86 front arms? thanks for any help..

Can anyone answer skinnykids question, can 94/95 ball joints be used in earlier arms?

Also not a fan of using spacers.

Cheers from Australia.

.

[85GTVince]

...can 94/95 ball joints be used in earlier arms?

Yes, SN95 ball joints can be pressed into Fox A-arms.

In this case spacers are not a problem. The reason for the spacers is simply because the nut runs too far down the shank of the ball joint. I would recommend using the spacers unless you need new ball joints, then by all means install SN95 ones.

--Vince

[80coupe80]

What's up guys. I have a 79 mustang Ghia all stock with the 5.0 and stock rear end. I would like to keep my 7.5 rear end but I want to make it a 5 lug. I also want the front but I want to know what I need to do to archive the 5 lug without swapping rear ends. What would I need for the front also. Its my daily driver and i just want it to look good. I'm putting some FR500 wheels. So please let me know what parts I need to make my car a 5 lug.

[blackgt85]

can 94/95 ball joints be used in earlier arms?
.

Thats what I did with my 85........ So, yes, it works!


Justin

[kj_80Cobra]

What's up guys. I have a 79 mustang Ghia all stock with the 5.0 and stock rear end. I would like to keep my 7.5 rear end but I want to make it a 5 lug. I also want the front but I want to know what I need to do to archive the 5 lug without swapping rear ends. What would I need for the front also. Its my daily driver and i just want it to look good. I'm putting some FR500 wheels. So please let me know what parts I need to make my car a 5 lug.

Please read all of this and it will answer all your questions.
http://home.comcast.net/~mjbobbitt/mustang/page1.html

[80coupe80]

Thanks kj 80cobra for the info. I know that I have to swap the front spindles from a 87-93 mustang but it did not have any info about how to do a 5 lug conversion on a 7.5 rear end. I'm going to post a new thread so I can get more info from other people. Thanks for the info.

[kj_80Cobra]

Rear end is easy, pull out old axles, put in Fox length five lug axles or SN95 length five lug axles.

[85GTVince]

Thanks kj 80cobra for the info. I know that I have to swap the front spindles from a 87-93 mustang but it did not have any info about how to do a 5 lug conversion on a 7.5 rear end. I'm going to post a new thread so I can get more info from other people. Thanks for the info.

There is no reason for a new thread. The 7.5" rear end and the 8.8" rear end use the same axles and brakes. Only the housings, gears, and differentials are different between them.

You are not getting a lot of responses because this information is available in many places. A little searching and reading will go a long way.


--Vince

[dansmach]

Is there a bracket that will let you use the 94 & up rear rotor/calipers with the ranger axles in order to keep the stock Fox body axle width?

[Jack Hidley]

http://northracecars.com/Brakes.html

Get the bracket in the first row, second column.

[dansmach]

Perfect! Thanks!

[85GTVince]

You can also modify the stock brackets to work with Fox length axles. See this thread:

http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=71585


--Vince

[unometooo]

Hello All, new member here. I have a 81 coupe 2.3 car completely stock. I am planning on going with a 351W after I finish the 5 lug upgrade. I am not planning on changing the K-member anytime in the near future.
Based on what Vince has posted. I should use the SN95 control arms instead of Fox since I’m not planning on changing the K-member?

Do I have to use CC plates?

Are 99-04 calipers a better option since they cover less surface? I’ve read somewhere that you have to do some minor grinding on the 94-95 spindles for the 99-04 calipers to work, I’m sure this isn’t a problem since a lot of people go this route.

If I go with 99-04 calipers can I use an 85 town car MC with stock booster?

If I set my car up with 87+ V8 springs and struts, I need to be able to still drive it with the 4 cyl. in it until I can afford to rebuild my 351W, is that going to cause any major problems?

Thanks in advance, I just couldn't find the answers to these questions anywhere, oh and this is going to be a daily driver, maybe I’ll take it to the drag strip every once in awhile, going to be running 17 X 8 Bullits with 245/45R17’s.

[neald]

If your going with the sn95 arms up front i would also do the sn95 axles out back to stay consistent front and rear width. with this change you are limited to wheel choice. you may also look into 05' and up wheel fitment for your setup. Although i think your 17x8 bullitts should be fine.

[unometooo]

If your going with the sn95 arms up front i would also do the sn95 axles out back to stay consistent front and rear width. with this change you are limited to wheel choice. you may also look into 05' and up wheel fitment for your setup. Although i think your 17x8 bullitts should be fine.

I do have a Mark VII rear end already (not sure what year it came out of, I do know its a 8.8 posi with 3.24 gears), but after reading this whole tread, I have already decided to do away with the Mark brakes and axles and search for some SN95 rear disc stuff and axles

[85GTVince]

I have a 81 coupe 2.3 car completely stock. I am not planning on changing the K-member anytime in the near future. [It is] going to be a daily driver, maybe I’ll take it to the drag strip every once in awhile, going to be running 17 X 8 Bullits with 245/45R17’s.

I should use the SN95 control arms instead of Fox since I’m not planning on changing the K-member?

Do I have to use CC plates?

Are 99-04 calipers a better option since they cover less surface? I’ve read somewhere that you have to do some minor grinding on the 94-95 spindles for the 99-04 calipers to work.

If I go with 99-04 calipers can I use an 85 town car MC with stock booster?

If I set my car up with 87+ V8 springs and struts, I need to be able to still drive it with the 4 cyl. in it until I can afford to rebuild my 351W, is that going to cause any major problems?

Welcome to FEP! I will give my $0.02 about your questions...

You will either need an '87-'95 V8 K-member or SN95 A-arms. Since you do not plan on changing the K-member then you will need the SN95 A-arms.

You may be able to use the stock upper strut mount if you slot the top of the strut tower. Personally, I would buy some STEEL C-C plates. The MM ones are the best, but there are others that will work OK.

I don't quite get your question. What surface areas are you comparing? I think that you are comparing the '94-'98 front caliper piston size to the '99-'04 front caliper piston size. Based on that assumption, "Yes". Use the '99-'04 V6/GT front brakes or the Cobra front brakes. The '94-'98 V6/GT brakes are not very desirable except for the 5-lugs. The '99-'04 V6/GT brakes will require some very minor clearancing on the spindles but this is very simple.

If you go with the '99-'04 V6/GT front & rear brakes, '94-'98 Cobra front & rear brakes, or '99-'04 Cobra front & rear brakes then you should use a 1" MC. You have several choices: 1) '85 Town Car, 2) '93 Cobra, 3) '99-'04 V6, and 4) '73 Ranchero (not personally verified). The Town Car and the Ranchero use SAE threads and the others use Metric threads. The Ranchero MC is supposed to be a direct fit, but it is only available in cast iron. The Town car MC requires one adapter and it is available in aluminum. The newer MC's are aluminum with the plastic reservoir but they require metric fittings.

The all cast iron I-4 is almost the same weight as the aluminum headed V8. Your V8 springs will be fine with the I-4.

Good luck.


--Vince

[theemustangman]

The '99-'04 V6/GT brakes will require some very minor clearancing on the spindles but this is very simple.

What exactly needs to be clearenced Vince? Just asking for my future reference.
I should add that the 95 Calipers on my car can stop it in a hurry, but i also have rear disc, prop valve, and 03 GT hydroboost with the 03 MC

[85GTVince]

What exactly needs to be clearenced Vince? Just asking for my future reference.
I might add the 95 Calipers on my car can stop it in a hurry, but i also have rear disc, prop valve, and 03 GT hydroboost with the 03 MC

From memory it is just a minor grind on the caliper mounting ears. There are pictures in a thread on the Corral. I will post them when I find them.


--Vince

[82stangracer]

I know that if I use 94/95 spindles on my stock A arm the stud will be too tall requiring a spacer under the castle nut, but my question is could I put a 94/95 ball joint on the my A arm to avoid using the spacer? Or could I drill a hole lower on the stud for the cotter pin?

[unometooo]

I know that if I use 94/95 spindles on my stock A arm the stud will be too tall requiring a spacer under the castle nut, but my question is could I put a 94/95 ball joint on the my A arm to avoid using the spacer? Or could I drill a hole lower on the stud for the cotter pin?

From what I have read in this thread, you can have the sn95 ball joints pressed into the stock control arms of your car, I my self am going with sn95 control arms for a little more width and better camber. I dont really know about drilling a new cotter pin hole in the fox ball joint.

[86foureyedfox]

you can press sn95 ball joints into your stock a arms. I just finished installing 95 ball joints into my stock 86 arms.

[82stangracer]

From what I have read in this thread, you can have the sn95 ball joints pressed into the stock control arms of your car, I my self am going with sn95 control arms for a little more width and better camber. I dont really know about drilling a new cotter pin hole in the fox ball joint.

you can press sn95 ball joints into your stock a arms. I just finished installing 95 ball joints into my stock 86 arms.

Great, Thanks!

[NewSchool]

Hey Guys, just wanting a little help and advice. I bought these 94 spindles and hubs a while back on eBay. They are totally rebuilt and like brand new, they've also been clearance for the larger cobra brakes.



I found these brakes on craigslist. This is the guys description: Front brake rotors and calipers from a 97 Mustang GT pulled at <20k mi
Question is: Will these work with the spindles I have and at $30 is this a great deal? Also is it safe to buy used brakes like this. From the pic they don't look good to me but to someone else these may look great. I'm just not that knowledgeable about brakes!

Thanks, Scott

[MAD MIKE]

Question is: Will these work with the spindles I have and at $30 is this a great deal? Also is it safe to buy used brakes like this. From the pic they don't look good to me but to someone else these may look great. I'm just not that knowledgeable about brakes!
Thanks, Scott

Those are the '94-'98 V6/GT calipers. At a glance they look pretty good. You will want to mic the rotos, and check the pads for even wear. An angled or uneven pad wear will tell if there is something wrong with the calipers. The hoses may be fine, but its not something I would chance, but you do not know if the calipers were dangled off the hoses on removal. Replace them.
Otherwise for $30 that's not a bad deal.