4 to 5 lug swap January 21, 2012, 05:26:39 AM ok so first off hi my names Brian i'm new to this site and have a 86 Thunderbird with a 3.8 v6. what i would like to do is swap from 4 lug to 5 lug and was wondering what i'd need to do and whats the least expensive or best way to go, i say least expensive because i am a collage student and don't have lots of funds laying around haha so i wouldn't mind going to the junk and piecing it together or saving up for maybe a kit any info would help me out thanks :D Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #1 – January 21, 2012, 07:46:36 AM welcome..... have you done a search? there's lots of info on here to be found. Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #2 – January 21, 2012, 01:30:47 PM Give me your car. I'll give you a cool Mustang that (most) everyone wants...cauz Mustangs R teh cooool. Yeah, Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #3 – January 21, 2012, 02:37:35 PM @ daminc ive seen alot of posts but im still not clear on it all. i need some one to giive me a run down of like the parts list i would need like what i would need or look for at the junk or onlineand @ ThunderbirdSport302 na im good haha i like my thunderchicken hahaha Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #4 – January 21, 2012, 03:05:29 PM http://www.coolcats.net/modifying/4to5lug.htmlBasically the same as any other mustang, as long as you remember axles are slightly wider on our cars. Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #5 – January 21, 2012, 07:01:51 PM for my 5 lug swap..I used '94-'95 spindles that a guy here got for me (Thanks Vinnie!), struts from I think the same car (bought them earlier, thanks again Vinnie!) and then I sourced locally the calipers, pads and new rotors.For the rear (still waiting to get the stuff) I'm going to use Mark VII axles and the brake parts from that. One can use 2 passenger Ranger axles, but then you'll have a narrower track width than before. The Ranger axles work better for Mustangs as the width before and after is very similar. The mark 7 setup is a hair wider than a stock '86-'88 Tbird setup, so that's why I'm going that route. I want the same size wheels with the same backspacing at all corners. Now keep in mind, you CAN use the 94-'98 Mustang axles, as well as the Ranger stuff, and use wheels with less backspace to make up the difference, at the cost of not being able to rotate tires from front to rear....Also the '94-'98 Stangs only have solid rotors...the Mark 7 has vented. (rears) Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #6 – January 21, 2012, 07:18:04 PM You can run wheel spacers on the rear to be able to rotate tires. Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #7 – January 21, 2012, 11:55:00 PM True enough...but...Quote from: TOM Renzo;378369Wheel spacers ????????????????? I would avoid that at all costs!!! Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #9 – January 22, 2012, 10:43:14 AM Folks have over-looked the fact that he has an '86 with the odd-ball (wider) 7.5 housing. I don't think anyone has posted up a 5-lug drum brake solution for one of those yet. (He said he was looking for "cheap", so the assumption is that a rear disc conversion is out) Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #10 – January 22, 2012, 11:59:03 AM You're right, Chuck. Perhaps I need to look at the axle/rear end chart again to refresh my memory. :) Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #11 – January 22, 2012, 04:03:58 PM well if i can piece it together with time i would go with disk all around and just get it together little by little. but will my rear have to be different or can i go with mark vii's like ThunderbirdSport302?and also thanks every one for helping me out really appreciate it. Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #12 – January 22, 2012, 04:14:07 PM Mark 7 is about 3/4" wider then your rear end. If you want to put wider tires on it later, they will be very close to the fender lip. The 94-98 mustang rear is the same between v-6 and gt models, and is very close in length, and basically should bolt in other then brake line adaptars. The 99-04's were even wider, and probably similar length to the mark7 rear.I have heard the 90-95 explorers had 9 and 10" drum s in 5 lug, that had a wider hat then the rangers, but I still haven't seen mesurments. Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #13 – January 22, 2012, 06:57:57 PM so i can go with lets say 95 mustang parts all around an it would pretty much bolt right in? if i use 95 rear axles will they still stick out alot or are they closer to what i have now? Quote Selected
4 to 5 lug swap Reply #14 – January 22, 2012, 07:14:36 PM '95 stuff would do good...the rears wouldn't be at all stuck out like you see on the late 80's Chevy 4x4's...If you have the funds, throw in a set of 3.55 or even 3.73 gears in that punkin before you put it all in... Quote Selected