Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: Dougy_Fresh on March 22, 2009, 12:14:02 PM

Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: Dougy_Fresh on March 22, 2009, 12:14:02 PM
what is the cheapest way to swap an 88 Sport to 5 lug and manual steering?

i have been told that Mustang II racks and T-Bird racks are the same dimensions, any truth to this? $150 MII racks are more appealing than $500 Flaming River racks....
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: 32VFoxBird on March 22, 2009, 01:58:00 PM
cheap? drill the axle and rotors

safe? 94-98 mustang axles, brakes, spindles, and struts
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: Haystack on March 22, 2009, 02:37:06 PM
I have heard that the pinto racks are the same. I used a power steering rack out of a mustang, so it should be about the same as swapping it into a mustang. If you want to do a search for that. Check out coolcats.net in the tech info sectrion. It will sell you everything you need to know about 5 lug, or you can do a search here.
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: Dougy_Fresh on March 22, 2009, 03:53:31 PM
so 94-98 stang axle shafts are the right length for a t-bird axle housing? i was going to get ranger shafts until i found out the t-bird axles are different from stangs.

Speedwaymotors.com lists 83-88 t-bird racks as power racks for use on mustang II front clips. that makes it look like the mounting points would be the same.
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: 86XR7project on March 22, 2009, 04:02:56 PM
You can use 8.8 axles on a 7.5?
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: Haystack on March 22, 2009, 04:28:07 PM
the axles aren't different, the housing is.
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: 86XR7project on March 22, 2009, 04:32:34 PM
huh never knew that.
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: Dougy_Fresh on March 22, 2009, 11:54:24 PM
so can i use ranger axles in my 88 Sport axle housing?
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: Lightningbird on March 23, 2009, 05:58:15 AM
If you already have 79-93 mustang spindles you can use a Lincoln MK VII rotor (already drilled 5 lug), The ranger/aerostar axle 5 lug and rear brake swap and a Checkers/ Auto-Zone Fox mustang manual rack swap....that would be the cheapest.

If you have the stock size 10" (?) front brakes, you can use a ranger rotor that is already 5 lug for the front. ( I have no idea if it will fit, no one that I know of has kept those meager brakes.)
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: Lightningbird on March 23, 2009, 05:58:53 AM
If you already have 87-93 mustang/ 87-88 TC spindles you can use a Lincoln MK VII rotor (already drilled 5 lug), The ranger/aerostar axle 5 lug and rear brake swap and a Checkers/ Auto-Zone Fox mustang manual rack swap....that would be the cheapest.

If you have the stock size 10" (?) front brakes, you can use a ranger rotor that is already 5 lug for the front. ( I have no idea if it will fit, no one that I know of has kept those meager brakes.)
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: DVP on March 23, 2009, 04:37:58 PM
Do a search on 5 lug swap.

Manual rack cheapest comes down to the junkyards around you and the time you have. If you can find a rack from a Fox body car (Mustang, Capri, Fairmont, Zephyr) you will also need the steering shaft. Or you can get the adapter  from Summit.

If you are going to buy a reman rack, dont. You can spend a little extra on a Flaming river off Ebay seriously. From all the shopping I have been doing the past few weeks that is what I have found.

Also 79-81 Mustangs have different inner tie rods then 82-89 if you do get a reman. It all depends on what you end up doing for 5 lug.

If you go SN95 spindles you will also need to swap tie rods, inner and outer from what I have read.

Search will be your friend as well as CoolCats.net.
Title: 5 lug and manual rack swap
Post by: Dougy_Fresh on March 23, 2009, 09:55:11 PM
i think i'm just going to buy a complete v6 5 speed sn95 i found for $400, wrecked in the front. going to use the trans, front and rear suspension, and the rear axle. that is unless he already sold the car.