5 lug conversion

Topic: 5 lug conversion (Read 4016 times) previous topic - next topic

5 lug conversion

April 06, 2005, 08:08:36 PM

My mother had her rims put back on her Tahoe today so I went with her and was lookin at rims for the cougar but aside from the cobra replicas, all the other wheels were pretty shiznitty. So because I want something different, I'm not gonna go with the cobra replicas. I was wonderin if ne one nos of some nice wheels with the 4 lug pattern. I'm really considerin doin the 5-lug conversion and was wonderin if its hard, time consumin and/or costly? Well mainly costly, if I had more time id try it myself but I got a ton of work I gotta do for school by the end of the month so I got my work cut out for me. I'll probably bring it somewhere to have done. I'd ask my mechanic but hes been really sick lately and hasnt been to work for a lil more than a week and plus he's already gonna take the car for new shocks, struts, gas tank, alignment and to put the turbo coupe rear in. Thanks for any help.

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #1 – April 07, 2005, 10:40:08 AM

If you're thinking about a 5-lug conversion you can get all your parts from a '94 to '04 Mustang. The '94 and '95 Mustangs had different front spindles than '96 to '98 and the spindles changed again from '99 to '04. Make sure to get all parts from the same year of car. The '96 to '04 spindles are upgradeable to the bigger 13" cobra brakes. '94 and '95 spindles are not. Starting in '99 all Mustangs had twin piston calipers up front as well.

As for the rear axles, you can get an 8.8" 3.08 rear from a GT. Or, if you've already got your TC rear, then you can swap out the axle shafts for Mustang ones and use the Mustang brake hardware as well. You will lose your vented rotors in the rear, as I believe the Mustang has solid ones.

I think the best part, IMO, about using SN95 Mustang parts for the 5-lug conversion, especially up front, is that you will have a separate hub assembly and rotor. It's a more modern setup and makes it much easier to remove the rotors if you've got to have them turned or for any other reason because you do not have to worry about reinstalling the bearings every time.

Of course, Cool Cats has an excellent article on this very subject here: http://www.coolcats.net/tech/advanced/4to5lug.html

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #2 – April 07, 2005, 11:35:52 AM

Thanks for the plug Jim....your check is in the mail.

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #3 – April 07, 2005, 12:59:57 PM

Quote

Thanks for the plug Jim....your check is in the mail.

thats funny

man, id go with some 93 cobras if you decide to go with 4 lug.

the selection is much beter with 5 lug obviously. just about every 5 lg oem mustang wheel looks right at home on the fox tbirds. not to mention the aftermarket. as far as the cobra "r" wheels that everybody has, you never see them on the tbirds and cougers. they are and awesome wheel. in fact as far as i know only a few guys on this board has them. they can be had cheeply now too.

the 5 lug swap can be done cheeply with regular mustng stuff. or you can spend a ton on brake stuff of course. its not hard to do but you definetly need to have wrench time under your belt. not an issue if somebody else is going to do it for you but obviously it costs more. watch ebay for deals. you should be able to get some 99+pbr callipers, rotors, hubs and spindles complete for around 300. watch out for shipping gouging though. the older stuff (94-98) should come a little cheeper. the rear axles are cheep. the rear brakes have been a little more of a pain to piece together. any mustang V6 or otherwise will work.

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #4 – April 07, 2005, 01:31:27 PM

Quote from: jkirchman

If you're thinking about a 5-lug conversion you can get all your parts from a '94 to '04 Mustang. The '94 and '95 Mustangs had different front spindles than '96 to '98 and the spindles changed again from '99 to '04. Make sure to get all parts from the same year of car. The '96 to '04 spindles are upgradeable to the bigger 13" cobra brakes. '94 and '95 spindles are not. Starting in '99 all Mustangs had twin piston calipers up front as well.

'96-'04 spindles are all the same: there were no changes made in '99. The '94 and '95 spindles can accommodate the larger brakes and 99+ calipers with a few minutes of grinding. The main difference between the two is the 96+ spindle moves the wheel out 5mm and the spindle/tie-rod interface is lowered 1".

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #5 – April 07, 2005, 01:55:38 PM

Quote

'96-'04 spindles are all the same
Quote
tis true. ive got 02' spindles and hubs.

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #6 – April 07, 2005, 02:04:41 PM

try centerline (http://www.centerlinewheels.com/main_wheel.php) they make all thier rims in any pattern i am saving up for some from them now.

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #7 – April 07, 2005, 02:42:48 PM

Quote from: shame302

man, id go with some 93 cobras if you decide to go with 4 lug.

Only if they're the repros for "normal" Mustangs. Real 93 Cobra wheels will not fit right on a TBird/Cougar...too much backspacing (like 3/4" more).

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #8 – April 07, 2005, 03:34:04 PM

well...
Ed from GAs car

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #9 – April 07, 2005, 03:36:50 PM

There has to be spacers on the front and the rear looks pulled in too much.

I would not use them with the extra 3/4" backspacing......there are copies available now with the correct backspacing.

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #10 – April 07, 2005, 04:30:57 PM

yeah, there could be. i dont ever remember him mentioning that to me when i talked to him. the repros that fit probably are cheeper anyway. they do look awesome on a turbo coupe though IMHO.
figured id throw it out there...

Re: 5 lug conversion

Reply #11 – April 09, 2005, 06:08:59 PM

thanks for all the help guys. I went to a couple different places and been lookin on the internet emailin companys but not much success so i think ima have to go with the conversion so im gonna start lookin into the parts and askin around on who will do it. thanks again for the help and ill let u all no how it turns out.