10" drums, on a TC 8.8, with 5 lug axles. Update and success!
This thread will be a how-to, and informational, with pics of progress and the results of experiments and trial and error, as it seems that nobody has really dug into this.
87thunderbirdblackjack and myself are independently working on this and sharing info via PM, I welcome his input to this thread as well :D:bowdown:
EDIT: this swap ONLY works using 1986, 1987, 1988 Thunderbird Sport 10" drum backing plates, SN95 axles, and 1988 Panther chassis (Crown Vic, Marquis) brake drums ONLY. There's NO known workaround for 4 lug, 10" drum swaps, UNLESS there are such a thing as a pre-'85 10" drum brake setup on a Tbird or Cougar. For a 4 lug 10" drum conversion you WILL need the backing plates from an '83 or '84 Thunderbird/Cougar...if such a brake combo exists. This I do not know.
Now, before we get started...no, I don't want discs, so don't say "grab some disc brake parts", because if I could find some for cheap, that weren't already junk, I'd already have the stuff in place and this thread wouldn't exist :D
Just in mocking up Sport 4 lug 10" drums onto TC length axles with Sport backing plates shows that the longer axles move the drums (and all the other brake components) away from the axle tube...meaning that spacers will need to be machined to properly center the backing plate, OR another avenue must be taken.
The reason I keep referring to the TC axle to mock up the placement is because the TC axle is the same length as the 5 lug stang axle I plan to use, so the length and distance between rear end housing and outer remains constant (or should be, in a perfect world) If in fact I can use the '85 10" drum backing plates on a '88 TC housing with Stang axles and the length is right, then I'll simply redrill my 4 lug drums into 5 lug and be one happy camper.
UPDATE: the Panther drums (Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, possibly Town Car?) drums seem to fit fine.
I sourced an '88 Grand Marquis 10" drum, and it's on a '97 Mustang axle (if you have axles from a GT, you WILL need to knock off the ABS exciter) and an '87-'88 TC rear. (Same as '87-'93 Stang 8.8 rear).
The backing plates are stock from my '88 Sport, as it had the 7.5 trac loc with the bigger rear brakes. Not sure what or where else to source workable backing plates from. Perhaps the Panther cars, assuming the axle ends are similar. (Most likely not, as I seem to recall gumby sating awhile back they are dis-similar in sizes)
I wanted to:
A; keep my stock rear track width,
B; avoid having to change master cylinder, brake booster, and get new park brake cables, and
C; 2 new drums are still less than the cost of ONE remanned rear caliper, and easier to find, to boot. You could probably find a set in the junkyard, but at least with new ones you're saved the hassle of possibly bad drums.
Anyway, here are pics with everything mocked up. It seems like there isn't enough gap between the drum and b/p, but keep in mind this is with the axle slid in as far as it will go. It will come back out about 1/16" or so with the c clip installed and the differential cross pin in place to hold things in place inside. Later today after I've slept, I will put that back together and put the axle back in it's proper spot and take a few more pics.
And to give credit where it's due, Clayton mentioned the possibility of the Panther drums...credit is ALL his. I just had a rear apart for the mock up...so many many thanks to you for the tip 
here are pics
Topic: 10" drums, on a TC 8.8, with 5 lug axles. Update and success! (Read 7137 times)
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