Rear track width (stock)

ill advised

Member
Apr 29, 2003
656
10
19
West L.A.
One thing I have always disliked about these cars is how far in the rear wheels sit. Is there anything that can be done to bring the stock wheels out a bit more? Are there any Ford models with a similar lug pattern that can be sourced? I suppose just adding longer axles wouldn't work because they would extended beyond the housing. I'm not big on running spacers but if I added longer studs would they really be a problem for what is basically a stock AOD? Just wondering if there are any other ideas out there. Eventually I would like a set of Pony R's (17x8/9), assuming they're still availabe when I get around to it.
 
The ony way besides spacers is the SN95 rear conversion or as Mike said, 87-88 Turbocoupe for 4 lugs. The actual axle housings on 86-98 cars are exactly the same, so you could just get the 94-04 brakes and brackets and ONLY 94-98 axles and it will move your rear wheels out 3/4" on each side. Or get the brakes and axles from the TC.

As for spacers, Maximum Motorsports and others actually have spacers that bolt on using your existing studs, and then have new studs to bolt the wheels to. These spacers are usually 1" or thicker and some are used by the classic 60's Mustang guys to install 94-04 model Mustang wheels, or now you can install the 05+ wheels on earlier cars with them.
 
I would install an entire 94-98 rear end with all the rear brakes, rotors etc...then go 94-95 spindles up front. The 3/4" on each side will make 17X8's fill in the wheel well....and 17X9's will be right out at the edge and look sick!
 
Or if you want 4-lug... Turbo COupe rear disks will push the wheels out 3/4" each side.
That sounds perfect. I get the feeling that something is warped on the right side* so I can address that as well. I don't see many TC's out on the yards but I'm sure the parts are out there. Depending on how it turns out I may do this on both cars. The MM spacers sound like something that would work. I'm going to look into the TC parts.

*When I'm braking I can hear a consistant clunking sound coming from the right rear. It's not extremely harsh or loud but it's there. When I hear the sound it also feels as if I pressed the brakes a little harder, then let-up (repeatedly and again, not harsh but definitely annoying). I put the car on jackstands yesterday and noticed that the wheel has a slight wobble. That's as far as I got but I will look into it further this weekend. Bent axle?