78 "Grenade" Project... Kinda Different

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

I hope I am allowed to post up in here, because I figured Classic tech is probably to most similar vehicles on here.

Anyway, what I started with is a 78 Granada:

- 6 cyl 250
- 3spd C4 Auto
- 8.7" 2.47 Open Rear Axle

What I have now is:

- Healthy built 302 V-8
- T-5 5spd Manual
- 8.8" 3.73 L/S (Disc Brakes) Rear Axle

I just finally got the trans in today, but don't have too many pics yet. I will post some of my older ones tho...

Still needs alot of things done to it, but I finally got the major parts done today.

Check out my photo album at http://rides.webshots.com/album/251977201yhBJbU for more pics.

 

[66Runt]

A fox is a fox...

.

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

Are the 75-80 Granada's really Fox's? I was certain they were much more similar in design to the 65-73 Mustangs... Am I wrong? I know of many parts compatible between the early 'Stangs and Granadas, but am drawing a blank when i comes to compatibility with Fox's.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[bnickel]

they are nothing like fox body cars. they are basically built on the late 60's falcon chassis whcih is also the basis for the 71-73 mustangs. the granada and the maverick are really more like the late 60's falcons than the 71-73 big body stangs or even torinos which are also based on that platform. ford got a lot of miles out of the falcon architecture from the late 50's alway through until the beginning of the 80's.

i looked at your pics, which wheels do you have on the car now? i've always been kinda partial to the mesh style granada "sport" wheels as i have a similar design wheel on my car.

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

Thanks for the info Bnickel. The last pics are the most up to date. I traded the stock rims in the first pics for the magnum 500's in the middle pics, and I currently have the set of 14" Keystone Classic's on it now. I belive they are 14x10 in the rear, with a lot of offset, and the fronts are just 14x7.

I've got 195/70-14 in the front, which are junk because I cut my coils and didn't do an alignment until i scrubbed the off on the inside. I'm running 245/60-14 in the rear because that's the widest I can find.

Does anyone know of a company that makes a tire wider than 245 for 14" wheels? I want wider REAL bad, but can't find anything. I thought BFG might've had a 265 or 275 for a while, but can't find it again.

Thanks,

Adam

 

[1320stang]

So, are you going to swap in '67 Mustang front drum brakes and a '67 8" rear?

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

So, are you going to swap in '67 Mustang front drum brakes and a '67 8" rear?

haha, funny. No, but if things like suspension bushings are similar, I can see using performance bushings for a 70-73 stang. good luck finding "granada performance parts" lol. That's just one example. My point is that many manufacturers are taking starting to reproduce parts for early mustangs, and making improvements, whereas nobody does that for a granada, so the more compatible parts i can find, the better.

 

[bnickel]

one problem you are going to run into as far as bushings is that the granada has rubber upper control arm bushing and the mustangs all used a metal bushing that screwed onto the shaft, so they are not interchangable. i think the lower control arms are the same though and the strut rods are at least similar.

 

[66Runt]

Fairmont not Granada

.

 

[washMO66]

BossHossRoss - I dig it.

It has that kind of sort of retro starsky & hutch / Beretta / members only / 78 baby blue thunderbird vibe.....

I say bag it, slam it and go beat up on some pretty cars.......


and you are welcome to post here anytime....

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

washMO66
BossHossRoss - I dig it...

...I say bag it, slam it and go beat up on some pretty cars.......

Thanks for the props, but I don't want it to sit too low. I enjoy driving this thing hard, and I occasionally go out "dukes of hazzarding" down the back country roads curvy pavement/dirt drifting and such. Much lower than this and my longtubes will be draggin' lol. They hit enough now...

I like how it sits up front now. I've cut the front springs, and readjusted the camber, and it sits about 2" lower. I like the raked stance it has now too. lol

 

[MustangMatt1966]

I ran into the same problem with the 14 inch rims and finding the widest tire possible. The only solution is to go with a bigger rim, which in the end will look better anyways. I just got new 15 by 7 and 15 by 8 sport star rims....as far as the car goes, shoot its a ford, its got a v8 and goes fast...I cant complain haha better than some honda with a big exhaust pipe :SNSign:

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

does anyone know if M50-14's are still made by any tire company?

 

[krash kendall]

I like it! Where did you fing the earlier headlight/grill assembly in such good shape? I really prefer the round headlights over the square.

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

krash kendall
I like it! Where did you fing the earlier headlight/grill assembly in such good shape? I really prefer the round headlights over the square.

Thanks! I do too, that's why I swapped. I found a 77 sitting in a yard down the road. I stopped and asked what he was doin' with it, and he said he just got it for the 302 and trans. I gave him $20 and took everything I wanted off it. I grabbed the nose and front bumper, because mine had the rubber crap on it. I also grabbed the mint dash pad out of it. That's all I had time to grab and he sent it to the crusher before I had a chance to come back ;( Now i wished I had grabbed the whole car from him!

 

[68stang351]

It's fine by me for you to post here. In fact, keep us updated. I like seeing things that are different.

BTW, I noticed in the new Mustangs Plus (oops! can I say that?) catalogs, they now have performance brake pads/rotors/calipers for Granadas! That might be something you would want to remember, in case you decide to upgrade any of that stuff.

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

68stang351
BTW, I noticed in the new Mustangs Plus (oops! can I say that?) catalogs, they now have performance brake pads/rotors/calipers for Granadas! That might be something you would want to remember, in case you decide to upgrade any of that stuff.

ALLLLLRIGHT!!! I'm excited! I'll have to check it out! I had brake fade horribly when beating on her before I swapped out my axle. I haven't gotten a chance to test out the newly acquired rear discs, so we'll see what I think.

I was thinking about upgrading at least my rotors and pads. Maybe I'll try to find a set of drilled and/or slotted rotors. I've never tried them before, so I'm not sure what the pros and cons are. Anyone have any words of wisdom on that subject?

Thanks

 

[bnickel]

first off stay away from drilled rotors as they are prone to cracking but the slotted ones will work just fine. also, you don't have to pay Mustangs Plus prices either check out www.discbrakeswap.com the owner who goes by Degins is a member of this forum and is a super guy, he sells mostly disc brake conversion kits for early stangs but they are are repro's of basic production granada parts and he even sells brand new spindles for the granada as well as the slotted rotors. give him a try

 

[Boss.Hoss.Ross]

...check out www.discbrakeswap.com...

Thanks, Bnickel, it looks like he's got some really good deals! $75 for a pair of slotted rotors! $45 for a pair of refurb calipers loaded with semi-met's! Sounds too good to be true.

I'll probably order my prop. valve and maybe a set of rotors and pads from him. I'll let everyone know what I think when I finally get the stuff put on.

 

[D.Hearne]

does anyone know if M50-14's are still made by any tire company?

Just gotta know where to look. Summit Racing lists Mickey Thompson F70's , G & L 60's and N50's in 14's . The L60's are 27.5H x 9.5W and the N50's are 26.9H x 11.8W. I like your car too. Something different. Like the Fairmont Futura's too.