Budget brake upgrade on 87 Fox Hatchback

Smitty5 · Mar 15, 2019

Hi. I'm New to this thread. I've been lurking the last few weeks, reading previous posts and evaluating the information. There's some pretty smart members out there with good advice. So I felt comfortable joining. Enough Sucking up, here's a little back ground and my question.

I have an 87 Hatch that I'm planning on putting a 408 in. I want to upgrade to 5 lug disc, (on a budget of course) to leave more motor money. It will be a driver and probably won't see any strip time. Also, I am planning on a Chrome molly tubular cross member (possibly UPR. Products or Jegs) with factory A frames. I can always upgrade the brakes and control arms later.

Here's a list of parts that I think should work. Please let me know if I'm on the right track or have my head up my ......

Using a 94-95 GT or Cobra as a donor car:
1. Complete front assembly from the spindles out. Soft lines and all brackets,clips etc.
2. Master Cyl. and booster. Can I use factory Proportioning Valve ?
3. Complete assembly off the rear end, from the axle tubes out. Again all soft lines, clip brackets etc
4. Rear axles from Pass. side of an 86-87 Aerostar OR 83-92 Ranger/Bronco driver side axles from 4Cyl. or 3.0 with 7.5 rear end
5. I am planning on cutting the brake lines from the donor so i will have ALL the fittings

Thanks in advance for any help

General karthief · Mar 15, 2019

Welcome to stangnet, I moved this to the tech threads. A member will be with you in a minute. I say that because I still rock the four lug stuff.
i will say there is an abundance of swap info in the technical/how to thread on the main fox tech forum page, check it out.

Smitty5 · Mar 15, 2019

General karthief said:
Welcome to stangnet, I moved this to the tech threads. A member will be with you in a minute. I say that because I still rock the four lug stuff.
i will say there is an abundance of swap info in the technical/how to thread on the main fox tech forum page, check it out.

Thank You , New to these boards, still trying to learn them.

General karthief · Mar 15, 2019

No worries,

Mustang5L5 · Mar 16, 2019

Use the brakes and MC from the donor car, but as for the prop valve you'll want to gut your original with the available plug kit. And install an adjustable valve. Youlll want a matching 3-2 conversion kit from max motorsports.

If you run the shorter rear axles on the back, you'll need to either cut the factory brackets and install them on the back, or buy the offset axle brackets from north race cars.

Nothing really complex about this swap other than matching the MC and booster. Stick with the setup off your 94-95 donor.

Here's the old M-2300-K manual to use a reference

https://performanceparts.ford.com/download/instructionsheets/FordInstShtM-2300-K.pdf

Smitty5 · Mar 18, 2019

hrspwrjunkie said:
I can offer you some help.

First, Ford Racing used to sell a kit for this purpose with the Cobra R components in it, so you can reference an old catalog with that kit for a complete and accurate component list.

I know it used some rigmarole with the master cylinder and booster, but the specifics I don't know off the top of my head. There are a myriad little details to that swap I've learned and long forgotten, but researching that kit will help you pin them down.

I'm going to be a jerk here (I apologize), but brakes are never something that should be done on the cheap. If you're dumping a gnarly motor in the car, you need to be able to stop it effectively. The brakes and suspension are where the money should go, not the engine. I only say that because of my own past choices and recognizing the importance of a well-rounded car for both safety and fun.

No need to apologize, no offense taken. I agree, brakes are nothing to take lightly. I would LOVE to buy a complete conversion kit, but my pockets aren't that deep. I am doing the brakes and suspension before the motor goes in, and I plan to upgrade them afterwards if needed. What's the sense of having Tons of horsepower if your car can't handle it. That link to the Ford Racing bulletin you and Mustang5L5 posted is greatl. Thanks for your help.

Smitty5 · Mar 18, 2019

Mustang5L5 said:
Use the brakes and MC from the donor car, but as for the prop valve you'll want to gut your original with the available plug kit. And install an adjustable valve. Youlll want a matching 3-2 conversion kit from max motorsports.

If you run the shorter rear axles on the back, you'll need to either cut the factory brackets and install them on the back, or buy the offset axle brackets from north race cars.

Nothing really complex about this swap other than matching the MC and booster. Stick with the setup off your 94-95 donor.

Here's the old M-2300-K manual to use a reference

https://performanceparts.ford.com/download/instructionsheets/FordInstShtM-2300-K.pdf

Thank You. Went to look at the 95 donor car Saturday and it turned out to be a 96 sunk up to the rockers in dirt. I don't think the calipers would even work for returnable cores. Thanks for the link. It will be a great reference.

Wayne Waldrep · Mar 19, 2019

Mustang5L5 said:
Here's the old M-2300-K manual to use a reference

https://performanceparts.ford.com/download/instructionsheets/FordInstShtM-2300-K.pdf

That's great to have. I just read the whole thing. Lot's of good info there...and PICTURES! Thanks!!

Budget brake upgrade on 87 Fox Hatchback

Smitty5

New Member

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Smitty5

New Member

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Smitty5

New Member

Smitty5

New Member

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?

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Budget brake upgrade on 87 Fox Hatchback

New Member

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

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New Member

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?

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