Correct me if I'm wrong - five lug questions.

[4000 Pounds of Iron]

I have a 1986 former 3.8L/C5 car that I've converted to a 5.0L/T5, and the original suspension and 7.5 rear is still in place. What I want to do is get four-wheel discs, an 8.8 traction-loc, and five lug wheels in one shebang -- I plan on stealing the full setup from an SN95 car, and using the 1994-98 five-spoke 'pony' rims with 225/55 or 245/50 tires. What would stop me from swapping the entire rearend, parking brake setup, master cylinder/prop valve, struts, and spindles (including brakes) from a donor SN95? I have heard the V6 cars use identical brakes to the GTs, and I don't care if the rear is 7.5 simply for the fact that I don't run slicks, but are any of the late 7.5s limited-slip? Tire clearance issues? I imagine the springs would act as a lift kit, but how about cutting coils on SN95 springs?

The car's a 'vert, if it matters.

I'm cheap, to say the least. Tell me if I'm stupid, I only have 1500 in the car right now.

4k#Fe

 

[5LugFoxFanatic]

I have an 86 with the same setup you are looking for. On the 86 there is no point in swaping the MC because the 85 Lincoln Towncar MC works fine. Use 87-93 front struts. The 94+ will be too long. Any 94-98 spindle will work. Keep the stock springs. Can cut coils but not really worth it. I run 245/45/17's all around and I get some rub on the front inner wells. If I was to do it over, I'd get 235 in the front. PM me if you have more questions.

Here's a pic of my 86

 

[4000 Pounds of Iron]

Any thoughts on the 7.5 rear? I have a ~230-250HP E7-headed carb motor that will never see slicks or a dragstrip.

Are there any issues with the brake lines?

4k#Fe

 

[trbkrb]

You can swap the whole rear end from a 94-98 and the fronts too. The 94-95 have the same front width as your car, the 96+ are 8mm wider each side. You will have to do some mods to the ebrakes since yours has a manual adjuster in the handle and the cables may not line up quite right with the SN95 cables. You may need to go with the Ford Motorsports cables for the rear cables,or SVO cables. You can use the Fox rear axle hard brake line and use adapters at the soft lines for the calipers, or find an adapter for the SN95 center line to the Fox hard line on the chassis, I think they are different. The front lines you should use the SN95 ones if you can get them, and you may need an adapter for the passenger side since the SN95 PS is a smaller thread.

See Matt's website for all the info:

http://svo73mm.cjb.net/

 

[rd]

It may be easier to just go the five lug route with the 7.5 in axle you have. I have run into the 12's with my 7.5 in. It has stock axles, an SVO traction lock and still four lug wheels. This is with a C4 and drag radials. That was all motor, it has done some high 7 sec eighth mile runs on the bottle.

I have an the stock 7.5 in traction lock 2.73 axle from my 82 now in my 79 Capri.

If you are not planning on launching on slicks the axle should be ok. Traction lock 7.5 stuff is fairly common, since it was in Ranger trucks, etc.

 

[4000 Pounds of Iron]

The main goal here is for the disc brakes, or I would happily do the aerostar-axles trick.

If anyone can name a way for me to get five-lug discs in my existing 7.5 rear more cheaply than swapping in an SN95 rear, I'd love to hear it.

I'm going to use this car in the local autocross club and cruising, that's it. Maybe a nice hard shift every now and then, but never on slicks.

Here's another question. I don't have the transmission in yet (still cleaning the carcass out) but I've heard conflicting reports on whether I need a new driveshaft. As stated, the car was a C5/3.8L '86, now a 5.0/T5. Thoughts?