Fox My 4 to 5 lug journey..

limp · Sep 14, 2022

I finally have the front end going together on my out of control 'Grocery" getter...
Thought I would share some pictures with any of you going in this direction and what I dd...
This is about the front end only...
Most of you know the story, 1983 V8 SROD 4 speed, 302 convertible, my sister purchased in 84/85 ish...
I inherited the car almost two years ago... My goal is a nice running driver..
Not sure I could have done this without all of the help I received/receive daily on this site...
Special thanks to Mustang5L5 for his in depth directions and experience he patiently shares with all.....

I wasn't sure which way I was going with the 5 lug conversion, but after I found and purchased SN95 spindles, that made it much simpler..
Here is a pic of the spindles, before and after cleaning, wire wheeling and paint....
These were in the local WY.. I paid $70 for the pair... I used Cast Iron gray color.....

Fri Guy · Sep 14, 2022

Looks damn good. I need to do this swap at some point.

90sickfox · Sep 14, 2022

That color made that spindle look brand new.

limp · Sep 14, 2022

I reused the front lower control arms ( Original to the car) using new pressed in rubber bushings and a new SN95 ball joint.. My understanding is the Sn95 ball joints are shorter and you do not have to use any washers? to take up the space... Mine fit fine....
I used rubber control arm bushings as I have used Poly's in the past reusing the outer shell of the old bushings.... I had clunks and groans that I contributed to using Poly bushings in some previous cars in the control arms, and decided to go this direction.... I will use poly bushings on sway bars and struts though......
Not sure how the "new" control arms that come with the bushings and ball joint already installed are quality wise, but they would save ALOT of work and hassle using those.... A negative would be having to use washers/spacers on with the ball joint that comes on them..... I think it would be pretty much a push in cost too..
Before and after installed on car.. Do not tighten the two bolts that hold the control arm until it is setting at ride height... I took up all of the slack in the bolt threads as they are easier to get to now, but I would not even call them "snug" yet.....
DO NOT install your steering rack before you install your lower control arms..... The forward bolts that hold the control arms will not go in without the rack being off... I really enjoyed reinstalling my steering rack more than once .... LOL
Just black satin rustoleum paint on the control arms over a very light coat of etching primer and regular primer....

limp · Sep 14, 2022

Install of the new springs, spindles and strut/shocks..
I looked at different options for springs and struts and decided I really didn't need all of that......
I did want to lower the car and I did NOT want to try and reinstall the front stock springs......
I went with H&R " race "springs which are supposed to lower the car 1 to 1.5 inches... Enough to make it look better and hopefully not TOO MUCH to create other issues... I wanted to use H&R " sport " springs but they are NOT available for the convertibles...... I believe it is a weight issue. with a vert...
Stock Monroe struts will be fine for out handling mom in a mini van fighting over a parking spot at Winn Dixie.......
I did not want red springs, but as I was getting ready to paint them black, I did not have the heart to paint over the pretty powder coat... LOL Only a fool would install these without the MM spring install tool.. You can see it inside the spring bolted to the control arm...
If your springs are not compressing enough to install the strut bolts, try moving your jack out to the very end of the control arm for better leverage.. Make sure you do this safely and you have enough " meat" so it does not slip off the control arm.... I also found if I hung my chubby body off the fender with one arm it helped if the holes don't quite line up......
Pic of the stock vs new springs...

limp · Sep 14, 2022

Ordered 87 newer struts, which I thought would fit my spindles without using spacers, but it still needed them... They came with the new struts... Worked fine...
The two bolts that utilize these spacers, hold the struts to the spindles.... I wire wheeled all of the bolts and nuts, cleaning the threads too and painted them... Looked like Blue Loctite I cleaned out of the threads, so I used blue loctite on the install.... 140 Ft lbs to tighten....

limp · Sep 14, 2022

Finally, 5 lug spindles.... RE using the front spindle nut is only temp until I get new " one time use" nuts from Ford... This thing has been nickel diming me to death, or I should say hundred dollaring me..... LOL.....
Read where the Ford OEM nuts were alot nicer than aftermarket.... Tasca seems to have a great price on them......

limp · Sep 14, 2022

I will update more about the brakes and wheel/tires later......

rednotch · Sep 14, 2022

Can't beat the cast coat stuff for a decent cleaned up look, been using it for about a decade now Got lucky the other day and found a couple of cans of plastikote's version of it at the local discount store for $2 a can, turns out Sherwin williams also owns them just like duplicolor these days.

limp · Sep 14, 2022

rednotch said:
Can't beat the cast coat stuff for a decent cleaned up look, been using it for about a decade now Got lucky the other day and found a couple of cans of plastikote's version of it at the local discount store for $2 a can, turns out Sherwin williams also owns them just like duplicolor these days.

$16 a can at the local auto parts store.... I lose track of which one, there's 4 auto parts stores on the same block, two next door to each other.....

limp · Sep 14, 2022

Using 99-04, V6/gt brakes..... These have a 1" bigger rotor and twin piston calipers from the stock fox brakes.....
Purchased this kit off of Amazon... Calipers/rotor/and pads......
I feel these will also let me out brake a fat wench in a minivan with " baby on board" stickers for a Winn dixie parking spot without getting too exotic with cobra brakes or aftermarket....
Not sure about other brake calipers, but when using these you need to grind off a couple of spots on your spindle for clearance.... This pic looks much worse than it was.. All I needed to grind off was a dime to a penny thickness.... The caliper cylinders just barely interfere with the spindle in these two spots....
A thanks to Mustang 5L5 again for this heads up... It was alot easier doing this BEFORE I spent a few hours cussing this out why it didn't fit or stripping the threads on the calipers......
AND, I found it is MUCH easier to remove the bracket from the caliper, install it to the spindle, then install the pads into the bracket THEN install the caliper to the bracket... The caliper/bracket came all put together and I thought I would just slide the pads into it and then install it as is being smarter than the average bear..... LOL..... boo boo was right....

FastDriver · Sep 14, 2022

Thanks for sharing your progress on this. I've put a decent chunk of change in Black Jack, already. So, I'm not sure I'm going to go this route with that car, anymore, but if I do, this will be a very nice reference.

Mustang5L5 · Sep 15, 2022

My goal is to 5-lug swap every fox.

(No i will not pay for it )

rednotch · Sep 15, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
My goal is to 5-lug swap ever fox.

(No i will not pay for it )

I'll pay (cheaply) for all those poor miss placed 4lug draglites......

limp · Sep 15, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
My goal is to 5-lug swap every fox.

(No i will not pay for it )

I stumble over the old spindles and original brakes daily ( my poor garage is full ) wondering if I should toss them into my garbage can.........

limp · Sep 15, 2022

These brake lines are produced to install these calipers into a fox body.... I purchased mine from MM..... These are probably a bolt in on a 87 up car. My 83 brake hose brackets need mods to make them work..... Always something when changes are made..

Mustang5L5 · Sep 15, 2022

limp said:
I stumble over the old spindles and original brakes daily ( my poor garage is full ) wondering if I should toss them into my garbage can.........

I doubt anyone is taking pre-87 brake stuff.

limp · Sep 15, 2022

Mustang5L5 said:
I doubt anyone is taking pre-87 brake stuff.

I have to keep reminding my self that I am keeping this stuff in case there are some fit problems with the new stuff and I have the old stuff to measure why...

General karthief · Sep 15, 2022

I never throw old parts away till I'm done with what I'm working on.
Who am I kidding, I never throw anything away

Mustang5L5 · Sep 15, 2022

General karthief said:
Who am I kidding, I never throw anything away

I’ve been on a cleaning spree after “finishing” my car. Threw lots of junk out and threw a ton on eBay.

Feels good to make space and put some $$$ in my pocket

Fox My 4 to 5 lug journey..

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

I'd like to remain having one chocolate starfish

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

I was uncomfortably high & wearing a helmet

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

I'd like to remain having one chocolate starfish

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency