'85 GT upgrade

Hi all. I am new here.
I am thinking about upgrading my '85 GT from 4-lugs to 5-lug wheels and
bigger disc brakes all around. Has anyone here done or is familiar with the
upgrade? I've seen the one where they use the axle from a mid-80's Lincoln
and the front spindles of an early '90s GT. It looks reasonable and
theoretically sounds good, but how about practically and functionally? What
about wheel-well clearance? Is the new setup too wide or too narrow?

Thanks

Tim

Well you've picked the most expensive way to do it. If you go from four to
five lugs you need new axles in the rear, new disks and spindles up front,
some kind of aftermarket rear disks, brackets & calipers and of course new
rims and tires. FRPP makes several kits which will let you achieve your
goal but you are looking at a major outlay in cash.( Around $4,000 in parts
is a good estimate.) A less expensive way would be, live with the current
four lug pattern, (there are any number of aftermarket wheel & tire
combinations that will bolt to the stock set up if you just have to have new
wheels), and just upgrade the rear drums to disk using the FRPP or SSBC rear
disk conversion kit. Put a 73mm caliper from a Lincoln LSC or Crown
Victoria on the front and your good to go, all a considerably lower cost. I
have this exact set up on my 88GT, all nice and neat under the stock turbine
rims. Another good thing about this set up is it uses mostly OEM parts, so
any brake shop can work on it if need be.

"Themio" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi all. I am new here.
> I am thinking about upgrading my '85 GT from 4-lugs to 5-lug wheels and
> bigger disc brakes all around. Has anyone here done or is familiar with
the
> upgrade? I've seen the one where they use the axle from a mid-80's Lincoln
> and the front spindles of an early '90s GT. It looks reasonable and
> theoretically sounds good, but how about practically and functionally?
What
> about wheel-well clearance? Is the new setup too wide or too narrow?
>
> Thanks
>
> Tim
>
>

Thanks,

The way I am looking at it, by using a used rear for the axles and the
brakes (I believe I read about a Lincoln setup) and the front you
recommended I can get it done for about $1000. I just don't know how
reliable it will be. I am glad to hear that you got your front done and did
not hear you complain. You bring up a good point, mostly OEM.... hmmm....

Thanks for the info.

Tim



"ironrod" > wrote in message
...
> Well you've picked the most expensive way to do it. If you go from four
to
> five lugs you need new axles in the rear, new disks and spindles up front,
> some kind of aftermarket rear disks, brackets & calipers and of course new
> rims and tires. FRPP makes several kits which will let you achieve your
> goal but you are looking at a major outlay in cash.( Around $4,000 in
parts
> is a good estimate.) A less expensive way would be, live with the current
> four lug pattern, (there are any number of aftermarket wheel & tire
> combinations that will bolt to the stock set up if you just have to have
new
> wheels), and just upgrade the rear drums to disk using the FRPP or SSBC
rear
> disk conversion kit. Put a 73mm caliper from a Lincoln LSC or Crown
> Victoria on the front and your good to go, all a considerably lower cost.
I
> have this exact set up on my 88GT, all nice and neat under the stock
turbine
> rims. Another good thing about this set up is it uses mostly OEM parts,
so
> any brake shop can work on it if need be.
>
> "Themio" > wrote in message
> m...
> > Hi all. I am new here.
> > I am thinking about upgrading my '85 GT from 4-lugs to 5-lug wheels and
> > bigger disc brakes all around. Has anyone here done or is familiar with
> the
> > upgrade? I've seen the one where they use the axle from a mid-80's
Lincoln
> > and the front spindles of an early '90s GT. It looks reasonable and
> > theoretically sounds good, but how about practically and functionally?
> What
> > about wheel-well clearance? Is the new setup too wide or too narrow?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Tim
> >
> >
>
>

The rears were professionally done, the installer informed me about the
increased peddle effort and how to correct it. The 73mm LSC calipers just
bolt on in place of the stock 65mm ones, no other modifications needed.

"Themio" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks,
>
> The way I am looking at it, by using a used rear for the axles and the
> brakes (I believe I read about a Lincoln setup) and the front you
> recommended I can get it done for about $1000. I just don't know how
> reliable it will be. I am glad to hear that you got your front done and
did
> not hear you complain. You bring up a good point, mostly OEM.... hmmm....
>
> Thanks for the info.
>
> Tim
>
>
>
> "ironrod" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Well you've picked the most expensive way to do it. If you go from four
> to
> > five lugs you need new axles in the rear, new disks and spindles up
front,
> > some kind of aftermarket rear disks, brackets & calipers and of course
new
> > rims and tires. FRPP makes several kits which will let you achieve your
> > goal but you are looking at a major outlay in cash.( Around $4,000 in
> parts
> > is a good estimate.) A less expensive way would be, live with the
current
> > four lug pattern, (there are any number of aftermarket wheel & tire
> > combinations that will bolt to the stock set up if you just have to have
> new
> > wheels), and just upgrade the rear drums to disk using the FRPP or SSBC
> rear
> > disk conversion kit. Put a 73mm caliper from a Lincoln LSC or Crown
> > Victoria on the front and your good to go, all a considerably lower
cost.
> I
> > have this exact set up on my 88GT, all nice and neat under the stock
> turbine
> > rims. Another good thing about this set up is it uses mostly OEM parts,
> so
> > any brake shop can work on it if need be.
> >
> > "Themio" > wrote in message
> > m...
> > > Hi all. I am new here.
> > > I am thinking about upgrading my '85 GT from 4-lugs to 5-lug wheels
and
> > > bigger disc brakes all around. Has anyone here done or is familiar
with
> > the
> > > upgrade? I've seen the one where they use the axle from a mid-80's
> Lincoln
> > > and the front spindles of an early '90s GT. It looks reasonable and
> > > theoretically sounds good, but how about practically and functionally?
> > What
> > > about wheel-well clearance? Is the new setup too wide or too narrow?
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Tim
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>