i saw somethign abotu 5 lug drums being an easy swap to our maverick 4 lug drums? is this true, what do i need to do, like what cars fit, the whole run down i was just thinkin this would be an easier and cheaper way to get 5 lug all the way around
I switched to 5 lug drums from a 1966 falcon and all i had to change is the wheel bearings,and the backing plates.
lol, its a piercing, thats how us young kids do haha and did u buy them like repop from a catolouge, or did u just take them off a donor car also is this good on the back and front? any other cars that would be good as donors?
When I initially converted my '72 to five lug, I simply used the front drums, wheel bearings and backing plates off my '74 Grabber. It all bolted onto the original '72 4 lug spindles no problem, and I drove the car 15,000 miles like that. I have since installed '76 front disc spindles with the disc brakes, and it is sooo much nicer to drive then the drums were. The rear end is unfortunately not as easy. You will have to get an entire 5 lug rearend and swap in. A 5 lug rearend from any '71-'77 Maverick or Comet will bolt right in. Just put jack stands under the rear torque boxes, loosen the main brake line, emergency brake lines, take the drive shaft loose (4 nuts), and remove the two large U bolts on either side. I would suggest replacing the large U bolts that bolt the rearend to the rear springs, they are available at any auto parts store. I swapped the rearend from my '74 Grabber over to my '72 in a weekend.
Aren't some 4 bolt rear axles 8" rears? ... or are they all the smaller axle? On an 8", the center chunk drops out as a unit with the gear. The smaller axle will have a rear inspection cover. If starting with an 8", you can get away with just swapping axle shafts and brakes. Probably about the same amount of time involved as with changing the entire axle, but easier to do solo at home with hand tools. -EDIT- Just did a quick search and it looks like the 4 lug axles have smaller axle bearings. You would have to get a hybrid bearing for the two to match up. Easier to get a whole axle and swap it.
It would be nice if someone would make a retro fit bearing , you would still have to use the 4 bolt retaining flange because the bolt pattern is different. One other possible way would be to have the 5 lug axles ground down to accept the id of the smaller 4 lug bearing, just a thought.
It is certainly possible to convert a 4 lug rear to 5 lug. But by time you go through the time and effort to do it, you might as well just swap the whole rearend. It really isn't that hard. Only took me a couple of days, and I was taking my time and redid my exhaust at the same time. With the right tools, I'm sure it could be done in a matter of a few hours. Heck, I've entertained the idea of sitting my wrecked '74 Grabber body on a 2001 Ranger frame and running gear I have.
