[onesmartidiot]

Hi, I have a 1988 thunderbird which is basically a mustang with a different body (i think)

Most of the parts I buy for it cross reference with a Mustang of some type.

So here is my situation...

I have 4 lug 14" rims, i don't know how they hold that beastly 5.0 up, but whatever.

anyway, I would LOVE to change the wheels to a 5 lug pattern. And in that same project, set those 5 lug tires up with disc brakes all around.

What kits are there out for mustangs to do this the right way? I know they have to exist because I have seen many V8 stangs with the 4 lugs. I have crawled the web from left to right, all i can find are solutions that require you to buy junkyard parts off broncos and rangers and toss them together. Who makes a nice kit that just has the old parts come out, and new parts go in?

Please spend more time answering my question rather than calling me a moron for joining the wrong fourm "because I dont have a Mustang" lol

thanks

[Kyle F]

Welcome, this is AllFordMustangs.com, we only require that you have an interest in Mustangs, any Mustang, to be a member.

So, you do lke Mustangs right?

Anyway, you will see a lot of interchangeable parts in any make of vehicle mainly because of mass production. The more interchangeable parts you have, the larger quantity they can buy of said part, and it reduces manufacturing cost due to price breaks, less part number to inventory.. bla bla bla.

I am not sure if your rear is an 8.8" or 7.5" in the T-bird. Fox-body Mustangs were available with both through the run.


Hope someone here knows the T-birds.

PS My brother had a 5.0 Cougar at one time and a Lincoln Mark VII with the same motor. Pretty sweet cars at the time, now they are a bit short on power (Stock) as is the 5.0.

[tbirdboss]

i know its almost been a year, u've prob figured it out by now
but anyways i'll give u the little info i have

88tbird and 88mustang are very similar but w/ key difference
it depends which tbird ur talking about
the best one is the turbo coupe or the 4 cylinder
the rear is 8.8 w/ all around disk brakes
the t5 has 3.55gears the auto has 3.75gears

if u don't have the turbo coupe 4 cylinder
if you have an 5.0 or 3.8 thunderbird
(don't know about the sport version, thats a 302 semi-automatic)
u have rear drums on a 7.5

the cams differ you have the normal 302 firing order
not the 351 or HO firing order

the intake looks a little different from the mustang
don't think it makes much of a difference

the stock exhaust on the tbird is horrible
after the headers it y pipes into a big cat then ys to dual

the heads have the same specs 1.78/1.45

if u wanna make a 5lug conversion take a look at the Lincoln Mark VII
it came standard w/ 5 lug while tbirds and mustangs were 4 lug
the front brake assembly should fit
and for the rear i believe the Lincoln Mark VII came 8.8 w/disks
so if you already have an 8.8 look for axles and brake assembly
if you have a 7.5 look for a whole rear disk to disk

and keep in mind that the Lincoln Mark VII, Thunderbird and Mustang
have different wheel bases so the axle housing may have to be modified

i know its late info but good luck