Anyone drill a Ford 8.8 for 5 on 4 BP?
- Thread starter Sharpone
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33IMP
Well-Known Member
This is just a guess, mind you.....
but I don't see why it can't be done. Disc or drum rear? You might have to machine the center register smaller, as well as the pattern change. And I'd plan on screw-in studs. Might have to go to a 1/2 stud too, which might complicate wheel fit.
I'm guessing you have some high dollar or rare wheels you wanna keep. Cause about 99% of the time people happily move from 5 on 4 to the standard ford/large mopar pattern when swapping an 8.8. Wheel selection improves about 100fold.
but I don't see why it can't be done. Disc or drum rear? You might have to machine the center register smaller, as well as the pattern change. And I'd plan on screw-in studs. Might have to go to a 1/2 stud too, which might complicate wheel fit.
I'm guessing you have some high dollar or rare wheels you wanna keep. Cause about 99% of the time people happily move from 5 on 4 to the standard ford/large mopar pattern when swapping an 8.8. Wheel selection improves about 100fold.
Professor Fate
Push the button, Max...
If it's a disc rear and you're looking to keep some factory type 14" wheels, I don't think the calipers will clear a 14. And as mentioned, the center register will need to be turned down, but not at the base- You'll want to leave a little bit of the register alone so the disc/drum will still center itself on the axle. You'll need a "step" on your center register.
1WildRT
Well-Known Member
Completely doable.. Pretty easy actually... But why....
dano
Evil Handy Man
Seems easier to just change the front to BBP. Most Thunderbirds from 1989 to 1997? were 5x108mm (corrected). So close to 5x4 but no quite enough
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No, they weren't, they were a screwy 4.25" BC......
Why?
I'll make an assumption, and that is that the reason you want to keep the 5x4" pattern is to keep a particular set of wheels you have. That's going to be the issue, not re-drilling the 8.8 axles and rotors to 5x4".
So what we really need to know is what your goals are- what wheels you want to run, what actual CAR you have, what the front brake set up is going to be, etc... Because setting the 5x4" pattern on the 8.8 axles and rotors can be done. Maybe have some issues to address, but it can be done. But that still might not accomplish the rest of your goals for the swap- for example, running a set of factory SBP wheels.
This is the backside of an Explorer 8.8 axle. Looks to me like the worst thing that could happen is that you'd need to spot face the area under the head of the stud, if the shoulder of the stud at the 5x4" pattern diameter interferes with the taper on the back of the axle flange. The rotors shouldn't be an issue.
But center bore diameters, caliper clearance and wheel offset definitely could be, depending on what wheels you're trying to keep, what axle width you're planning on and what car this is all going to be on.
I'll make an assumption, and that is that the reason you want to keep the 5x4" pattern is to keep a particular set of wheels you have. That's going to be the issue, not re-drilling the 8.8 axles and rotors to 5x4".
So what we really need to know is what your goals are- what wheels you want to run, what actual CAR you have, what the front brake set up is going to be, etc... Because setting the 5x4" pattern on the 8.8 axles and rotors can be done. Maybe have some issues to address, but it can be done. But that still might not accomplish the rest of your goals for the swap- for example, running a set of factory SBP wheels.
This is the backside of an Explorer 8.8 axle. Looks to me like the worst thing that could happen is that you'd need to spot face the area under the head of the stud, if the shoulder of the stud at the 5x4" pattern diameter interferes with the taper on the back of the axle flange. The rotors shouldn't be an issue.
But center bore diameters, caliper clearance and wheel offset definitely could be, depending on what wheels you're trying to keep, what axle width you're planning on and what car this is all going to be on.
Thanks all, I guess I should’ve clarified what and why. The 8.8 I have is drum brake set up. I have the original drum brakes up front and won’t be changing to disks anytime soon. Presently I can carry one spare for all four corners when I install the 8.8 I’ll have two different size wheels and carrying 2 spares would suck. I also have a line on some NOS 14 inch mag wheels. Looking at the picture of the inside of the axle flange it looks like it would have to be spot faced. I was looking to redrill using a jig and don’t have the means to spot face and don’t want to spend $$s at a machine shop. Could use the money and convert front to disks.
Decisions, decisions
Thanks again
Decisions, decisions
Thanks again
dano
Evil Handy Man
Oh yea thaats right, it was 5x108. Never understood why Ford did that and the 4x108 on the Mustangs until 94.
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