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From the Archives
Wider Wheels and Tires 101, 5 lug conversions too
by Rob Weeks
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 13:14:51 -0500
Reply-To: The Ford Mustang II message exchange
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From: Robert Weeks II
Subject: Wider WHeels & Tires 101 5 lug conversions too(VERY LONG)
To: STANGII@DCC11972.SLIP.DIGEX.NET
I have noticed a great deal of interest in larger wheel and tire size
upgrades lately. Since I have been doing this Ugrading myself and
professionally for over 10 years maybe I can help. I just hope I dont
get attacked again. :-P
Ok, stock MII wheels are 13 X 5.5 with a 10mm offset. the tire size most
of use use or have is 195/70 13. The bolt pattern is 4(nunmber of lugs)
on a 4.25 (bolt cicrle spacing measured from the diagonal sfrom stud
center to stud center.) Anny 4 X4.25 wheel will physically bolt on the
hub or axle but fit is another totally different issue Examples will
follow, but, Volvo, Audi, Mecedes, BMW, European Ford, and several other
companies over the years have used this bolt pattern. Look at a Helms
Salvage yard crossrefernce some time andyou will see an entire book on
nothing but factory wheels.
Any of the latemodel (79-93) 4 lug mustang wheels will physically bolt
up no problem.
But the late wheels use a 20mm offset which is double that of the MII at
10mm. This means that the mounting pad is further toward the outside of
the wheel or in another way, the wheel sits further inside the wheel
well and will hit the fender liners and the frame and suspension
components.
There is a cure. H&R Springs makes a kit that adapts and spaces the
wheel out for clearence and will not hurt the car or come loose. These
adapters bolt to your hub as if they were the actual rim with recessed
fasteners. Then you bolt your wheel to the adapter as if the adapter
were the actual hub because the adapter IS now a part of the hub. They
are available in the proper width for the MII using the late wheel and
they run $149.95 a set plus shipping.
NEVER use the slip on spacers for ANYTHING. (except a paper weight)I
used them for a year and had to retorque wheels each week. Also if you
are applying any real power you will snap wheel studs like candy toys.
Note that the adapter/sp[acers are only necessary for the front the rear
is fine.
Also of interest is the tire sizes you will want.
using a stock MII 195/70 13 you will want either a 205/50 16 for an
exaact replacement with no gearing or speedo changes. Or you can go as
large on front at 225/50 16 (stock Late Mustang) and 235/50 16 in the
rear. Of course tthe larger tires will speedo and gearing recalbiration.
For all those reading this, the same applies for 17" wheels too. If you
need conversions from 13 ro 14,15,16,17,18, 19, or even 20" wheels i can
give you the correct tire sizes. The only thing to remember is that the
size that is correct mey only be offered by one or 2 companies so
choices will be limited.
Now as for the other question of 5 lug conversions. The most popular in
the street rod scene s the Granada 5 lug 11" rotor swap. Using an
aftermarket disc brake mounting bracket, either late mustang 4 cyl
calipers or GM Monte Carlo Calipers and the aforementioned rotors you
can gain several benefits. One, a 40% increase in brake surface area.
Two, 5 lug front tire/wheel como choices, three, easier parts
replacement due to more common car donor parts. Three, the aftermarket
offers these rotors CHEAP and in any 5 lug pattern you want so if a '99
vette wheel is the look you want just order your rotors in GM 5 lug and
go. Drawbacks, well in most cases this is a blessing for newer wheels,
but the granada conversion moves the mounting surface for the wheel out
3/4" to the outside. SO, you actually gain in offset which allows you
more contemporary wheel style choices. and by using the H&R adapter kit
we can do almost anyhting and any wheel you want.
The rear for 5 lug can be accomplished several ways. Redrilling the
axles and drums is the basic soution. have a machine shop weld p the 4
lug patttern and go to the 5 lug pattern of choice. Next is the bone
yard aproach. Any 64-66 Mustang is the same drum to druma dn perch to
perch measured axle as a MII. Meaning that the axles will directly
replace for length and fit. find a 5 lug 64-66 Mustang or 63-67 falcon,
or newer Versilles amnd get the axles, brake backing plates, drums and
shoes and you are done. NOW note if you do the bone yard approach to
make good notes of what you have because n the future you will order
barke parts for the donor car not the MII. Lastly is the rearen swap.
the Versilles disc brake 9" is the rear os first choice, bolt in
convience, drear disc stopping power and easy Emergency brake adaptaion.
understand though that the 9" is heavy, and inefficeint. Also, the 9"
really only offers about a 25% increase in overall power handling
capacity over a well built 8" so I only recommend going to the 9" in
extreeme cases and stilll would weight using an 8.8" from a newer
Mustang first.
lastly, Understand the affects of using taller tires. they decrease
effective gear ration and really mess ith speedo calibraion to a point
where getting the speedo close is all you will get. Especially in those
dd tire sizes. A combination of drive gear changes for the speedo can
help but there are limited combinations to cure the speedo inaccuracies.
If anyone has specific fit questions ask away. I ahve a ful dataase of
factory and aftermarket wheel info and can get about any dimension I
need to help decide if a wheel will work and with what mods.
hope this helps clear some of the mystery away on getting real meat
under your MII.
Rob Weeks
1978 Monroe Handler
1978 King Cobra
1975 V-8 Coupe
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Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1998 19:12:41 -0500
Reply-To: The Ford Mustang II message exchange
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From: Robert Weeks II
Subject: Re: Wider WHeels & Tires 101 5 lug conversions too(VERY LONG)
To: STANGII@DCC11972.SLIP.DIGEX.NET
Gregg all wheels available for the MII, steel, styled steel, mag and
lacey were advertised as 13" x 5.5" and the tire decals on the door for
my 75(styled steel) and my KC (Lacey) indicate tire pressures and loads
for fitments measuring 13 X 5.5
Now in reality one can measure any such wheel and get widths as low as
4.75" and as high as 6".
The industry standard for wheel width is from inside each bead(lip) fom
left to right. So the outer lip that you see when the tire is mounted is
not calculated in the width measure.
I went out just now to double check, as I have a complete set of each
style of MII wheels hoarded away for the future. Steel to lacey they all
measure 5.5 in width.
Also the National Tire Dealers Association provides a year by year
synopsis of the makes and models available sizes and options. The newest
one I have is 1979 and it shows all types measruing 5.5" wide.
Go figure. I ways want to include the lip too since the foot print of
the tire is measured installed and is almost always equal to the outer
lip area it would make sense. but, alas we logical people dont count.
:-)
Yet another quandry of the Mechnized world.
Rob Weeks
1978 Monroe Handler
1978 King Cobra
1975 V-8 Coupe
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Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 00:48:40 -0500
Reply-To: The Ford Mustang II message exchange
Sender: The Ford Mustang II message exchange
From: Robert Weeks II
Subject: Re: Wider WHeels & Tires 101 5 lug conversions too(VERY LONG)
To: STANGII@DCC11972.SLIP.DIGEX.NET
the 8" 5 lug axles are identical. I have a '66 rear end in the blue car
and used the 75 axles to retain 4 lug.
if you got a set of 5 lug 9" axles, yes the flange and bearings are both
larger. But the 9" rears are getting so hard to find the 8" 5 lug rears
are plentiful and cheap thereofre more likely to be stumbled upon
Rob Weeks
1978 Monroe Handler
1978 King Cobra
1975 V-8 Coupe
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