55 ford wheels wont fit Granada disks. Any advise

I am installing a set of Fatman drop spindles with power disk brakes on my 55 Customline, the rotor centers will not fit thru the center hole in the stock wheels. I was wondering if there is another rotor or if I should cut the wheel? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Aaron

 

I have run wheels with the centers cut out on a lathe for clearance. You can buy new wheels from the advertiser people, they will already be opened up to clear the hub. But, you will not likely be able to match the backspacing of the original wheel, so if your car is dropped, etc, keep an eye on the fender rubbing routine. I have read some folks have turned down the hub of the rotor to clear the stock wheel. Plymouth wheels will fit right on there, sorry I dont know the specific year.

 

I used an air dremel tool to open up my wheels. Worked well. I used one of my carbide bits. It took a little time but as you can see, it worked. Stock granada spindles, rotors, calipers, original 55 ford rims and Aerostar springs. Exactly 3.5 inches lower than stock.

 

The rotors are the problem, but you want to mess up the wheels? Pull the rotor off and chuck it up in a lathe and turn down the center register.

 

Rotors go bad more often than wheels. It's a lot easier to replace a rotor out of the box 500 miles from home than buy a new rotor, find a machine shop, have them machine it, then put it on. Only to find out the new rotor was warped and too thin out of the box to cut. Ill stick with my modified rims

 

This is the reason why I don't want to go disc because I want to be able to use my stock wheels and not modify them also swap out supreme when I want

 

Cut the rotor hub down in a lathe, we do it all the time

 

I ran into the same thing when I went with the Fatman Granada disc brake swap on our wagon,,I wasn't planning on using the original hub caps but wanted to use the 48 Ford type,,so I just bought a set of repro steelies from Coker. HRP

 

Ford did make wheels with two different center holes. If I remember correct, the newer wheels have the larger center.

 

I bought new rotors and had them turned down about an eighth. There is plenty of iron in the hub area, mine have been on the road since 1999 with many miles.

 

Cut the rotors down and run your stock wheels, if you maintain the brake pads you shouldn't ever have a problem again. Or you could buy 2 later ford wheels....

 

Can any brake shop cut them down? Other then the center hole being an issue are there any others?

 

I think you're going to have two issues with those stock wheels and Granada rotors. The center opening needs to be large enough as mentioned. Also the shape of the rim behind the center needs to be nearly "flat" not beveled as it comes to meet the center. Ford changed their wheels in the mid to later 60s to accomodate disc brakes and then in the 70s the center hole got larger.

You may have to go the route suggested by Hotrodprimer or use wheels from the 70s and your old hubcaps.

 

I had the same problem when I used discs from a 72 LTD on my 56, the stock wheels wouldn't fit. I ended up using the wheels from the 72 LTD with my stock hubcaps, had to bend the tabs on the caps a little, but they fit fine.
Check out the 52-59 Ford group here, lots of good info.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=332

 

If you are running steelies, i'd just get later model SteeliesI'm sure you can adapt them.

 

Even of you open the center of the wheel up the wheel is not going to clear the caliper and you will need spacers to run a stock '55 Ford wheel.

You need disc brake wheels or you will need to run wheel spacers.

 

Honestly I have never had issues with my stock non power drums, Maybe just stick with those and add a dual master...

 

My factory stock 55 steel wheels fit the cut down hubs/rotors from the Granada and were on there seven years.

 

If you can't find stock Granada steelies, try to find some 14" argent Magnum 500s and slap your caps over.

 

Unless a caliper sticks, hose swells or a pad is spit from its backing. Late model rim may be fine. I never tried. Stock 55 ford rim WILL fit Granada calipers NO problem. Years don't matter, miles do. If you want to drive the snot out of it, I'd get a rim to fit the rotor or modify yours

 

If this is the case I might just do the conversion or stick with drums and buy a dual master. Who sells a complete kit for a decent price?

 

the bolt pattern is different(spacing) on the granada than on a 55-56 rear..

 

All 50's Fords were 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern, this is a Granada: http://www.originalwheels.com/ford-wheels/granada1979rims.php Looks like the same to me.

 

my rears are 5 on 5 on my 56 merc and i used granada spindles up front that are 4.5 on 5,and yes its the stock rear end;]

 

That's strange. Wish I would have measured my uncles old 56 merc before he sold it.

 

70 Mustang rotors are same bearing and dimemsion as Granada, but the centers are already machined down smaller to fit the early magnum 500's.

15 wheels of early 70's Lincoln has 4 1/2 bolt pattern, fit the early small dog dish cap, and fit over most all discs.