I am looking at installing a 78 Camaro front clip on my 50 Merc and would like to keep the Ford 5x4.5 lug pattern. I have heard that there are rotors/hubs available that fit the Camaro spindles and have the Ford pattern...can anyone verify? Does anyone have a source? Thanks...
Take a look here it might help you http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1920563#post1920563
Not sure if it will work you may be able to use Granada rotors just swap out the bearings and races. You can use camaro rotors on a mustang 2 by putting Granada races in the camaro rotor.
Charlie you will need to get 1977 and older spindles to use the speedway rotors as the 78 and up spindle uses larger bearing or you an easily redrill your rotors to 5 x 4.5 bp. Here are some i just redrilled to 5 x 5.5 for an installed on a merc woody with my camaro ball joint A-arm kit. Rick Erickson / Extreme Kustoms 951 678-3520
Thanks Rick... I found a front suspension in the back of the garage from a 2003 Z06 and remembered at one time that I was going to use it either on the Merc or an F100. As I recall the width was an issue for both applications so I kinda shelved it. I have been following another thread where a guy had installed a narrowed Crown Vic IFS in his 56 F100 so it got me thinking that I might be able to do that with the C5 suspension and make it work in the Merc. Any ideas on a precision machine shop that would cut a section out of the IFS cradle and reweld it?
Hey Charlie, I have looked at that style of vett front end and really did not see any real improvemt in suspension geometry over the 2 gen Camaro except for it has a little taller spindle and being cooler to look at. For me the vett has to many neg's as it is not as bag friendly. Rack steering can work well with limited suspension travel but on a bagged car the extra suspension travel will always cause some bump steer as the rack is mounted solid and does not move front to rear like on a cross link as you turn. Also racks are more prone to failure, leaks and transfer more road viberation that can be felt in the steering wheel. I have done allot of playing with different IFS but as of today the 2ng gen camaro has proven to work the best in a merc for me. The only other IFS i like so far is the Lincoln Mark VIII and i have put it with it.s rear in my personal merc woody but i am not sure if i would do it again. Anyway i am fairly sure AM make's a stub that uses your vett suspension parts. Rick Erickson / Extreme Kustoms 951 678-3520
I found this thread when looking for rotor stud changes from 5 x 4.75 to 5 x 4.5 on '69 Camaro spindles adapted to my '53 Studebaker. Ultimately, a friend had a drill jig that did exactly that. It's made by Hells Gage Hot Rods: https://www.hellsgatehotrods.com/product-category/drill-guides/
Gosh! I haven't had to investigate the subject until now.....and this thread helped me onward to a good solution!
The Jalopy Journal
