Hi, I'm in the process of restoring my 1972 Comet Gt and I was wondering if anyone knew how to change a 4 lug wheel to a 5 lug wheel and what I would need to get or do to make the change.
The easy way is to find a 5-lug Maverick/Comet and use the parts. You will need the whole rear end. Someone else may know what parts needed for the front. My guess is everything from the hubs, to the lug nuts and everything in between.
Don't quote me on this, but you just swap the drum assembly (and I don't mean just the part with the studs sticking out) I think to change to 5 lug up front. I haven't done it, but it seems pretty easy.
Up front, you will need the the Drums/backing plates and hubs (Most 4 lug cars have 9 inch drums and 5 lugs are 10 inch) So get the backing plates too. Rear... Change out the whole rear end assy as RThomas stated...You cant put 5 lug axles in a 4 lug housing without getting creative (Its not cost effective either) Heck...Grab the brake parts and bearings/hardware for the front too... Now is a good time to switch to disc brakes up front. Ultimately the better way to go.
Really? I wasn't aware. So what's the issue? I thought that all the 8" housings on the Mavericks/Comets were the same?? I was actually looking at buying a set of axles to maybe someday convert mine. I thought that 71 and up all had the same housings?? Oh, and welcome to 1972CometBabe!
Awww, ! I knew I should have just bought the complete axle that was for sale locally last month. Are the center-sections the same, if the axles are different? Thanks for the lesson, Mavman!
swap the whole rear end as youve already heard. the easiest way to change the front is to leave everything assembled remove the brake line and unbolt the spindles and swap everything as a whole. that way you wont have to worry about bearing sizes or interchange of any parts just a simple swap the brake lines should bolt right back up. if not then the local auto parts store sells adapters for the line fittings. I did this swap on my car within a few hours. I would say go with disc brakes if youre doing the swap already. drums work ok but disc brakes are just SO much easier to work on and cheaper. you can use brakes off of a granda as well as many other cars. you can get the front end at the junk yard for reasonably cheap. just buy the spindles and backing plate with brackets for the caliper. then go buy the rest new at the auto parts store for whatever year granada you took the parts off of. good luck
