I'm going to look at a possible donor car for upgrading my 69.5 Maverick to a V8, front discs, etc. The wrecking yard guy can't remember exact year or make, or if standard or auto trans. He's guessing 72-74 Maverick or Comet. It seems to me that I read on this site somewhere that the trans cross member is the same for a standard or automatic. I can't find that thread again so I can't confirm it myself. I can sell off the standard stuff and buy an automatic easy enough if it is a standard. Secondly, any C4 from later 60s through mid 70s small block (302, 351W) will work if I take the flex plate, torque converter, and starter, too? He has a Granada out there too. Are the discs on those larger than Comet discs? Thanks in advance for the help and tips.
There are two styles of crossmembers, one for single exhaust and one for dual. The 250 and 302 C4s are dimensionally the same.
Granada disc brakes are the same as Maverick/Comet disc brakes. I doubt they are still on the car. Those sell quick.
Standard/auto cross member (for the transmission) are the same for both. My car originally had a six and an automatic, now its a V8 with a Toploader, still has the same transmission X member. Not sure where the single/dual exhaust comes in, the transmsiion X member is hardly wide enough to interfere with either style of exhaust. And don't forget to check the rearend of that Granada, never know when you'll find a 9" under one. Some had drums, some had discs, so do not assume it's not a 9 just because it's got drums.
I ended up getting the Comet. It has the belly bar, motor mounts, 302/C4, original buckets and floor shifter, original slot wheels, and power steering. It doesn't have front discs unfortunately. Am I correct in assuming the front 5 lug drums and backing plates will bolt right on in place of the 4 lug set up I have now?
I bought a V8 dual exhaust cross member for my 69.5 but it doesn't bolt up without some work because the 69.5 never had the V8 in it or dual exhaust - that cross member came out in 71 so I went back to my original one and made it work
Power front discs are what I'd like to end up with eventually. The five lug drums are more of a way to have the option to put some kind of decent looking wheels on it for now.
I don't see, by putting 5 lug disc brakes on the front, that you would be limited in your choices of wheels
I guess I didn't make that post very clear. What I meant was the style, size, and width of 5 lug wheels would be more varied than compared to 4 lug wheels.
I think he is saying that he can get them(drum brakes) cheap now so he can bolt 5 lug wheels on to have more options, not that disc brakes are going to be different than the 5 lug drums. While the same cross member(6 cyl.) will work the tranny crossmember for the v-8 has more room for the left side of exhaust. If you mount Hooker 6901's after the collector the pipe would have to dip under the X-member if you use the stock 6 cyl. tranny mount. But all this doesn't matter on a 69.5-70 because the stock X-member is too wide and won't bolt in. I would recommend getting a custom made X-member from 71gold (Frank) who is making X-members specifically for the 69.5-70's.
I fully agree but, if you are going to go to the expense of changing over to 5 lug drum in the front, why not go to a 5 lug disc set up not instead of paying twice? This way you will have upgraded your stopping power and paid only once for your parts. The disc parts will also bolt right up
Once you see the rig up to put power brakes in these cars, you'll keep the manual setup. I converted mine from P/S -P/B to manual everything. With the power booster, access to the rear spark plugs on the driver's side is severely limited.
I wasn't aware the early cars had a different X member. my 77's X member is pretty short, I don't see how there would be a difference between engines.
mav1970 I realize that, but in my case, drums are what I have at the moment. If the car becomes road worthy before I have spindles and discs, drums will be going on it instead of letting it sit idle in the garage. The local wrecking yard is shutting down. Everything is getting crushed. No more parts for sale. If you want something off a car now, you buy the entire car or nothing, as is the case with the Comet. And you have to get rid of the left over car yourself. I'm not prepared to spend 500 dollars buying a Granada for spindle and discs.
