Im trying to figure out how to go about changing my pinto from 4 lug to 5 lug and putting disc brakes up front.Will I have to have a power brake booster for the front discs?Helps Appreciated.

You must have a early Pinto with the 1600 engine and drum brakes.

There are kits to convert the 74 up cars but I am not familar with a way to do a early drum brake car.

The spindles and a arms are also different so no help there.

A possible solution COULD be to use a Granda spindle. I heard a fellow say he did it...... but I have not done it and cannot in all fairness say will might work. I heard it at a cruise in from a fellow I do not know.......so........

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Older whiskey, Younger women, FASTER cars, and more money $$$

Just the goals of a retired " car guy "

The easiest way to go about it is to find a disc brake setup off a 71/72 and remove the parts (spindle-rotors calipers-master cylinder-proportioning valve-etc.) and have the front rotors (and rear axles/drums) drilled for five lug. Manual disc is usable.

Step up would be to find spindles off of 74/ PINTO or MUSTANG II and mount a GRANADA rotor (11"). Custom caliper brackets can be bought (or fabbed) to fit either a FORD or CHEV caliper.

go to any street rodder mag and you will see an abundance of must. 2 parts for 5 lug, also ranger pick up, the early ones ,82/83 i've done several

Deuce Roadster, The good old Granada... I wonder if Ford knew just what kind of a great parts car they were about to come out with, when they designed that one..

What won't those Granada spindles fit?

A good friend of mine owns one of the nicest 58 Thunderbird Hardtops I know of. Steve was uneasy with the Bird's brakes from day one, and decided to go with a front disc set up and dual reservoir upgrade. The Granada spindles and calipers were a shoe-in for the Bird and the FOMOCO OEM master cylinder provided in the kit he found, bolted right up to the firewall's original mounting holes. If we would have known these spindles were off a Granada we could have easily saved around $350. Hind site's real cheap isn't it. Anyway, if those Granada spindles work as good on a Pinto as they do on a 58 bird, Femadorob's problems are over.

Good luck, keep me posted, I'm curious..

The GRANADA spindle is rear steer, whereas the PINTO/MUST II spindle is front steer. Therefore interchange is not feasible.

The retrofit of GRANADA spindles on an early FORD usually requires a change in the taper for the ball joints and/or outer tie rod ends. That is why they are priced that way in a kit.

KULTULZ - I must have been half asleep when I posted that one. <chuckle> Last winter I upgraded my older Chevy's suspension to Mustang II and just recently finished helping a friend with the Granada spindles on the Bird. Your right about the differences in taper sizes, both the Chevy's and Bird's kits came with hardened spacers to align the castle nuts with the cotter key holes.

All that holiday egg nog must have thrown me out of synk, Man.. Thanks for the wake up call. I hope Femer dosn't rush out to bone yard looking for Granadas.

[quote]Thanks for the wake up call. I hope Femer dosn't rush out to bone yard looking for Granadas.<hr></blockquote>

Hey! Don't worry about it...I have not met anyone perfect yet (well...maybe except for that blonde in BALTIMORE... :p ). If you will notice, I have given out incorrect info here also... <img src="graemlins/pain.gif" border="0" alt="[pain]" />

That's why we are here...to learn from one another.