Hello everyone,

Just bought myself a 62 Lancer and am starting to plan out some of my brake and wheel upgrades. The tires are toast on the car, so I thought I would investigate upgrading to larger & wider wheels, and also investigate brake upgrades. I wanted to make sure if I did purchase a set of 4, 5-on-4 rims (most likely 14x6 or 15x7) that I wouldn't then shoot myself when I wanted to upgrade to front discs to help with the stopping power. So here are my questions:

1--what options do I have for keeping the stock wheel bolt pattern and upgrading to front discs?

2--would that be the most cost effective course?

3--any links that explain possible options would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

MJ

Keeping the 5 on 4 pattern and being cost effective are mutually exclusive concepts.

To keep the 5 on 4 pattern you need to go to Kelsey Haynes brakes used on A bodies before 73.....or aftermarket kits?

To stay cheap you need the big bolt pattern discs from 73 or later A bodies.

Upgrading wheels in the big bolt pattern later discs is easier, cheaper and you have more options.

For my 65 Valaint I bought a 75 Dart Brouham Disco Edition with a blown motor and terminal rust for $100. I took the front suspension , rear axle , electronic ignition and upgrade charging system and sent the rest to the crusher. It was no problem finding a wide assortment of wheels and tires in the bargain finder. I got a set of US wheels 14 x 8 alloy wheels with BFG T/A 235/60/14 tires for $100. Cost effective.

http://www.arrowtipi.com/My%20Webs/index%20Valiant.htm

So what rear axles and suspensions would I be looking for? I have no idea what I could find at a wrecking yard around here.

I'm really not sure I agree. Remember, replacing one 9-bolt rear axle with another 9-bolt rear axle is a foolhardy waste of time, money and effort, especially since the 5-on-4&frac12"” 9-bolt units are even weaker than the earlier 5-on-4” units (2 spiders instead of 4). So, you're looking at a 10-bolt, which means a shorter driveshaft, which means it makes no sense to keep the front ball and trunnion, not to mention spring perch cut-and-reweld 'cause you're vastly less unlikely to find a 3.23 8&frac14" in an F-body than in an A-body. All of that takes a great deal of the price advantage out of a later-disc swap, especially since rotors and calipers are once again economically available for the '65-'72 four-piston disc setup.

Aftermarket disc brake setups for SBP: $800 to $1000+alignment
Stock big bolt disc brake upgrade(not finding a parts car and getting new items where needed, also upgrading from a 7 1/4 to 8 1/4): $600 to $1000 including alignment and rebuilding suspension.
Small bolt pattern disc brake upgrade: Probably $100 to $200, but it's not as reliable and more expensive to maintain. Wheel choices are limited.

And there are of course the people that get a $100 parts car that have the rear, driveshaft, and brakes they need and so their total cost for a big bolt disc brake pattern cost is around $150, but that isn't very common.

Personally I would go with a big bolt pattern setup for cost of repair, reliability, and wheel choices. I'm not sure if any of the three disc brake upgrade methods are more cost effective than the others, just depends on what you're going for. The aftermarket method would probably be the most expensive but provide the best stopping distance.

If you change axles you need to be really careful to check the axle ratio, I wasn't and got stuck with an 8 1/4 2.71 off an A-body(which is weird, because everything I hear says that 2.76 is the smallest size, but that's what the tag says). I'm not complaining too much though, it's a sure-grip which makes me like it a lot more than my old open differential 3.23 7 1/4.

Good luck,
Shivadart

What do you mean "not as reliable", please? My experience with the small-bolt discs has been quite good.

thanks guys, this is the kind of information I'm looking for. Please continue

A couple of notes:
Big bolt pattern 7.25 housing are free or less. I swapped my 1965 3.23 gears and 4 pinion spiders into the later housing.It bolted directly into my car. This may have taken 4 hours and cost no money. My kids learned to drive on this car. We have put probably 40000 miles on the setup since then with one set of brake shoes and 1 set of outer wheel bearings being the only issues. Dont sell a good 7.25 rear short. Charlie S has raced them for years.

Big bolt pattern wheels are cheap and available everywhere in sizes from 13" to 24" diameters and any offset. Mustang Cobra R wheels will bolt right on.

Nothing is cheaper or more comprehensive than looking and waiting till you find a rusty or banged parts car. You get everything you need in a balanced package....including wheels.

_________________
Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

A couple of notes:
Big bolt pattern 7.25 housing are free or less. I swapped my 1965 3.23 gears and 4 pinion spiders into the later housing.It bolted directly into my car. This may have taken 4 hours and cost no money. My kids learned to drive on this car. We have put probably 40000 miles on the setup since then with one set of brake shoes and 1 set of outer wheel bearings being the only issues. Dont sell a good 7.25 rear short. Charlie S has raced them for years.

Big bolt pattern wheels are cheap and available everywhere in sizes from 13" to 24" diameters and any offset. Mustang Cobra R wheels will bolt right on.

Nothing is cheaper or more comprehensive than looking and waiting till you find a rusty or banged parts car. You get everything you need in a balanced package....including wheels.


http://www.arrowtipi.com/My%20Webs/index%20Valiant.htm

_________________
Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Slantsixdan, I'm not in any way saying they're bad. All I'm saying is that from what I've heard they're not quite as reliable. The one piston calipers supposedly have some slight issues with sticking, but I've never experienced it with mine.

Here is a post with a small debate on the older disc brake setup
http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic ... dc8ae2ebc6

Shivadart

I agree with Sandy. I picked up a '75 Dart Brougham for $60. It had disk brakes and the 8.25 axle. The PO had removed the steering column for what ever reason and it was full of trash. The front disk brakes and suspension had been rebuilt, the rear axle needed new axle seals, shoes and the drums turned. For around $80, I had my B&T driveshaft cut to fit the axle. This whole setup went into my '65 and my costs were covered by selling off the remaining desired parts. And it was free to have the hulk hauled off at the end! Not everybody can do this stuff, but given time and space the oportunites are out there.

Also, note that there aren't many aftermarket wheel choices in the small bolt pattern, at least not that will fit on the A-bodies. That bolt pattern is pretty much unique to A-bodies and FWD cars that have way too much backspacing to use their wheels on your Lancer. I think that other than Cragar S/S wheels and stock pieces, you're pretty much limited to custom wheel work.

_________________
"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair