Still working on it, been slow because I have had alot of other things to do and waiting for the checking account to rebound, LOL

I did pick up a M5OD though to replace the 3spd on the column.

 

Had a ROUGH set of Torq Thrust II's that came on a Pontiac Grand Prix that I bought a few months ago. Just got them fixed up and threw on some $18 craigslist tires. This thing is going to sit NICE!!!!! I need to get some wheel adapters for the rear and finish welding stuff up.

 

Say what? What year GP? I thought the big GM pattern was 5 on 4-3/4"? I'm really considering this Crown vic swap on my '77. But it's a really clean, original truck, so I don't know how I feel about cutting out the crossmember and boxing the frame on it.

 

Lookin really good. I have a long bed too, excited to see this one done

 

The wheels are the 5 X 4.5" pattern, the Grand Prix was a newer 99' which has a 5 X 115mm pattern which is close to the Crown Vic 5 X 114.3mm pattern.

 

I really, really want to do this, but don't want to cut up my frame. Seriously thinking about finding a wrecked truck or just a frame, building that frame up and just swapping my body and box over to it.

I already have a set of '03 Cobra wheels for the swap. Bought them because I was going to buy another mustang, but then bought this truck instead.

 

Yikes! They may fit "close enough" but they may not stay tight. Even if they do stay tight, you WILL have vibration issues. I know we did this back in the 80's at our tire store a few times. Had nothing but problems

 

Yeah, what I was thinking is, are they hub-centric or lug-centric wheels? Your small difference is OK with hub centered wheels, but not lug centered. I run '99 Lightning wheels on my '92 F-150, but they are hub-centric and I don't use cone-seat lug nuts.

 

114.3mm = 4.5"

American Racing specs the wheels out as 4.5" bolt spacing, the front wheels are hub centered but do use conical lugnuts.

 

I didn't register with me when I read your post before that the wheels would have been wrong for the grand prix not your truck. They wouldn't make them for a fwd car. Carry on, don't mind me! Love the thread. Can't wait to get mine lookin like yours

 

Yeah I also have a Buick Regal (same platform as the FWD Grand Prix) and alot of guys run the 114.3mm rims on the 115mm hubs. Not a big fan of it, but we don't have alot of aftermarket to choose from. LOL

If my GM product doesn't offend anyone, here is a picture of my 600hp FWD Buick, runs 11.50's in the quarter miles at about 123 mph

 

I'm most definitely NOT offended! I'm offended by people who would be offended. That awesome!

 

Added an external reinforcement plate as the frame was a bit thin and started boxing in the frame.

 

Subscribed!

Are there any car axles that would bolt in to the rear and have the small 5 bolt pattern? The shafts I mean, not the whole axle. Some 9" car axle shafts.

You'll have to let me know the offset of those wheels, and how they end up sitting. I have some 2003 cobra wheels with a lot of positive offset I could use, but don't want them to look all "sucked in"

 

Most use the axle from an Explorer (8.8) with disc brakes & the 5x4.5 pattern