When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Oddball combination of stuff going on back here. I blew the rear end in about '89. Too much gas, too much clutch, too much reverse and unfortunately, too much traction. Something had to give, and in this instance it was the lower pinion bearing mount. Made a really expensive noise. I replaced the center section with a nodular housing from Strange Engineering. It used to be the hot setup for pro-stock and NASCAR that used a Ford 9-inch. Probably still is. Pretty stout. If I remember right, the housing weighs about 12-15-lbs. more than the original casting. Calipers are from an '86 SVO Mustang. Mounts are home made. These calipers use the same proportioning valve and parking brake cables as a stock F150. Rotors are late '70's Lincoln machined to accept the truck lug pattern. Rear disc is without a doubt the best thing I ever did to this truck.
Overload brackets on the frame are from a '69 N600 and the overload springs are also home made. I don't remember what they came off of but I do remember cutting them down to fit. Way overkill for a 1/2-ton truck but it made sense at the time.
2-inch lift and home made axle truss. The long lug nuts are from an '82 Mustang GT.
Best looking Fox Body Mustang ever!! I had a red one. My '88 GT with the turbines uses those same lug nuts.
Someone got rid of their TRX wheels? Now they repop the TRX wheels in 16" rather than 15.3" or whatever 390 mm equates to...
I still have my 1982 GT. Red with red interior. T-top the whole enchilada. I special ordered it new with 21 of 23 possible options. It has 3,600-miles on it. Sitting in the garage with crap stacked all over it. The only thing I used it for is to hide the kids Christmas presents in the back. when I'm done with the F150, that is the next project. It should come to life pretty easily. I'll see if I can find a photo.
I still have my 1982 GT. Red with red interior. T-top the whole enchilada. I special ordered it new with 21 of 23 possible options. It has 3,600-miles on it. Sitting in the garage with crap stacked all over it. The only thing I used it for is to hide the kids Christmas presents in the back. when I'm done with the F150, that is the next project. It should come to life pretty easily. I'll see if I can find a photo.
Many of us would love to see it. I got mine with 138,000 miles in 1992. It was red with black cloth interior and a factory sunroof. It had (leaking non-working) AC, the light group, cruise control, (with the Crown Vic-looking steering wheel) and even rear defrost with the rear wiper and washer. Only things I can think of that it didn't have, were the tilt wheel and power windows and locks. It had 287,000 when someone crashed in to it in 1999 - none of the drivetrain was original by then.
Always loved the 2nd gear pull from that SROD, but still ended up putting a T5 in it.
I always love seeing members' other Fords here, and even other makes if it's a cool car or truck.
Really diggin that rear disc set up. Would you be willing to share your expertise with a close up of the home made mounts and what year F150 for the parking brake cables and dust shields? Very clean install. Do you remember how much did the machine shop charged to machine the 5x5.5 lugs? Although I'm not finding rear SVO calipers anywhere.
Pretty damn cool to see an original owner truck brought back to life. Hopefully one of your kids is into it and it stays in the family for a long time. That switch on the shifter would be perfect to operate a front electric locker or a line lock. I gotta say i can tell there's a high level of detail being put in, I don't think I've ever seen anyone measure runout on a rotor without having some braking issues first.
The brake kit came from the 1990 Ford Motorsport catalog and with the help of a friend that worked at the local Ford dealer parts department, he was able to find the rotors that were drilled to fit the truck lug pattern. For whatever reason, the holes were drilled a larger diameter than the stud so there is a spacer on each lug to make everything snug. I can't find the actual catalog but here is one from '88 that had a similar kit that used Turbo Coupe components. Dust shields and the gold bearing retainer/caliper mounts came in the kit. My modification was to build new caliper supports to move the caliper out a little to match the radius to the larger rotors. Parking brake cables are factory F150. The kit had a new end with the clevis that attaches to the caliper.
A couple more photos of other progress and the engine I am using. Its a 460 I installed in about '89. Clutch out of a Boss 429 Mustang. Stock bore, stroke and compression. Balanced with a ton of machine work to the heads. Ultrydyne cam. Ran on the dyno at 451-hp. and 660-ft. lbs. torque. In my opinion, pretty respectable for 5,300-feet elevation and pump gas. The engine only has 19,000-miles on it so it should freshen up pretty quickly.
Excellent pics, thank you, as far as the rotors it seems like enough edge distance on the flange to punch the holes up and use the larger diameter studs from the truck rotors thereby alleviating the stud spacer but that's just a guess from a photo. I am on the fence as far as hydroboost or rear discs. I'm going to sell the truck but until I pull the trigger, the brakes have got to get better than stock. Thanks again for the info and the pics
They are not out of anything. I ordered them from Discount Van & Truck in Arizona. They were the only offering I found that had seats with a headrest that fit in a regular cab. Air lumbar. independent slide and and heat. I used the factory floor mounts from the original seat. Kinda scary ordering something for $1,500. that is sight unseen. It would be easier to return a mail-order bride. I am pleased with the comfort and fit.
Nice build. It's cool that you did an early rear disc conversion.
For others interested I found that Strange Engineering has adapters available now too. Not to hijack your thread but just information sharing for those interested.
Because you posted detailed pictures of your rear disc conversion, I was able to work out why the e-brake on my conversion was only working as it should about 50% of the time.
I like your spring assisted retainers on the cables, so I'll be stealing that idea.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
