PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: 76hotrodpinto on February 05, 2015, 11:01:44 PM
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Trying to gather the parts for a larger disc brake setup. I found a 78 fairmont parting out. Wouldn't it be the same as the granada brakes? Thanks.
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Not sure, but isn't the Fairmont a Fox Body car?
Russ
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Not sure, but isn't the Fairmont a Fox Body car?
Russ
Not sure either. It's a 78, so I want to say no.
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well, according to wikipedia (not my favorite source)
"The Fairmont and Zephyr marked the introduction of the long-running Ford Fox platform, used for a wide variety of later models. Those most closely related to the Fairmont included the 1980–1982 Ford Thunderbird, the 1981–1982 Ford Granada, the 1980-1982 Mercury Cougar, the 1979–1993 Ford Mustang (and 1979–1986 Mercury Capri), and the 1982–1987 Lincoln Continental."
I don't think the Fairmont parts will work. Otherwise we could all be using the Fox body Mustang brakes. But I have been known to be wrong. Just ask my wife. ::)
Russ
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I bought a Fairmont once LOL Blue and blue, it was the 1978 Futura. I would love one of them again. Handled well, was nice. Was way better than the POS Monte Carlo that had parts falling off it it. I never knew it was a Fox body until now.
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I had the Mercury Zephyr version of the same car, in dark jade metallic. I bought it new in March of '78 but then traded it later in the year on a new Thunderbird.
Dwayne :)
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Hmm. Bummer.
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The Granada had a conventional upper/lower control arm where as the Fox body cars had a strut type suspension. So, in that regard they are distinctly different. That said, the issue with disc conversions (or upgrades) are hubs/rotors that fit the Pinto spindle, a place to bolt the caliper and the alignment of the rotor such that the caliper fits around the rotor. What type of suspension they came off of is basically irrelevant as long as they meet the stated criteria.
I believe (but may need to be corrected) that in the Granada to Mustang/Falcon conversion the spindle, caliper and rotor are compatible with the Mustang/Falcon ball joints and A-Arm configuration. Thus, the conversion is rather straightforwar d and simple. On the Fox body cars the spindle is attached to the strut. So, there is no opportunity to blend it with the Pinto suspension.
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Is there a particular range of years to look for(granada)? Or just any year? What size of rims are needed to clear the 11" disc setup?
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fox body stuff won't work. The bearing spacing on the spindle is shorter, thats why fox wheels don't have the deep center caps.
any late 70's granada rotors, rjays adapters 80 camaro calipers and some 4x4 blazer soft lines. stock pinto bearings and seals.
15's will clear for sure, prob 14's. 17's work great.
oh and the spindle geometry is way different. it can be done but there is tweaking to make it "right"
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Speedway has all of the parts necessary for the big brakes.
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So I see there are a couple caliper choices for the adapters. The gm metric and a bigger one. I like the idea of the big ones, but is it just too much brake power for the weight of my car? And does it create any additional clearance isues(i'd like to keep the rims at 14" or 15")? Is my stock master cylinder capable of moving enough fluid to make the big ones work right?