5 lug swap

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5 lug swap

Postby Iceman » Thu Apr 05, 2018 4:22 pm

Im a newbie to the Hbody cars but no stranger to cars.I got a 1975 Oldsmobile Starfire that I want to convert to 5 lug.My question is whats the best and easiest without changing spindles. Thanks
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby cjbiagi » Thu Apr 05, 2018 7:47 pm

The easiest way without changing spindles is to have the rotors redrilled to 5 x 4 1/2" bolt pattern. While that is not the common GM pattern (actually a common Ford pattern) it's best to go with that because of the limited amount of room on the rotor hat. You need to use screw in studs because there is not enough room for a large head on the stud. It's probably best to upgrade the 75's solid front rotor to the 76 and later vented rotors. Be aware that rotors are getting hard to find though, if you need some let me know. cjbiagi@yahoo.com
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby Iceman » Thu Apr 05, 2018 8:42 pm

Thanks.The car has 3.8 engine, edlebrock aluminium intake, small cam, long tube headers and built turbo 350 transmission. Has 13" 4 lug wheels and wanting to get something different.
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby cosvega76 » Fri Apr 06, 2018 8:22 am

If you upgrade to the vented rotor, I think Dave's Vega Village in Canada has 5-lug ones available.

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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby cjbiagi » Fri Apr 06, 2018 9:31 am

Dave used to sell 5 lug H body rotors but I don't believe he has had them them for several years. You can try, but I remember him saying he didn't have them any more.
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby morehorsepower » Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:57 pm

Iceman wrote:Im a newbie to the Hbody cars but no stranger to cars.I got a 1975 Oldsmobile Starfire that I want to convert to 5 lug.My question is whats the best and easiest without changing spindles. Thanks

The easiest way is to buy the setup that came off my sons car .
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby beakerztoyz » Mon Aug 27, 2018 5:18 pm

cjbiagi wrote:The easiest way without changing spindles is to have the rotors redrilled to 5 x 4 1/2" bolt pattern. While that is not the common GM pattern (actually a common Ford pattern) it's best to go with that because of the limited amount of room on the rotor hat. You need to use screw in studs because there is not enough room for a large head on the stud. It's probably best to upgrade the 75's solid front rotor to the 76 and later vented rotors. Be aware that rotors are getting hard to find though, if you need some let me know. cjbiagi@yahoo.com


I'm curious about something here, if redrilling to a ford pattern why go 5 lug , are wheels not readily available for mustangs and stuff that came with 4 bolt wheels ? wouldn't a 4 lug pattern be easier ?
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby hammerdown7 » Mon Aug 27, 2018 6:40 pm

Mustangs 4 bolt wheels were 4 on 4 1/2, still would be a need to redrill
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby cjbiagi » Mon Aug 27, 2018 9:10 pm

That is a interesting question, I am not sure of what's avaialble for 4 lug Mustangs. I suppose that may be a viable option but I don't know or remember anyone redrilling to a 4 lug Ford pattern. Anyone???????
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby NVEGAR8D » Mon Aug 27, 2018 9:40 pm

Hi, The Fox body Mustangs have larger rims but the back spacing might be a problem in that i believe they put the axle and spindle faces out farther.
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby Monza Harry » Wed Aug 29, 2018 4:00 am

hammerdown7 wrote:Mustangs 4 bolt wheels were 4 on 4 1/2, still would be a need to redrill

I always thought they were 4 x 100mm, maybe that explains why I never found any(?) Harry
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Re: 5 lug swap

Postby 75Monz » Wed Aug 29, 2018 5:42 pm

My problem with staying 4 lug on cars in the past from my H bodies to fox body mustangs to my old Chevy II's and a one off Opel GT that I built has been the ratio of applied torque and tire width. If you have a large contact patch, traction or ladder bars to plant the tire hard and gobs of torque from the motor applied...I would consistently break lugs on a 4 bolt pattern. On an H body with just an average width tire and mild v8, say 1 hp/cube, 4 lug works just fine. Biggest issue with the 75's as far as I've had is the brakes are just too small for my taste. If I jump it up to 100, there is no such thing as stopping quick, lol.
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