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By Missouri Mike - 14 Years Ago
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Hi Y Guys Does anyone have a set of Granada spindles, rotors, and calipers they would be willing to sell. As I said in the heading I'd like to upgrade the WHOA on my '55. I'd like to stay with the Granada stuff as I want to use 14 inch wheels and hubcaps. I've read a lot of the posts on this conversion but I'd still appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks Missouri Mike
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By Tom Compton - 14 Years Ago
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Hey, Mike, as I recall the Granada spindles will lower your front end 2-2 1/2 inches. I did not want to lower my 56 so used the Scarebird kit w/ Lincoln rotors. Worked with both the original 15" steelies and Cragar 15" wheels.
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By MoonShadow - 14 Years Ago
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If you can find the Lincoln Versailles they are a direct fit and do not require reaming the ball joint hole to fit. Chuck
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By YBLOCKMERC - 14 Years Ago
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Not having to ream out the lower taper for the ball joint would be a substantial benefit. Cutting the Granada spindle will probably cost at least $70 at the machine shop, if you can find one with the correct taper ream. I'm just now finishing up this conversion on my '54 Merc. You'll need about a 1/2" spacer above the lower ball joint in order to put the castle nut at the proper height for the cotter pin. Also, be sure your wheels will clear the calipers, especially if you're staying with 14".
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By PF Arcand - 14 Years Ago
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Mike; you are wanting to use 14" wheels on your 55 car? I don't know, but it's been my understanding that finding 14" wheels that will fit over the Granada conversions is difficult. Best check it out before you start.
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By Missouri Mike - 14 Years Ago
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Thanks for the responses. I didn't really mind the 2 inch drop but I thought I had read in past posts that the Granada conversion was one of the few, if not the only one, that 14s would fit on. It's really the 14 inch hubcaps that I wanted to use that are creating this issue. Similar to full moons but they come to a point in the middle of the cap. Similar to a 57 or 58 Plymouth cap but no ridges just smooth chrome. In the early to mid 60s they were the hot set up in my part of the world. I have a beautiful NOS 14 inch set from Sears (no less), and one marginal 15 inch. The one 15 is the only one I"ve found in all the time I've been searching because I really don't want to run 14s. Just trying to take the old double nickel Customline back to a high school look. Unfortunately there are not many boneyards out here in the country and the pickins are slim. I think you probably have the right idea and I'll just go with 15" wheels that will fit over most disc conversions and certainly give me a better selection of tires. Anyone want to recommend any other kits or whatever? Thanks again Mike
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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You might check out Ebay for a complete kit.The spindles are getting harder to find and pricey because they also fit the early Mustangs,Comets,Falcons etc.I did the conversion on mine as well as adding power booster and dual master.Now it REALLY stops and straight too even under panic stop.I added an adjustable prop valve but others have used a factory type prop valve with good results.It does drop the height by about 2-21/2 inchs.I added the lowering spacers to the rear to level it.Also added self adjusters to rear brakes because it is difficult to adjust brakes with the lowering blocks and you need to keep the rears well adjusted with front discs.The Versailles spindles work without reaming but are hard to find. You might check these 3 listings on Ebay.350469387441 230632356440 140561211135.I assume the first 2 kits have the spindles reamed to correct size but worth asking the seller.You might do better price wise if you get the parts required from your own local sources once you locate some spindles and find someone to ream them.The angle on the reamed lower ball joint stud is 7.5 degrees.As I understand it the 4 wheel drive guys use HD GMC components on their modified vehicles and the angle required is the same.You might check out someone who builds off road trucks and see if they can ream the spindles.
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By Missouri Mike - 14 Years Ago
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I appreciate it. Thanks Mike
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By GREENBIRD56 - 14 Years Ago
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Mike - the Ford tapers are 1-1/2 inches per foot - an old US Standard method of sizing them - but not ordinarily designated by degrees. If you shop for one on ebay - search for "tapered reamer" - you can buy one for less than a shop will charge to do the job. Takes a drill press for accuracy and power - don't try it with a hand drill. The big Ford lower ball joint "pin" size is based on a 7/8 shank - so make sure the upper end of the tapered reamer is large enough to do the job. When shopping for uprights - don't get stymied by looking for Granada parts only. There are equally effective parts available for Mavericks and Comets and Mustangs etc. The steering knuckles for the Granada are exactly the same as for a '71-'73 Mustang except the taper in the steering arm is one size larger.
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By Mark T - 14 Years Ago
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Granada Spindles can be machined both ways, you can machine them to drop the front end very little or up to 2 1/2". It actually takes less work to make them lower the car 2 1/2" than it does to make it drop the front end 1/2". I found a local machine shop to ream my lower spindle holes for $40. The stock 55-56 wheels will not bolt onto the Granada rotors because the center hole in the wheels is a little smaller than the stock Granada wheels, an easy fix is to put the Granada rotor on a brake lathe and machine the center to fit your original wheels. I installed late model 15" disc brake wheels so I didn't have to machine my rotors.
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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Hello Steve! when I do a search on the internet for a tapered reamer to create a taper of 1 1/2 in/ft they describe the reamer as 7.15 degree reamer.When I did mine the machine shop did not have the correct reamer taper and he actually made one up special.I was also under the impression the reaming was done by hand so as to not oversize the the hole making it too big for the BJ stud.I know that the drop can be corrected by having the spindle sit "high" on the ball joint stud rather than sitting at the bottom of the stud as it is stock.I would have thought the stud would be subjected to a lot of stress by not having the spindle bottomed out on the stud.What do you think?
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By Missouri Mike - 14 Years Ago
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Thanks for the input guys. I took Oldcarmark's advice and looked at some auctions on epay. Now the question I'll be asking is , has anyone used the disc brake conversion kit from Tom's Classics? Auction 230632356440. I asked if spindles had been reamed to the correct size and he answered "Yes, correct ball joint holes". He advertises it as a bolt on kit. I'm able to cross the street by myself but when I start thinking about spending this kind of money on something I know nothing about I really appreciate the help. Missouri Mike I'm not sure but it might be more appropriate to start a new thread at this point.
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By Mark T - 14 Years Ago
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Another option is to find a disc brake kit that uses your stock spindles, they usually have a bolt on caliper bracket, calipers and rotors with the correct bearings. http://www.scarebird.com/index.php?id=0 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-54-56-56-Fairlane-Skyliner-Crown-front-disc-brake-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5adeac78f5QQitemZ390282901749QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
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By Rono - 14 Years Ago
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Mike; I used the conversion kit from Drop and Stop for my '56 Cutomline. Here is the link to their site; http://www.dropnstop.com/ I bought the 2&1/2" dropped spindles with the disk brakes and power booster. You can alo select a 1/2" drop kit. The intallation went pretty smooth and I'm happy with the performance. Rono
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By old cars - 14 Years Ago
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I have a 54 mercury and my ? is are the 54 ford and mercury the same.Will the 54 ford dics brake kit work on my merc.
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By YBLOCKMERC - 14 Years Ago
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I can't speak for '54 Fords, but I'm currently doing a conversion with Granada spindles on a '54 Merc and it all fits as described in frequent writeups.
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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I have an interchange book.The spindles are the same-54-56 Ford 54-56 Mercury and 55-57 T-Bird.
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By Jeffs54Merc - 14 Years Ago
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I used 1975 Mercury Cougar spindles on my 54 Mercury. The whole conversion cost me less than $100.00
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By Missouri Mike - 14 Years Ago
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On your conversions, are you using a power brake booster or not? Does it work well without or do you think you need one? Thanks Mike
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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Hi Mike! I can only give my opinion based on HAVING power brakes with the disc brake modification.I have mine set up so only very minimal brake effort is required.Very satisfied with the way both modifications work together.If you look at Ebay listing # 330576871122 it is for a master/booster combo.I personally have purchsed 2 for myself and a buddy and sent 2 more customers to Dave.Several others on here have bought from him.If you call him direct-his # is listed in his store info,he will sell a little cheaper and does accept credit cards.Good guy.Very helpful and most of all honest.Everyone that I know of who has dealt with him has no complaints.If there is a problem with something he sold he makes it right.Other members have done the discs with manual brakes so I am sure they will offer their opinion.One thing for sure-you will need a dual master cylinder regardless. Mark
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By Missouri Mike - 14 Years Ago
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Mark- I couldn't get anything to come up on number 330578871122. Mike
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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Should have been 330576871122.I edited the original post too.
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By old cars - 14 Years Ago
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Jeff did you have to do any mods.or is it a bolt on. What parts did you use? ,Thanks
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By Missouri Mike - 14 Years Ago
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Mark- Thanks a lot! Believe I'll be buying a master/booster from Oldirishdave. Was very pleasantly surprised to see the chrome version was only $15 more. Hadn't even considered chrome but for 15 bucks you can't beat it I had looked at some other websites and they were wanting almost $100 more! I really appreciate your help, because it's so reassuring to deal with someone that others have dealt with and had a positive experience. Missouri Mike Stay off the Missouri River for the next month or so.
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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Mike! As I mentioned,phone him direct.Dont buy it on Ebay and you may be even more pleasentley surprised at the price.Good guy.Enjoys talking to people.You might bwant to look at his other items too.I used his adjustable prop valve on mine.I mounted it on the fram under the steering box and screwed the rear steel line into it and the brought the line from the master down to the valve.You can reach it under the box but no one can see it.As mentioned others prefer the factory style prop valve which Dave also has.I did NOT use any residual pressure valves as I understand they are used where the master is under the floor.
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