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

I'd rather be lucky than good.................

    but good ain't bad!!

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.

You gotta have the right tools and know how to use 'em.

TC - Austin, Texas

If you can find the Lincoln Versailles they are a direct fit and do not require reaming the ball joint hole to fit. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

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".

Marc

'54 Merc ragtop

Pt Townsend, WA   

                                                                                                                                   

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.

Paul

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

I'd rather be lucky than good.................

    but good ain't bad!!

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.

  

I appreciate it.

Thanks

Mike

I'd rather be lucky than good.................

    but good ain't bad!!

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.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

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.