Posted By: magnumcharger
What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/28/11 04:22 PM
I have a 1968 Plymouth Barracuda. I'm planning on replicating the Super Stock appearance with this car. When the S/S cars were built, they had their own "special" spindles and hubs, quite unlike anything else found on an other A body.
My plan WAS to change over to a pair of 1973 Dart spindles, upper A-arms and disc brakes.
Recently I've found out that by doing this, the front track is increased significantly. This is not the look I'd like to have.
Has anybody done any other swap that keeps the track width at stock? (Like the S/S package)
Posted By: AdamR
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/28/11 04:45 PM
You can get disc brake kits that will use your stock spindles and are bbp.
Posted By: 340duster340
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/29/11 01:22 AM
How significant is the difference? Is out not something that a different back space wheel couldn't fix?
Posted By: Fab64
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/29/11 03:22 AM
I have a similar thread going right now. I've just made the switch to '73-76 front discs, and now trying to decide which wheels to get. I've included pictures of my car with the same width wheels on front and rear, so you can see how it looks:
Front disc setup
Posted By: magnumcharger
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/29/11 04:02 AM
Actually, your thread is what got me thinking about the whole offset business. I've had the required parts to perform this swap longer than I've had my Barracuda!
Although you are happy with the result of this swap on your '67 Barracuda, for me that is just too much offset. 7/8" added to a reverse offset wheel is too much track for the look I'm aiming for. Check out this attached picture. My Barracuda on the left is as it sits right now, compared to yours. That front end is considerably different whereas the back track width appears to be the same for each car.
Posted By: 340SHORTY
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/29/11 04:39 AM
the wider track is better for handling and the extra width isnt really significant...
Posted By: 2734bbl
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/29/11 03:01 PM
On my 67 Dart it moved the wheels out far enough with my 3.5" skinnys that it limits me to a tiny 24.5" tall tire. I would like to run a 26" tire to offset my 275/60 DRs that are 28".
I dont much care for the stink bug look nor a ton of fender gap in the front which also BTW limits front end travel.I dont really want to clip the inside of the front fenders as I have seen on some cars.
I've looked without succes in finding a wheel with enough offset to clear the fenders. I did look at some billit wheels on a Mustang that looked as if a guy might be able to machine the hub of the wheel to create more backspacing and stil be plenty safe. The center of the wheel was nearly 2.5 inches thick.
Posted By: mopfried
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/29/11 06:41 PM
I would be interested in where this kit is avaliable. My 69 dart has disk front but the small bp. I would like to go to the 4.5 bp....
Quote:
You can get disc brake kits that will use your stock spindles and are bbp.
Posted By: rt66jim
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/29/11 07:07 PM
You can use 68-69 B-body frt spindles and 73 A-body disc brk upper control arms. If you don't mind using drum brakes up front.
Posted By: MileHighDart
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 07/30/11 05:52 PM
What do you have now, drums, or the sbp KH disks ?
I just recently converted my car from sbp disks to bbp.
I kept my Kelsey Hayes disk setup (spindles, calipers, pads,) but used a 67 Mustang unicast hub/rotor which is of course 4.5" bolt pattern.
There is some machining of the hub and rotor that has to be done. The machine work cost me $200 but it worked out great. There is a thread over at forabodiesonly . com in the brake section. Lots of good info there about this swap complete with pics. But read carefully cause some if the info can be a little confusing and there is some contradicting info.
The mustang hub and the sbp mopar disk hub use exactly the same bearings, but spacing between the two bearings is different and the seal is different. The hub has to be cut where the rear bearing race fits, so that the bearing sits deeper into the hub. THis lets the hub slider farther up onto the mopar spindle, this will get the disk to be centered in the caliper. The disk diameter will also need to be cut down a little. The mustang disk is 11.25" or so and it needs to be 11" or slightly less to fit inside the mopar caliper.
I have heard that Moser no longer does the "redrilling" thing with sbp rotors, they got rid of the machine they used to use for this.
Posted By: magnumcharger
Re: What is the best option for A body to 4.5" bolt pattern - 08/02/11 06:45 PM
Thats some good information there boys. Thank you.
I'm going to continue my quest for alternatives and fill you in on my findings.
