Ok sorry if is dumb question most of my life I been around chevy guys (granpa,dad) so this is my first ford I love the Thunderbird lines (89-97) so I'm tryng to restore mine and make some upgrades and I see some people around make the mustang wheel conversion I read some treads and is not too hard to do it but the main question is if really worth it do the converssion and what's the advantage and thanks for the help
2 big advantages of doing the hub swap to Mustang pattern - a large wheel selection and easier brake upgrade.
There aren't that many wheel options available for MN12's - especially compared to Mustangs - but there are still good. Check out www.thecustomwheelshop.com for a good selection that are a direct bolt-on.
Brake upgrade can be done, just search "Cobra brake swap" and should be able to find the details.
x4 - I've got cobra hubs/rims/brakes and I would do it on any other bird from now on. Can't be much harder than the rear disc conversion and the sport/M8 swap on the front that I did on my 94.
Plus, parts aren't THAT expensive on all accounts.
It's hard to find good wheels in our bolt pattern, but they're out there. I only had to search for three months before I found my wheels, then I had to jump through hoops for another month to actually get them.
After what I went through, I'd just do the swap if I could do it over again. You won't regret it.
I believe they stick out to far.....Big Mike was trying a set from an 05 I believe, and he said the offset just was not right......I'll see if I can find the thread.
BTW - the problem with the rims sticking out too far after a hubswap is when you're putting on 9 or 10 inch rims, especially those that are deep dish. Deep dish look great, but you won't want to go with a 10 inch rim unless you like how they stick out. Mine stick out a little and they're only 8 inch wide.
Here's mine, taken with my phone (sorry about the quality).
I'm running 255/50/17 BFG KDWS tires on 17x8 Bullitts. You could put any size tire you want on an 8 inch rim, within reason. I probably wouldn't go much bigger than a 255. I've seen 275s on an 8 inch rim. I personally though it looked like crap, but that's my opinion. There's a couple threads on this topic.
Well I'm going to get thar wheels and do the hub swap and I deal withthat later thanks a lot for all uor help guys I really appreciated this is a great place full of nice people
I did the hub swap and the 05' up wheel offsets is what you want. I have 18x9 in front with 36mm offset and 18x10 in back with 45mm offset and I am perfectly even with my fenders in front and back.
Same with me, but the wheels I got have a 30/40 offset. Barely noticeable.
I don't see how anyone can consider this a hard upgrade. The hardest part for me was finding someone to press the new hubs and bearings into the rear spindle in a timely manner, and redrill the Tbird rotors (I've since upgraded to Cobra's). It's pretty basic work other than that.
hey, if you go to supercoupeperformance.com they have a pretty good selection of wheels that fit the 4.25x5 bolt pattern....i got a lot of parts from them and they are really good!!!
I didnt realize my 99-04 Bullitt wheels stuck out any. I was always under the impression that the offset on 05+ wheels made them sit in even further than 99-04. The reason I think this is that I have seen 05+ Bullitts on SN95 mustangs and it looks ridiculous because the wheels are so far in.
I think SN95 bullets or any other 17x8 30mm offset wheel looks great on these. Totally flush with the fenders FTW
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