One thing I have heard about the "add-on" bracket style of brakes - is to avoid the type where the caliper ends up in the leading position - ahead of the upright. Interference with the anti-roll bar mounting being the reason cited.

My measurements have shown that the position and leverage of the steering lever on the back of the Granada upright is basically identical to the 1954 Ford / little Thunderbird two piece drum brake version. The Granada - and the 1971-73 Mustang parts are virtually identical except for the taper in the tie rod ends. The Mustang / Granada rotors vary in diameter - but they are skinny, .88 thick. The Mustang track guys are always complaining about their tendency to warp.

The lower ball joint mounting in the Granada upright can be altered by re-reaming - there is probably a limit to how deep it can be safely set - but most accept the slight lowering and like the idea of gettting down a bit from the height of a '54 sedan. The upward placement of the spindle center moves the caliper away from the rim and gains some clearance for the brakes.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

The Scarebird brakes are on and seem to be working fine, but I haven't quite finished the car and haven't done any street driving. If I had to do it again I might think about another route, probably Lincoln Versailles as they show up at the local Pick and Pull occasionally.

The good about Scarebird, fairly inexpensive and easy to install. The idea of Chebby calipers doesn't bother me much, all aftermarket anyway.

The bad, I originally received the wrong brackets and bought the corresponding wrong calipers (anybody want a great deal on 1990 Celebrity calipers). The exchange went well, but I am out the shipping, plus another set of calipers (Chebby pickup). The bearing spacers were nicely machined, but I would have been happier with a tighter fit on the spindle rather than rely on Loctite. I'm thinking now that I should have used green Loctite rather than the recommended red. Finally, I had to use a second washer to get the nut out far enough to be locked by the cotter pin.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions.



Don

55 Thunderbird in California's Central Valley just waiting for the chrome shop

If you have access to a '57 shop manual look at page 4-5 and you will see side by side pictures of the '57 conventional car suspension (left) and what is called the Thunderbird Front suspension.  However, look closely and you will see that the picture on the right is actually a pass car frame,  T birds have a tubular front cross member.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

On the FordMuscleCar forums Galaxie Pages, the Scarebird adapters have been used by many mid 60's Galaxie owners. I have a 65 2dr hdtp that I converted using 77-79 Tbird/LTD/Cougar spindles, etc. I like using OEM stuff if possible and like to stick to Ford parts. The Scarebird kits use a combination of GM parts but still popular with the Galaxie people.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

I have also been doing a lot of research on this as two of my top projects when I get back to the States are to put disc brakes and dual master cylinder systems on both the Tbird and the Mainline.



All of the Tbird parts houses and others have kits but they are a bit high.



The Granada/Versailles spindle swap is a consideration as lots have done it. My concern there is the change in steering geometry and the lowering which I don’t care to have and perhaps alignment differences. Also the parts are getting rare.



I have read of good success with the Scarebird brackets and OEM parts. Some have compared Scarebird brackets with other similar ones and they seem better made.



Here is a link to ePay for the Tbird brackets:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-1955-56-57-Thunderbird-T-Bird-front-disc-brake-/390265027242?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5add9bbaaa#ht_500wt_926



This is the Scarebird site and shows the 57 up Ford brackets:

http://www.scarebird.com/index.php?id=35



Some have said that if you contact him from his site you may get a better deal than ePay since he doesn’t have to pay their fees. Don’t know for sure on that.



I have not seen much on here about those brackets except for “dbird” last Christmas eve. I sent him a note to see how it went with those.



Anybody else use the Scarebird brackets?



Thanks to all for your input,






Jim
Norfolk, VA

"MABLE"
1956 Thunderbird Green / Brown Interior (ZE-XG)

"MEAN GREEN"
1956 Mainline (FG-BE)

Successful "interchange" doesn't always mean parts are identical. I was under the impression T-Bird ball joints were "heavy duty"?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

'55, '56,'57 T-Bird and '54 thru '56 Ford passenger car front end parts interchange. '57 and up Ford passenger car front end parts are different.

I will add some info I took from Concours Tbird Parts online catalog. They list a lower ball joint for 55-56-57 Tbirds. For "regular" Fords there is a parts change. They list lower ball joints for 5 4-56 and different set for 57-64 Fords. Dennis Carpenter's catalog lists a B5A-3050 for 54-56 and C1AZ-3050 for 57-64 Fords, no Thunderbirds in his stuff. Mac's Auto Parts also breaks it out the same way for 54-56 and 57-up Fords. There are no specs on pin size or taper but the photos suggests a different mounting bolt configuration.

57 Black Tbird 312/auto

From what I have read (including how-to's) the same suspension was used in all Fords (including TBirds) from 1954 to at least up to and including 1957. I specifically remember reading a Granada/Monarch how to on a 57 Ford sedan which was the same as my 54.



After 57 I don't know.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.