83 GT Questions

**Darren** · 05-08-2014, 12:48 AM

Hey guys I've never owned a fox body so I have a few questions.

Are they any decently priced 4-lug disc brake conversions for the rear?

What are the best solutions for stopping the rear hatch from rattling?
(The rubber stoppers aren't long enough, seems the place where they go is bent in a little.)

The brake pedal is making a "sucking" noise. It makes the noise constantly, when idling, driving, etc. However its not as loud when being pushed on to stop. I can't find any air or hose leaks anywhere. Any ideas?

Thanks for the input guys, I love this old 83 GT lol

**juice_man_86** · 05-08-2014, 01:00 AM

Brake pedal sucking noise is pretty common. Your hatch is probably rattling because you latch pin bushing is missing or badly worn. And most cheap rear disc conversions will change the required backspacing on your rear wheels.

Sent from my Moto G

**PaxtonShelby** · 05-08-2014, 01:28 AM

Turbo Coupe rear axle swap is a bolt in and will give you rear discs and probably a better ratio. It is a bit wider than stock but stock wheel width will still fit. Your wheels might be wider than stock and make things close. Not sure what master cylinder & parking brake stuff you'd need. Gpfarrell did this swap on his '85 GT conv. He will probably chime in sometime soon.

**juice_man_86** · 05-08-2014, 04:12 AM

If you run stock wheels or at least stock width you should be fine...but most people don't run "stock" wheels. If you roll your fender lips, you could probably go a little wider.

Sent from my Moto G

**Dan B.** · 05-08-2014, 05:22 AM

Or.......if you want to swap wheels.......I'd be interested in the ones you have. They's rock it on my T-bird.

Also....the Turbo Coupe rear swap is the easiest way to go. I did that under my TB and LOVE the rear discs. The stick shift cars had 3.55's and the auto's had 3.73's.

**roush08** · 05-08-2014, 07:55 AM

I'm pretty sure I just saw a rear disc brake set-up for a fox on craigslist under the auto parts section. Should work on an '83 but not certain.

**somethingclever** · 05-08-2014, 07:58 AM

Check the brake booster for vacuum leaks

**gpfarrell** · 05-08-2014, 08:56 AM

Hmm. Paxton remembers my car better than I do. I swapped a Turbo Coupe rear under my '85GT about 15 years ago. Actually, maybe 18!

It's a great swap, you go from the fragile 7.5 to the tough 8.8, sleepy 2.73s or 3.08s (okay, maybe a 3.27 if you have an auto) to the 3.55s or 3.73s and you pick up discs all at once! Ford Motorsport made parking brake cables. I think the SVO or '93 Cobra bits would be just right. I don't remember which MC we used, but again it seems like a '93 Cobra one would be a good fit. The width is no big deal at all.

4-wheels discs are sexy... well, at least they aren't as dorky as rear drums... but really, your front brakes do most of the work. 83GTs had the same front brakes as the '83 4-cylinder cars. Gulp. It's a pretty easy swap to get the bigger '87+ rotors and then find a beefy set of Lincoln Mark VII calipers. They bolt in but their extra mass absorbs much more heat than Mustang bits and helps to reduce brake fade. I don't know if my '85 10-hole wheels would clear these, but I have '87+ 10-hole wheels that keep my car looking stock (he-he) but accomodate the bigger brakes with no trouble.

I like my setup because I plan on keeping my 5.0 forever... this August will be 20 years... and I figure FoMoCo bits will always be available where the aftermarket stuff will become obsolete as newer/better cars capture their attention.

Oh, my car stops hard and will lap Beaveru... I mean, Pitt Race for 20 minute sessions with no fade.

**Darren** · 05-08-2014, 09:43 AM

Thanks for the input guys! The car actually already has an 8.8 with i think 3.27 gears. Seems to be uni-traction tho. Need to get in their anyways because the diff leaks a little. The wheels are aftermarket, 245/17 front, 275,17 rear. (Dan B, i haven't forgotten you lol, if i end up swapping wheels you'll be the first to know! haha)

**PaxtonShelby** · 05-08-2014, 11:58 AM

It might be cheaper to swap in a TC rear with a traction-lok than to upgrade your current rear with a traction-lok unit and disc conversion. Just a thought.