I know that an early means to acquire juice brakes was to use '39 brakes on earlier fords...the question that I've been pondering is will wide five drums fit over '40 to '48 hydraulic brakes. In other words if you wanted to run a wide five hub and drum on a later car (and I don't) would it work? Would the wide five drums fit the later car? Would it be a slip-on or would something have to be changed? The reason I'm asking is I'm building a '36 and would like to run wide fives...but '40-'48 banjos and brakes are easier to find than '39s...thanks
You know I would almost believe that a '40 car or a '40 or '41 truck would work with no problem I know the master cylinder from '39 to '41 ( at least in pick-ups ) is the same. But I'm not as sure about '46-'48. I've seen all kinds of cars in mags over the years sportin' 39 brakes...makes me wonder what was really there...
I can't be to specific, but I know for a fact that adapters to run wide five on a later 5.5x5 ford pattern are being made that will also look like wide five drums. kinda hard to explain. but I may be modeling some on my truck soon.
The fronts are the caveat...As stated above use 37-39 wide five front drums on 39-48 backing plates. 36 wide five rear drums fit 39-48 backing plates....No need to swap rear ends..(banjos)
Rear is bolt-on with any '39-48 plates ans either '36 or '37-9 drums. '36 rear is fine, as is any '35-48. Front with '36 spindles must have '37-up drums and will need half of the common adapter kit...the actual spindle pin is short like '37-48, the bolt pattern for brake plate is narrow like '32-5, so you don't need the little bearing spacer, you do need the ring that centers brake plate and you need to lengthen the bolt holes on plates toward center to pick up the '36 bolt patter as with all '28-35.
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