I have a 29 Coupe with a Speedway dropped axle, I'm not a fan of the disc kits out there and would like to go Buick finned drums, who's hub do you recommend?
I do still have the Wilson Welding hubs to mate Buick drums to early ford (‘37-48) spindles in stock. Designed by the late Bob Wilson, made here in Texas. Currently $295.00 per pair plus shipping. (Bearings, races, seals, and studs are available at additional cost). email: b***kustoms@yahoo.com
I’m a fan of the finned backing plates as well. I had an issue with the foundry Bob and I used (new ownership/Covid/etc) and haven’t made any in a while, but do still have the pattern and plan to resume making them in the future. For now I only have the hubs in stock and ready to ship.
My answer has changed over time. For a number of years I used the Buick hub with bearing adapters. Kept the hub and drum concentric and the 5 on 5" bolt pattern wasn't that bad of choice. The bearing adapters are not easy to find anymore. Having to redrill the drum for a different bolt pattern works well if you have the correct tooling to minimize runout. And even if done correctly you still have to take a light cut off the drum to true up. And if you are trying to keep the drums no more than plus 0.060", that's material I would prefer to wear it off. So if I was doing it today I would be inclined to use Ford hubs and Speedway Buick style drums that are all machined and bolt on if you are OK with 5 on 5.5" bolt pattern.
I used 12" F2/F250 front backing plates/brakes (Bendix) with F1 hubs (not F100). I angle beveled the hub OD to clear the drum's inside tapered profile, pressed on steel centric rings to suit the Buick drum ID. Drilled the drums to a 5.5" PCD, I also fitted some different Dorman studs but that's not critical, it just suited my set-up. This gives you 12" x 2" self energizing brakes with the hubs mounted on the inside of the drums and it all fits together with no interferences.
I have done Buick conversions since 1994. I started by measuring and figured how everything would fit together. I tried every combination I could think of. The only combo I have used is 46-48 outside hubs and drums mounted inside. The wheel mounting surface on the drums is too small to support a 5x 5.5 Ford wheel so the 46-8 hubs are the best solution. I have seen where hubs are mounted inside and that would work with a smaller bolt circle wheel. I don’t know what hub could be used. I have added a pic of the first set I did. Notice how far in the baking plate sits. I needs be the to cover the shoes.
@B*** , Yes bringing back a run of the 45 fin backing plates would be great. I have a set and love them. Thinking they were gone forever, I recently purchased F2 backing plates for a project. But would gladly set them aside!
I did almost the same thing except I used Wilson Welding hubs. I chromed the 1950 F2 backing plates and used part number 33 brake shoes and 69 F250 front wheel cylinders. It's been 15 trouble free years so far, and hauls my 2200 lbs hemi powered roadster down very well and quickly too!
I used Speedway hubs, drums and backing plates. the plan was to use Ford outside mounting hubs, original Lincoln brakes with original Buick drums. I collected the hubs and a few sets of drums but when the backing plates didn't appear 'got impatient and changed plans. no complaints so far.
Many thanks to seabeecmc, I now have a set of unmolested Buick aluminum brake drums with original hubs, 5x5 bolt pattern. Same as I'm using on the Whatever project. I'm going to make adapters for those hubs on F1 spindles. I'd be interested in any pictures of others that used the Buick hubs.
Dave, I have the full Buick set up on 37 spindles. I will show you the set up when you come over for that powerglide.
I'm planning to use Buick drums and hubs on 37 Ford spindles. I found those dimensional drawings for adapters somewhere in the net long time ago, haven't test yet if they are ok or not. At least something to start with. But how about the wheels? I have tried to find some narrow 15" wheels, max 5" wide, with 5x5 bolt pattern. Maybe early 50's Pontiac have ones? Or what i should be looking for?
The 5” bolt pattern is very common for old Halibrand and American wheels because the big Olds and Pontiac rearends had that pattern. But that is for 8” wide and wider. Not as common in front style widths.
You are testing my memory here but look up the spare tire rim for a 79 Cad Seville. Full size rim in the 5 inch pattern. I have 2 on the front of my 31
Be aware that some of the Buick hubs have a large register that will need to be turned down to fit common wheels.
Thanks guys for info about wheels. Rich B, your diameter dimensions is little smaller than the other ones i got earlier. Is your ones cold press fit on the spindles , or should they be heated to ***emble? And smaller outside diameters are maybe to compensate expansion after ***embly?
I used a dial caliper to get those measurements off the adapters I got from 29rat. I'm no expert at this stuff; but the guy I originally sent the drawings to said they worked for him. The attached copy of 29rat's instructions describe heating the adapters/freezing the spindles. We usually just heat bearing adapters as most of the time the spindles are already on the car.
I used this adapter with the 37 spindles and a set of 58 Buick backing plates. The plates had to be redrilled to match the spindle bolt pattern. Still available from The Hot Rod Works.
I've done dozens of the 46-48 hubs mounted on the outside of the Buick drum on 40-48 backing plates, F250 backing plated and Boling Bros Lincoln backing plates. Did it the same way Andy described above. Never had any problems. Wheel stud 610-169 Dorman. I kept a spindle with bearings and backing plate at the machine shop for checking drum clearance. I did make a thin steel reinforcing ring for inside the drums between the heads of the studs and the drum. Overkill?
The Jalopy Journal
