Guy on egay said they are 1940 front 12" drums... I am scratching my head because of the 10 or so dimpled sections (see blue arrows in pic). After searching a bit (great time to think of this after I bought them hugh?) I am seeing rear drums that look like this but not front's. However the rears I am finding with the similar dimples don't seem to have the same type of hub. Basicly... the hub makes me think it is a front drum.... the dimples make me think it is a rear drum... Any thoughts???
They are front hubs. The "dimples" are balance weights and I believe with the hubs on the outsid eof the drums that they are 46 thru 48. Butch
Look a bit closer... the hubs are on the inside and the dimples are not weights as you can see them on both the inside and outside of the drum... I'm puzzled....
Those are fronts. The rears do not have front bearings, nor a rear "cone" bearing. Also the rears have a groove in the hub for the puller to grab. FWIW, I think 40 drums where smoothe, no dimples. Those might be 41/42, not that it makes any difference, it's basically the same for all three years.
Yep they are 40 or really close to that year, my 40's had 5 bigger dipples, then I got one that's smooth too. As long as the hubs are on the inside they are close to 40.
FWIW Budd-hub inside KH-hub outside the two suppliers to Ford and those are the composite style drums. There was full cast style drums too. Year? who cares. 1939-48 Fronts
If those are the ones you are considering they look to be a tad thin from here. I'd want to know for sure that they could be turned. If you have good hubs I think it would be money ahead to buy a pair of new drums. Cost of Ebay drums, shipping, Machine work to make them usable, cost of a pair of new drums to go with the hubs if they can't be turned.
not a big deal like Eric (Vaphead) said. Anyway, use the hubs and buy the new USA made drums from Eric. I did. The old stock ones were pretty thin to begin with.The new ones are thicker. You can't go wrong.
Front- yes. 39-41- as far as I know, had the hub inside and the "dimples". 46-48- hub outside. Smooth (no dimples) and a couple cast grooves around the sides. May have been some early 46 with the old style I'm told.
I thought the same thing and asked the guy... his reply was that there was room to turn them. The first thing I am going to do when I get them is to throw a mic on them and see for myself. If they are indeed thin I will be asking for a refund..... good luck with that right?
Powerplant, The info that you have gotten 40-46 is correct. Purchasing hubs over the internet with the with the assurance that "there is room to turn them" is like unprotected sex with a stranger. The cost of shipping that much weight and finding out that the drums are so oversize that they can't be turned outweighs the cost of replacement drums. Old Ford drums are 12" diameter, They should not be turned over .060 which a quick check on a tape is about 12 1/16". Over that size the brakes become thin and are subject to heat distortion, in addition they require constant adjustment due to shoe wear. Any brake over size by .080 should be junked. If your seller will give you accurate sizing of the drum diameter that is within 12" and 12.020" then purchase the drums, this size range will give enough material to resize the drum once. If the seller can't do this then don't make the purchase unless you just want the hubs or the transaction is a freebie..
Thanks.... The guy did throw a tape on them... said they are both right at 12" and not near 1/16th over. I say tape measures in circumstances like this are for carpenters.... I will better know when I get a mic on em. I appreciate the limits you shared, now I know what I can do if there is indeed room to turn them. I don't normaly gamble but it seams I do this too often on ebay.. I figured at least I would end up with some hubs if the drums were bad.
Don't be judging by "dimples", it will screw you up. The only thing you need to see is the hub style, and if its just a drum by itself, look for the center hole size. Early, the center hole is 3 and 1/4", late; the center hole is 4". here is a pair of early and late. You can see the mounting and center differences.
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