Brake Suggestion for a Grand Prix / Speedster

So I am scratch building a 20's style Grand Prix car. Really modeled after a Bugatti T35. As you can see in the pic I made the axle to hold early ford spindles.

My issue now is that I need a really thin brake system. The stock Ford stuff pushes the wheels out to far. I am running thin wire wheels that only have 1.5" backspacing. I would ideally want a backing plate that bumps in where the spindle mounts to get the wheel as close to the car as possible. This thing has a 49" track in the front. I am ***uming I could use some other spindle....shorter...with 1 1/2" brakes....I just don't know what meets those specs.

any ideas? Are there other hubs I could use? Different spindle? T-bucket guys have any ideas?

Thanks,

Dan

 

Forgot to mention I am planning on using Dayton wire wheels with knockoffs.

 

Your project sounds very neat. What kind of engine are you going to use. Later, Gary

 

I'm running an Alfa Romeo 4 cylinder with Weber side drafts. I will be putting up a build thread one of these days.

 

Great choice!!!!!!!! I'm subscribed! Gary

 

The hub will be where it fits. The backing plate has no effect on it.
If you machine a new hub that insets the wheel farther you could possibly reuse the stock backing plates in the stock position and have the drum machined down to less width. Modified brake shoes would be needed and careful consideration to clearance for the wheel cylinders etc.
All for little real gain.
Also your tire scrub radius needs consideration as well if you move the wheel center inward without moving the kingpin itself.

Sounds like you need a narrower AXLE to me...or a closer copy of what the Bugatti had for brakes/hubs /axle width.

If your trying for a replica you need to re-create the actual parts...but if your simply trying for a basic representation of what the 20's GP cars were like, I'd cut myself a little slack and run something close without getting to stressed over the historical exactness.

Sounds and looks like a great project you have going there! Nice workmanship.

 

Thanks Bill. I'm really not too concerned with "authentic" Bugatti looks. I had planned on running F1 brakes....which I still want to do because I have them. Maybe machining a new hub, then running rear drums on the front (Rear F1 drums are narrower becasue they don't have the reduced "nose") is a potential. Gonna run out and take some measurements.