I've been trying to figure out how to use my late 50's buick backing plates on my '40 ford hubs and spindles with finned buick drums. I've tried every trick I can think of to utilize these buick backing plates because I want the self energizing brakes but I finally have to admit defeat. The offset of the buick pieces is backward for what I need. Guess I'll have to go ultra traditional and use my 40 front backing plates with stone-age 40 brakes inside my finned drums. Now, I see why nobody uses the buick pieces. The 40 front brakes worked ok on the Rocky 33 but it didn't have a hemi motor that weighed 700 lbs either. Hope this sumbitch stops when I need it to...... Good news is, I can march forward with the project and quit fucking around with the un-workable parts anymore.... Now, to figure out how to use the buick backing plates on the 57 Poncho rear axle.........
Rocky, I know you're not made of money or anything, but put in a few hours of OT and call Bob Wilson for a pair of his Lincoln self energizing backing plates.
Gotta be fair though - Other alternatives...Finding a set of '39 Front, or '39-48 rear Lincoln brakes, or only slightly easier to find, but cheap to buy - a set of '53-'56 Ford F200 truck brakes.
Self energizing sounds like a good idea.Cut the centers out of the '40 plates,and weld them into the Buick plates.
I am going to run the 58-60 backing plates (2 1/2 by 12 shoes) on both my rods. You know about the spacer-adapter to mount the plates to the spindle don't you? I paid $40 a piece for mine. The spacer adapter puts that buick plate just the right offset for the the 46-48 ford hub and buick drum. Big big big stopping power in a old timey package. I can take some pics of the parts I have and post if that will help ya any. Steve
[ QUOTE ] Self energizing sounds like a good idea.Cut the centers out of the '40 plates,and weld them into the Buick plates. [/ QUOTE ] I was about to suggest the same possibility too.... (but read the posts first!)
I had a buddy run 6 pairs for me on his cnc. Trial run to see what the cost would be. He told me the next run would have to be at least $50 apiece......not bad but he needs a quantitiy order. I have 3 pair left (sold 3 pair to recoope some of my cost). I'll go take a picture right now and post in a few minutes. I thought everyone knew about this means to use the big buick brakes. Steve
cutting the centers out of both plates and welding the buick centers in was my intention but neither backing plate is flat. plus, all the ridges, hills and valleys are in different places. the spacers might work for 41-48 hubs but I have 40 hubs, which are different... Even with spacers, the center of the buick plate would have to be cut out to clear the bottom of the ford hub. I'll hit up my fellow F-100 club members for the proper F-250 plates..thanks
I'm getting the F250 backing plates from Bleed He rules and saved me this time... Thanks for the info rock. Glad to know yer gonna get back into the shop yo Tuck
heres a spacer laying on a 58-60 backing plate. The buick backing plate hole has to be opened up and the mount holes filled and redrilled.
I have some f250 backing plates here too....I compared the shoe size to the buicks...much bigger brakes if you go with the buicks Steve
I went back and re-read your post. I'll take a pair of those little honeys if you're selling....I'll get with you via e-mail....
Rocky Hot Rod Works use to sell them back when it was Atkinson's Machine......last I knew they were not selling them anymore. I can get more made at about $50 each... so I tell ya what......pm me your address and I'll send ya a pair to see if thats the way ya want to go. If so send me the dough and if not just send them back to me. I need to get an order of 8 pair or so to get Ross to cut me some more at $50 each. Steve
And so, it is done.......... As the sun sets in the west [harmonica music here] and Rocky sits astride his old gray primered mare, clip-clopping into the sunset, while rolling up a Bull Durham cigarette with one hand, yet another problem has been solved with Hamb-help [tm]......Gad! I love this place!
van.................. ummmm (i'll get my ass kicked....(chevy van) early 60's)..... okay, where's the rope!@!!
mecutum, How about posting an inquiry and find out how many HAMBr's would like a pair? I'm in for a pair if you have more made. Maybe if you could get enough orders they could be done for less than $50 apiece. Just a thought. Frank
Hey Frank Maybe 2 years ago or so I paid the $20 to Hot Rod Works for the detailed specs of these adapters. They told me they were not making them anymore. My good friend and cousin Ross said he would do a run and time study on making some up. Well he guessed $40 each and stayed with that on the first batch but told me any more he made should be $50 each. So I think $50 each is the bottom $. If other hambers are interested please contact me. I can have Ross run another batch when I get a an order of 8 pair or so. This kind of reminds me of the Header flange post from another good hearted hamber.....well we will see how many takers here. No spamming here.......just trying to help out. Steve
[ QUOTE ] I have some f250 backing plates here too....I compared the shoe size to the buicks...much bigger brakes if you go with the buicks Steve [/ QUOTE ] You can get wider shoes for the F250 backing plates and all you need to do to use them is find/fabricate a longer anchor pin and use longer shoe nails. The 66-72 F250 shoes came in 2.5" & 3" - which will work with the Buick drums. I considered doing this, but in the end, my 33 Truck just isn't heavy enough to warrant this degree of overkill The 12x2 self-energizing will do just fine for me....
Is there a preferred Buick backing plate to use in this swap or will any of them that originally came on cars with the aluminum drums work? Max
Flat Ernie I was not aware you could get bigger shoes for the ford F250's. The F250backing plates I have got really skinny width shoes compared to the buicks. Max Gearhead 1958 1959 and 1960 Buick are your best choices. 61 on up had a weird mounting and can't be made to work very well. As far as I know the aluminum drums will interchange from 58 up until disc brakes became available. Steve
Max Gearhead...No, only the early Buick backing plates will do, I think '58-and maybe to about '60. After that, the Buick spindle changed, and they use a big bolt on top, making it hard to retrofit to the Ford spindle. Maybe somebody can look it up in the interchange manual to get the exact cut off.
[ QUOTE ] I was not aware you could get bigger shoes for the ford F250's. The F250backing plates I have got really skinny width shoes compared to the buicks. [/ QUOTE ] The Buicks are 3" or so. You can use 67-72 F250 that come in either 2.5" or 3" (depending on suspension option) - in addition to the nails & anchor change, I forgot to mention you'll have to use the later star adjustor too... I have to add that I've never done this, but researched it a bit for my truck. For my application, it seemed like a lot of extra work, so I skipped it since the early F250 2" brakes will work just fine.
Mecutem, could you measure the diameter of the lip that fits into the backing plate and the thickness of the spacer. I need something very similar to use on my Lincoln b/plates. The hole in the Lincolns are a skosh over 3 7/8. If they work for Lincolns it may increase the demand.
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