Johnson's Hot Rod Shop Kinmont Brakes

Not sure if I would use them or not, but I sure dig the idea of people pushing the envelope and comming up with new ideas. That is what this hobby is all about.

 

I'm glad folks are making more hot rod parts. I wouldn't run em cause I'm weird and they sorta fit into the same category as the SoCal buick covers like Bass said.

To be honest I don't know how I feel about authentic repros coming out. On one hand it'll be awesome to possibly get to put a set on a car. On the other hand so will a bunch of other people, originals will be just that much less impressive cause of it. But if it's gonna happen, I glad Wilson's doing it.

 

Nope, I wouldn't use these covers. Even if they gave me a free set. Nor would I ever use the "fake" valve covers. I'm a guy that won't even put pertronix into an old Mallory distributor. But hey, you build yours your way and I'll build mine my way.

 

Wow,.... Told you I was opening a can of worms.... First of all even though original Kinmonts were considered to be "Disc Brakes" of sorts (unrecognizable to most people as Disc Brakes) ..... they have nothing in common with the Johnson units other than in some aspects of appearance so they can fill a market void.

Second, a couple of friends of mine had ran them back in the 70's,. I actually had a chance to help them set them up,... and I could never see the benefit of there ability to preform better than 1939-48 brakes.... But !.... they did look way cool !

Third, I am all about build what you want,... your own vision of the perfect Hot Rod and the heck with everybody else....

My point was, there has been a big uproar over all things "fake" on here many times. Just wanted to find out if these brakes, that I find cool looking, and am sure have much better stopping ability then the brakes they are made to look like (although out of proportion) would find the same resistance as other parts discussed on this forum.

 

Like I said above I think Johnson did a nice job on these. In fact his whole product lineup is well designed. I appreciate his creativity.

 

My understanding is that our friend and fellow hamber George King already has one of the sets on the way for his new injected hemi 34 coupe that Rex Rodgers and Custom Auto are working on. I can promise you few of us would say no if they fell in our lap. Gonna be a killer.

 

I heard through the grape vine 35 or so serts were sold at GNRS......looks to be a pretty Hot Item........without a doubt, they'll be great quality by just knowing who is doing them....Alan always puts out First Quality Stuff.

 

While I do like the look of these, I wouldn't run them on my car. I am one of those who happen to like the way disc brakes look. I like the mechanical art work they portray. Like a dolled up flathead, it just looks like functional and mechanical art. So I put front discs on every thing I have.

 

I was just thinking,,that's a lot of money,,,no that's a insane amount of money for something fake! HRP

 

Come on now!....we are in a society of fake lips, fake breast, fake reality shows...(Isn't that an oximoron..can you really fake reality?)...fake (KIT) cars, fake gas (Ethanol) and fake polititions........why can't we have fake brakes....no, brake covers...fake brakes would not be brakes would they?

 

a least we know where to draw the line now. Its ok to have a car with 2/3 of its original metal replaced,swaped out motor and trans, re-poped quickchange, re-poped wheels and tires, diferent head and tail lights and trim, swaped out gauges, steering wheel, and dash, but what ever you do dont mess with valve covers or creative brakes.

 

And another one is Flat Black.....How Dare anyone to use Flat Black!............

 

Puke.

I'd be one of the few. I tend to look poorly upon items that are chintzy knock-offs of the real-deal parts that I have.

Then again, maybe I wouldn't so I could turn around and sell 'em cheap for a quick buck.

 

does this mean all the stoping i did with "fake " brakes not actualy hapen. Them socal guys aint parts makers,theyre dadgum magicians.

 

Simple. It doesnt. If I was offered a set for free?? Hell yes. Then I'd sell 'em.

 

Whatever floats your boat. If you like the look go for it! Personally, I am not a big fan of the Kinmont look, to think somebody would pay 10K for originals that work half ass at best is absurd to me. But I do not consider the reproductions any different than a flathead with all the modern internals. Original Arduns for instance, didn't lubricate very well but the Orozco reproductions were modified to correct that issue... originals or repo. Ardun heads are bitchen. Same could be said for these.

 

They are nice looking, but obvious fakes. Johnson's are advertising them as Kinmont's, but most will instantly know better. The ones who don't wouldn't know a real set if they tripped over them. I'm sure most every new "Cherry Bomb" in Street Rodder will have them on for the foreseeable future. That way everybody will know they spent as much $$ possible on fake brakes for their fake '32 looking Ford.

I personally never liked the looks of them anyway. I'll take the ones that look like this, everytime...!

Just sayin'

 

X2 on that thinking. You'll only impress the faux rockabilly with the fresh So Cal tshirt walking with his wife and stroller.

 

Johnson's Rod Shop does absolutely first class work. Whether it fits the criteria or opinion of the masses is irrelevant. I took the "Duecenberg" Ridler winner and Alan's roadster out west in 09. I tightened the straps on those two cars all the way across the country and knew them inside and out. The workmanship was beyond belief. Alan is a craftsman that is constantly bringing new ideas to the market and more power to him.

 

If someone gave me a set.... I'd sell them. Lame!

 

I did catch the aluminum backing plates right away, and the slightly cartoonish proportions too, but I HAD to walk up and see if there was a regular brake disc inside... Yup!

I do dig the look of the Kinmonts, and the set coming down the line might very well work better than the originals. Still gonna be pricy though.

 

Fake parts for fake rods owned by fake hotrodders... No big deal your billet A/C compressor and 10 spoke bolt on "gasser" wheels will give your poser status away faster than these brake covers.

You know if for once instead of ripping off the past someone put some effort in an original design it would not be a bad idea for the street rod buyer that wants to follow the trend and this could be done without disrespecting the legacy of the original. Ripping off a vintage item is not "bringing new ideas to the market". LOL

 

I never liked the look of the originals and according to many accounts I have heard (I have no personal experience with real Kinmont's) they do not work very well. So this gentlemen has reproduced something and improved it. Ok with me but I would have no desire to run his or the originals.

 

I have immense respect for Alan Johnson's creativity and talent as a builder,,as for the brakes if they float your boat go for it,,I can't afford them and the early Ford brakes I used on my truck work & look correct for my money. HRP

 

NOW yer talkin'!

 

stock lincolns lock the front tire up. what more do you need?

 

Do all you haters still use monkey wrenches to work on your authentic heaps?

 

If ya don't like 'em don't buy 'em. I'll give kudos to Alan Johnson for doing something nobody else was doing, and filling a need... sort of.

I always thought original Kinmonts were over rated, but I do dig them, just have no need for them on my low budget cars.

Johnson walked a fine line on this and I respect him for it. It would have been no more work to make precise duplicates of the original, restoration parts, if you will. By doing his own thing he has not spoiled the original market. I applaud him for that.

Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app

 

Still hoping this will catch on...
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7913426&highlight=hater#post7913426

 

The negative, hatin', shit talkers in this place are too much..