Technical Wide Fives Swap?

Can the drums of a 5x5-1/2" car simply be swapped to wide five drums and the requisite wheels used?

Can it possibly be that simple? Have a hard time believing it could be that simple.

 

As long as you use 37-39 hubs and drums.

 

That's what I did

 

Yes, as @Marty Strode says it is that simple.

Oval track racers have been doing it for years-

Charlie Binkley's 46 Ford winner at Nashville Fairgrounds and Huntsville 1962

 

I understand the basic premise (putting wide five hubs and drums on a 5 x 5.5" something or other). What cars would those be? Would that be hydraulic or mechanical brakes? Where do you get wide five drums that are in spec?

 

Just have to find someone sitting on a set of useable ones that haven't been hogged out with truing over the decades, no reproductions are available.

 

No repops on these? Hadn't considered that.

 

So the mechanical brake drums can be used with '40 and up backing plates and brakes?

 

As long as they are not from 1936 they will work. The spindle is much longer on the earlier ones. 1937 to 1939 drums are what you want for the conversion, plus they were factory hydraulic by 1939 anyway.

 

When I first read the title of this thread, I though it said "Five Wives Swap"
That sounds great, I'm tired of my current model.