Thread: rims for buick drums

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I'm fairly new to the board. ......do more lurking than posting.
Currently building a steel '32 sedan. It'll be quasi-traditional. I have installed a dropped drilled axle, hairpins and Buick drums. The buick drums are Chev bolt pattern (43/4 X 5). Front tires will be either 185's or 195's. Does anyone know what Chev rim would work for this setup? Due to budget constraints, I don't want to go the new route via Wheel Vintiques.
Thanks.

You will have to run 15's for sure. 49-56 would be candidates. 16's would fit for sure. I am using the early Ford pattern and running 56 pick up wheels. Clearance is very tight and I have to run a 1/8" spacer.

Thanks for the tip. I wouldn't be surprised I'll have to run a spacer too. Now I just need to track down a pair of rims!

please tell me where i would go to get new buick drums and where i would find the backing plates?
Or do you just use any backing plates?
thx Dave

To my knowldge, the only "new" Buick type set up is from SoCal Speed Shop. They have a disc brake set up that looks a lot like Buick drums. It is not real cheap, especially polished, but nice.

I have 40 Ford brakes with 45 fin '59 Buick drums on my one roadster, and they have been there for about 15 years. They fit the '50 style of the car and stop on a dime. You have to modify the Ford hub and the Buick drum to mate, but any machine shop can do the work.

These are getting rarer and more expensive, with good ones going for around $250.00 on up a pair on ebay. The good ones were from '58-'60 (if my memory is correct) with 45 fins. Later ones will work, but are 90 fin, and don't look quite the same on an open wheeled car.

It is one of those touches that gives people something to look at on your car, and I get a lot of comments on them.

Hope this helps.

would something like this workhttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Aluminum-drums-Camero-Z28-IROC_W0QQitemZ8003883812QQcategoryZ33565QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem they look fined to me?
what do you think?
Dave

Contact Wilson Welding, 972-539-2305, he has plans to repop the 45 fin aluminum drums and may have a target date. He also repops Lincoln style backing plate/brake assemblies, as well as a finned aluminum backing plate (see my gallery for a set on a '33 Ford) that gives something of a Kinmont brake look.
http://www.wilsonweldingandmachine.com/