Thread: Question re. disc brakes on '40 Ford spindles

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Brian, I know what you mean. I recall back in the '60s there was a guy in my neighborhood who had built a '30 Ford roadster out of a coupe similar to your canary but with the rumble rear. It was a beautiful robin egg blue but he was too old to drive it and his son was the driver! So far as long as I can pass the VA license every five years I can hope to get it on the road soon. Maybe this summer? The problem is that I am cranked up to work on the car but I just can't work in temps below 50 F anymore without getting a whopper of a head cold that seems to extend my forehead three inches or so. This year tried working in Nov. and Dec. with a full knitted cap but still got the dreaded "Delaware Valley Sinus Condition". I recall reading that there have been medical studies of the population that found more sinus infections in the greater DelMarVa area than anywhere else, probably due to the Chesapeake humidity. Maybe the Canadian cold is "dry"? From May to October I can get more done in a few hours than a full day at low temps, sorry no real excuse but I guess that is why they let us retire at 65!

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

From an economic standpoint the disc swap will probably be the cheapest, even after you add a 2# resid valve and whatever other misc. parts you'll need.

I'll just throw out another alternative though not the cheapest. Speedway also sells repop "Lincoln" drum brakes, which is to say they're self energizing Bendix style that fits with your current hubs and drums (assuming they aren't your problem). They're 12" rather than the F100 11". They are available in 1 3/4" width shoe to match your stock ford stuff, or for the higher zoot approach the 2" wide shoes for use with the aluminum Buick drums. They get $400 for the pair of backing plate/brake assy and if you order by 1/11/09 they pay the shipping (might check if that applies to Canada though).

That speedway kit is what i have on 39 ford spindles and no machining required. I had 14 inch 5 on 4/34 nova wheels just to roll it in and out and it works great.