I'd go out on a limb and say conversion to discs is the long-term and economical solution. More of a problem on the rears, so maybe conversion to some more modern drum system is appropriate there.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...le-change.html

This thread got my attention. Hope the OP documents what he has done. I am lucky in that my front brakes work very well at this time. I would consider going with the above conversion if it is feasible.

 

The biggest problem I see with having hard to make parts for our trucks is everyone seems to want them but once either a substitute is found or a part made no one wants to cough up the bucks to buy them. I would bet a reproduced drum would cost about $200+ each, the drums for the F-1s sell for around $100 each. I doubt if many people will be willing to cough up $800-1000 for a set of brake drums.

 

Bob, Chuck quoted $450 a drum, minimum of 5 orders needed to do a production run. I think the secondary issue (aside from cost) is that no one buying them now, is likely to ever wear them out. So it's not a real market. For that money you could get a disc brake setup.

 

That really rots for those like me who tend to be strictly stock...

 

My search for a brake drum solution continues.

The machinists in my area have declined the job of building up the front drums. My mechanic gave me the impression they're not willing to warrant the repair.

My mechanic, is still not willing to size-up the shoe to fill the over-spec drum. Happily, he is not charging me storage while my F6 sits on his heavy duty jack stands.

Chuck further expanded on the $450 a-piece, 5 order minimum option. They are turned out of one billet of steel overseas. He said this is how all the aftermarket drums for the more popular models are being made.

I phoned a large foundry 3 hours away and found them very willing to cast them for me. They could create a mold for $2000, unless I could supply one. Then they would cast them for $500 each. It would cost $700 each if I had them cast one-off (that is with the part itself as the mold). I would need to specify the type of metal they would cast (4130?). The prices would be firmer and possibly lower once the foundry had the drum in hand.

BMORAN4, Having worked with the foundry before, I think we would not see a quantity discount until we order at least 10 castings.

I already have a significant financial stake in my F6, so I'm fairly committed to see this old truck work again. ...And I like it stock.

 

7RT-1125-D .. Front Brake Drum / Obsolete

1948/52 F4/F5/F6 & F5/F6 COE

No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.

 

I can't believe they would use cast steel, it would be cast iron. 4130 is a chrome-moly steel. I believe you want something like A48, grey iron.

 

Do those cost cover machining/drilling etc? Or is that yet more added costs?

You may be able to find enough people on this forum to break 10... that's only 5 trucks...

 

Thanks Ross. The original looks like a steel plate welded to a cast ring, so I was confused which to favor.

Thanks NumberDummy. I used some of your references from other threads to see what you're saying: NOS doesn't exist.

Thanks BMORAN4. The cast prices would be without machining. That's why the turning method looks more attractive.

I wonder what quantity would reduce the unit price of the turned option. I would be in for four for my F5 and F6.

 

Just my ten cent

Why not turn the outer part from a large pipe and having the Centre piece cut out of a plate and maybe some slight milling, then having some approved welder to join them

And finally surface the inner diameter to spec, after welding

Rims are welded so why couldn't you weld a drum......?

 

Just to set the record straight, here is what I said about these drums.
The company that will make them for around $450.00 each, with a minimum order of 5, is here in the US. They were an OEM supplier back in the 1940's, and very possible could have been the original supplier of these. The price I was quoted was an estimate, and was probably high to scare me off. If they have the patterns, they could be slightly cheaper. Still way too expensive to consider, even though they would be cast just like the originals. I didn't ask if they would still be a composite, but it is likely that they would.
The more realistic option would be to have them made in India, where all of the other vintage drums are made. They would be made from a one piece iron casting, and then machined. They would probably cost only $50.00 each, but the minimum order would be at least 100-150 pieces, + shipping, which would be $1000.00 or more. So, if they retailed for around $200.00 each, how many years would it be before break even?
For the short term, I would think somebody could find a foundry to make a sand casting of one, and then have a machine shop setup a CNC program to finish it. They are definitely light enough to be sand cast, and I would bet if several were ordered at the same time they would be very affordable. A reasonable machine shop would have to be found to finish them. Once the program is set up, they should be cheap to machine.
Chuck

 

Thank you for clarifying, Chuck!

 

Thanks Ray, for expressing interest in how this OP proceeds.

Since I also have an F-5, I took the drums off it and took them to the mechanic to see if they would pass. They didn't, but while watching them measure the drums, I began to lose confidence in their tool.

I bought my own caliper on ebay. My measurements were lower than the shop's but the drum from the F-5 were still out of spec.

A friend has a machine shop and would roll sheet steel to slightly smaller than the drum dimension, cut off the old plate from the old drum ring and weld it onto the new steel ring, then turn the assembly to final dimension.

In preparation of going the machine shop route, I went to the mechanic to pick up the drums from the F-6 because they said they were beyond the dimension of the drums from the F-5. I figured we'd cut up the worst ones.

My surprise came when I measured the F-6's drums at 14.006"!

I dressed them up with a grinding jig I made, increasing them to 14.013". I didn't want to grind any further for fear of my likely margin for error.

This morning, I took my redressed drums to the mechanic, and he measured them at 14.015"! So now he will put them together. (I think originally he was planning to grind them and factored the grinding loss into his assessment of the drums.)

He now plans to pressure bleed the system, which is all new except for the vacuum booster. I hope it's good. 'Getting closer.

BTW, Chuck, if you're listening, please put me on your list of guys who are willing to buy a pair of front brake drums. The ones from my F-5 were grooved deeply by gravel. I still like the idea of original equipment.

 

If my contribution would help to make this a reality, sign me up for a pair of brake drums too. If a pair would be less than $400-, I'll buy $400- worth.