Does anyone know where I can buy new brake drums for a 1951 F-3?


I am a newbe just got F-3 yesterday. Also is there anyway to tell what the original color was?

 

8D-1125-A .. Front Brake Drum - 2.00" brake surface width / Obsolete

1948/50 F2/F3; Some 1951 F2/F3.

No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.
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1D-1125-B .. Front Brake Drum - 2.40" brake surface width / Obsolete

Some 1951 F2/F3; 1952 F2/F3.

OBSOLETE RELIABLE PARTS in Nashville GA has 1 = 229-686-5101.
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TBAA-1126-A .. Rear Brake Drum / Obsolete

1951/52 F2/F3; 1953/55 F250.

No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any.

 

First, welcome to the group. Glad to have you and glad to see another F-3 being saved.

The 1951 model year, as Bill's research shows, was split between early year build specs and late year build specs. The easiest way to tell which you have is by the location of the emergency brake handle. The early trucks have the brake handle in the left footwell. This connects via cables to the rear wheel backing plates. These early trucks have 14" Lockheed rear drums that are themselves NLA. Late year 1951 trucks have the emergency brake handle located to the right of the shift lever. It operates a band/drum assembly located at the rear of the transmission. It was teamed with 12" Bendix rear drums.

Another source I'll suggest contacting is Chuck Mantiglia of Chuck's Trucks in CT. He is a FTE member, and a source of technical info as well as parts. Link below to his web site.

Last, I'll suggest you become familiar with your truck's 17" original wheels if it still has them. They might to your eye look one piece, but they are two part and split in the middle of the rim. This design is known as the Firestone RH-5° rim, also called the widow maker. A Google search of those terms will yield important information. Stu

http://www.chuckstrucksllc.com/startframe.htm

Edit - forgot the original color question. The early trucks should have a cowl stamping that contains coding for build date, location, and color. I make no claim to be good at decyphering those codes. Others are good at it if you can post the codes. Late year trucks have a color code on the glove box data plate. Post that and any of us can give you your answer. The other easy way is to look under the dash or somewhere hidden. Early and late year shared the same colors so we can sort it out that way. Stu

 

Thanks for info. Does any body recondition drums?

 

Factory specs for turning oversize is .020". Chuck has recently given the opinion that turning can go well beyond that by having shoes relined with thicker material and then fitting them to the drums. Likely an old truck won't be used commercially anymore to put great stresses on the brake drums. Stu

 

John, Mac's Antique Auto Parts, Lockport N.Y., has new F3 Front drums pt.#48-19746-1 (OEM -1125) but not sure if they have rear drums. Good luck with your project.