Traditional Hot Rods

[kindabored2]

So I'm not an over the top HAMB type guy but I am getting more & more interestested in the minimalistic side of hot rodding. I only have 2 problems:

1) I'm a fatass and like AC (Georgia is humid as hell)
2) I just can't understand why you would not make disk brakes numero uno on your upgrade.

[Joeys66chevy]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

drum brakes make me feel like fred flintstone, but my feet dont stop glowing red like his do.... BUT what the hell if they were good in the 60's whats 40 or so years of rust gonna hurt ??

[Mr.WFO]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

disc brakes have greater rolling resistance?

[kindabored2]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

I don't think those flatties had the go we have now. Flattie or hemi or whatever those guys had biguns running the way they did. Same as the ac, I wanna be comfortable & run like hell & have a traditional rod. Too many genres to fit in 1 car? Street rods suck (my opinion obviously)

[Monk]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

If I want a/c........I roll the windows down and go faster

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

In this month's Hot Rod you'll see the story about the "road test" of seven distinctive hot rods of different genres.

I'm the lucky freelancer who was along for the test.

The traditional '32 hot rod owned by Ron Lee was equipped with "vintage" brakes and it was more than a bit unsettling to try and slow even that light little car down from highway speed.

This is kind of how it feels...

Give it some pedal....
Give it some more pedal (shouldn't we be slowing down?)
Give it some more pedal (Ok, maybe I should have packed that extra underwear)
Give it some more pedal (Well it's on the carpet and I think I'm slowing down....nope that's engine braking)
Flatten the pedal on the floor board (Ahhhh...it's slowing like a fully loaded 18 wheeler)

The car is and was awesome, but having never driven something with the primordial brakes on it....woah. It gives you an interesting impression of modern stuff.

The GTO was a 4 wheel drum car too and it had a couple of thousand lbs on the rod. See above for a description of braking performance.

Brian

[Joeys66chevy]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

monk knows how we cheap people get a/c, but taking the windshield out is easier

[HEMI]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

I've got disk brakes on my "A" coupe.No problem with stopping.I live in a high hummity area also(a few miles from the Pacific Ocean),but I need heat(I have a heater in it).If I go inland a few miles,I just open the windows.
BTW Brian,excellent article,but remember that this car was built in a time when traffic was lower count and speed limits were slower.Newer parts were not available.I got my license in the 1960's,and traffic was a lot less then than now.Back then almost all cars didn't have power asssisted steering or brakes,or automatic transmissions.All of this automatic/power assisted stuff has contributed to the traffic.No body seems to know what a clutch pedal is anymore,so they can only pilot a vehicle.I've got no prob. with a/c if it's needed,but power windows,steering,etc.I can do without.

[Nik]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

So I'm not an over the top HAMB type guy but I am getting more & more interestested in the minimalistic side of hot rodding. I only have 2 problems:

1) I'm a fatass and like AC (Georgia is humid as hell)
2) I just can't understand why you would not make disk brakes numero uno on your upgrade.

Folks sometimes forget how scary it can be to have someone with ABS brakes come to a quick stop right in front of you while driving a car with 50 year old drum brake technology. If they can stop on a dime, then I at least want to be able to not slide into them at full speed.

A/C is mandatory here in New Mexico. I like to be able to drive my cars as much as possible and without it that wouldn't be possible 9 months out of the year, heck it 90 out here in February. I'm all for nostalgia, but that doesn't mean I sit at home and watch a 12" black and white TV........

Nik

[squirrel]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

I've been driving drum brake cars and trucks for 30 years, they still stop the same as they always did, and it's not a problem. If all you drive is disk brake modern stuff, then it might take some getting used to.

Maintenance is important with old brakes...and those early Ford brakes are not easy to keep working right. 1951 and newer Chevy drum brakes on a 3000 lb car actually work pretty well. But you gotta leave room in front of you...no tailgating..and the faster you go, the more room you need.


AC would be nice in the humidity belt. It's not so much of a problem here in the dry belt...including NM....imo.

[KeithTurk]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

Got a drum brake car... it sucks... got a disc car... it actually stops...

Any one can get used to average... the question is ... is it acceptable?

Part of Hot rodding is to "improve" your junk... accepting average because you can... hmmm Jim I'm sorry there's not reason to have a Drum brake car if you drive the snot out of it... and I happen to know you have the skill to put Disc's on it... it's your junk and I respect your skill... so whatever... but for me... no question... I'm even going to convert My Healey to Disc's, it's simply good insurance.

Keith

[SpiderGearsMan]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

drum brakes rule - LOW DRAG !!!!

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

Hey Jim and Hemi,

I'm definitely not taking a swipe at the car. It was like driving a time capsule! It was my first time in a very period correct car.

After a couple of stops and starts in the car I adjusted what I was doing to match the brakes...it was all good at that point.

Being slightly south of 30 years old, the vast majority of stuff I have driven has been "modern" in it's braking ability.

Brian

[JeffMcKC]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

If you want low drag disc go with Lamb 8)

[L98camino]

Re: Traditional Hot Rods

I agree that a well maintained drum brake can work well, as long as the adjusters are in proper working order and the hardware is replaced on a regular basis.
That being said,I'm with Keith, disc brakes are better on all the important points. If you drive your junk hard, you will need efficient, consistant, and strong brakes, period. Most of the time you can "leave room" and compensate for longer stopping distances, but when you really need them they must perform. Todays traffic, rude drivers, and cell phones take away most of our ability to compensate, so we need the best braking we can get.

That way the soccer mom in the suburban whos talking on her cell to the principle about little Johnny's ADD and feeding the one in the carseat while also touching up her make up and is late for pilates won't destroy all my hard work and put me in the hospital because she almost missed her exit off the freeway. (hey Brian, hows that for a run-on sentence!!! )

No offence intended, just my opinion.