Converting Lockheed brake to Bendix

[Andy]

There is a HAMB tech reference article when I did a set for Buick drums. If I did it today, I would use a late model front wheel cylinder with a pad that mounts the cylinder with the brake shoe post/stop thing. Use all the parts from the same application if you can. The late model cylinder sets the stop vs. the cylinder distance and also the heights.

[rich b]

Brian Bass converts the Lockheed plates to work with Bendix type shoes etc. Couple of pictures on his web sight.

http://www.basskustom.com/brakes.html#top

[V8COOPMAN]

Brian Bass (HAMB guy) is building and selling some beautiful examples. See the link below! DD

http://www.basskustom.com/brakes.html#top

[hop2it]

Originally Posted by russcc

Thank you all for your responses. I plan to do the front brakes on the '40 first. It sounds like the F 1 is a straight forward swap. Vern Tardel's book is saying that the
F1/F100 front brakes only require a little "whittling" at the top of the spindle to clear the wheel cylinder. So If I get this right, I need F1/100 front backing plates, and cut the top of the spindle to clear the wheel cylinder. Can I use the '40 drums or do I need f1/100 drums. Thank you fordbrainers.

if you get F2 backing plates you can use your 40 brake drums
Doug

[Andy]

Originally Posted by hop2it

if you get F2 backing plates you can use your 40 brake drums
Doug

How do you know that?

[hop2it]

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Originally Posted by Andy

How do you know that?

I had a friend that had a 34 ford street rod he used the F2 backing plates with Buick drums on ford spindles,they are 12 " dia.drums vs.11" for the F1.to use with 40 drums you would need to get the right width shoes for the drum.
Doug

[Andy]

The F250 plates have a lot less offset where they mount to the spindle. They are are not compatable with 40 drums and hubs. The only way to use them is to cut the centers out and correct the offset.

[russcc]

Will post what I find out.

[scooder]

If I was gonna play at using 40 drums and bendix design back plates, I think I'd start with 1938 type back plates. These are 12" and although they were originaly string brakes, they are bendix style self energizing. It even has the top "anchor" bolt that the top of the shoes sit against. I haven looked deeply into this. Just an observation when I was digging through parts and saw the back plates.
Could be as simple as making the teddy bear head hole in the plate for the cylinder and some of they Lincoln type shoes and links.
Any thoughts on this?
Martin.

[JSeery]

Martin sounds like something to look into.

I still have not seen a photo of a Lockheed backing plate conversion to Bendix. The gentleman that sells them only shows photos of the backing plate side (maybe wisely so), and guess what, it looks a lot like a Lockheed backing plate. Surprise, surprise. I think most would agree that you can make anything into almost anything with enough effort. I would like to see a photo of a modified one to see if it is something one would consider attempting. Would have thought that if it could be easily done it would be a common modification.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by JSeery

I still have not seen a photo of a Lockheed backing plate conversion to Bendix. Would have thought that if it could be easily done it would be a common modification.

Maybe this pic will pique your interest. Click the link for the complete article with beaucoup pictures. This IS NOT Brian Bass' converted backing plate.....different dude! DD

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...plates.436824/

[Andy]

This is a thread from 2003 on the HAMB. I hope this works.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...ng-plates.7040

[JSeery]

Yep, that is pretty detailed! I had figured it would be fairly complicated, but it looks certainly doable if someone wanted to. Thanks for the link!

[Andy]

The only thing that takes some looking is the upper post stop thing. It needs to be adjustable like F1/F-100 ones. Many vehicles up to about 1955 used them.

[scooder]

Andy,
Why does the upper post stop thing have to be adjustable? And why does it adjust? I've never adjusted this on bendix brakes, just used the star wheel adjustment at the bottom.
Thanks,
Martin.

[Andy]

It is adjustable to center the shoes. It is rarely needed anymore but with home machining, I would want it,

[scooder]

Ok thanks.
Martin.

[rich b]

Originally Posted by JSeery

I still have not seen a photo of a Lockheed backing plate conversion to Bendix. The gentleman that sells them only shows photos of the backing plate side. I would like to see a photo of a modified one to see if it is something one would consider attempting.

Business side of one of his converted Lockheed plates.

[JSeery]

Thanks rich, how is the star adjuster accessed, is there a slot in the backing plate?

[RB]

It would be my guess if the two bottom Lockheed adjuster bolts are flush welded to the inside of the back plate & then slotted between them the outside nuts & plate could be removed for access to the adjusters.