The Ford Barn

Mark from Australia · 12-17-2011, 09:17 PM

I have just purchased what I believe is a rolling AR frame, to which I will fit my 28 coupe body.

Due to the cost of buying new tires to fit the original wheel, I was wanting to swicth to a set of 16" early ford wheels. The model A expert friends I have now tell me I cannot run anything else but the AR wheels on these brake drums.

Is there any adapter kit out there that will alloow me to run 1940-type rims on my car?

Thanks in advance.

Mark from Australia

Tudortomnz · 12-18-2011, 01:10 AM

Just my opinion, but if you are to keep the coupe as an August '28 [Canada] or earlier, you will have to find a good set of tyres & keep with the early type wheels. If that is not the plan, change to later drums [ probably the new cast iron ones] & you can put the later V8 wheels on. Will not be cheap whatever.

Mark from Australia · 12-18-2011, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tudortomnz

Will not be cheap whatever.

Thats why I was wanting to run some adapters if possible. 16" light truck tires are 1/3 the price of tires to suit the original wheels, and I have a set of early ford rims.

I know its may not be what everyone wants to hear, but I'm not a stickler for being 100% authentic.

pooch · 12-18-2011, 02:21 AM

That was a good buy I thought from ebay.

I had been watching it.

Probably best to change to the later drums with the separate handbrake.

AR/s have nothing at all if anything goes wrong with the ONLY braking system they have.

kenparker · 12-18-2011, 10:04 AM

AR Drums do not fit A Wheels and viceversa A Drums will not fit AR Wheels. The studs fit, but, they do not seat correctly. I think I have pictues tht can show this, will try to find them later.

I just finished installing new AR Drums on my AR pickup. She had AR steel - worn out Drums on her originally. Yes, I am using AR wheels. The new AR Drums are not machined correctly and I had to do lots of remachineing to get them to match my AR wheels. If I had it to do over I would switch to standard A Wheels and Drums.

Mark from Australia · 12-18-2011, 07:16 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by kenparker

AR Drums do not fit A Wheels and viceversa A Drums will not fit AR Wheels. The studs fit, but, they do not seat correctly. I think I have pictues tht can show this, will try to find them later.

I just finished installing new AR Drums on my AR pickup. She had AR steel - worn out Drums on her originally. Yes, I am using AR wheels. The new AR Drums are not machined correctly and I had to do lots of remachineing to get them to match my AR wheels. If I had it to do over I would switch to standard A Wheels and Drums.

Thanks Ken,
I'm new to this area of model A's, so any help is much appreciated.

Jim Parker Toronto · 12-18-2011, 10:02 PM

I have made up a 3/16" spacer so I can run "AR" wheels with the later drums. I did this so I could use the wheels, (just Powdercoated) and tires I had instead of looking for more. The spacer is about 1/2"wide and just sits where the wheel meets the drum. I had them cut on a CNC guided torch. 5000 miles and no problems yet! Jim

dave in australia · 12-19-2011, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Parker Toronto

I have made up a 3/16" spacer so I can run "AR" wheels with the later drums. I did this so I could use the wheels, (just Powdercoated) and tires I had instead of looking for more. The spacer is about 1/2"wide and just sits where the wheel meets the drum. I had them cut on a CNC guided torch. 5000 miles and no problems yet! Jim

To fit later wheels to early drums you would have to fit a spacer around the studs where the wheel hub meats the drum. This is the opposite way that you've done, late wheels on early drums instead of early wheels on late drums.

Mark from Australia · 12-20-2011, 05:05 AM

Jim, Dave, thanks for your input, anyone else have experience with this conversion?

Mike V. Florida · 12-20-2011, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark from Australia

Thats why I was wanting to run some adapters if possible. 16" light truck tires are 1/3 the price of tires to suit the original wheels, and I have a set of early ford rims.

I know its may not be what everyone wants to hear, but I'm not a stickler for being 100% authentic.

WOW 1/3 the price! Here in the states the 21" tires are about $90 each. 16" light truck tires would have to be $30 here.

Mark from Australia · 12-20-2011, 03:11 PM

Mike, tires to suit Model A wheel are around $300 each here, as they are all imported. My local tires dealer sells 195r16" tires for $95, for the front. and I have good 760r16's for the rear already.

so you can see why I ask the questions.

Manuel · 12-20-2011, 03:42 PM

Most things in the States are half price to Oz and NZ, eg petrol, food, new cars & parts etc.
If u go there and buy all the bits u need and post them home your self u can still save.

Manuel in Oz

pooch · 12-20-2011, 03:58 PM

Yeh we get ripped off big time here.

Luckily tho, we do not have the hand out for tips mentality, but some still try us on.

12-18-2011, 01:10 AM	#2
Tudortomnz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canterbury, New Zealand Posts: 1,242	Re: AR drums Just my opinion, but if you are to keep the coupe as an August '28 [Canada] or earlier, you will have to find a good set of tyres & keep with the early type wheels. If that is not the plan, change to later drums [ probably the new cast iron ones] & you can put the later V8 wheels on. Will not be cheap whatever.

12-18-2011, 02:21 AM	#4
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: AR drums That was a good buy I thought from ebay. I had been watching it. Probably best to change to the later drums with the separate handbrake. AR/s have nothing at all if anything goes wrong with the ONLY braking system they have.

12-18-2011, 10:04 AM	#5
kenparker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Van, Texas Posts: 1,122	Re: AR drums AR Drums do not fit A Wheels and viceversa A Drums will not fit AR Wheels. The studs fit, but, they do not seat correctly. I think I have pictues tht can show this, will try to find them later. I just finished installing new AR Drums on my AR pickup. She had AR steel - worn out Drums on her originally. Yes, I am using AR wheels. The new AR Drums are not machined correctly and I had to do lots of remachineing to get them to match my AR wheels. If I had it to do over I would switch to standard A Wheels and Drums.

12-18-2011, 10:02 PM	#7
Jim Parker Toronto Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,289	Re: AR drums I have made up a 3/16" spacer so I can run "AR" wheels with the later drums. I did this so I could use the wheels, (just Powdercoated) and tires I had instead of looking for more. The spacer is about 1/2"wide and just sits where the wheel meets the drum. I had them cut on a CNC guided torch. 5000 miles and no problems yet! Jim

12-20-2011, 05:05 AM	#9
Mark from Australia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 120	Re: AR drums Jim, Dave, thanks for your input, anyone else have experience with this conversion?

12-20-2011, 03:11 PM	#11
Mark from Australia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 120	Re: AR drums Mike, tires to suit Model A wheel are around $300 each here, as they are all imported. My local tires dealer sells 195r16" tires for $95, for the front. and I have good 760r16's for the rear already. so you can see why I ask the questions.

12-20-2011, 03:42 PM	#12
Manuel Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ACT Australia Posts: 506	Re: AR drums Most things in the States are half price to Oz and NZ, eg petrol, food, new cars & parts etc. If u go there and buy all the bits u need and post them home your self u can still save. Manuel in Oz

12-20-2011, 03:58 PM	#13
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: AR drums Yeh we get ripped off big time here. Luckily tho, we do not have the hand out for tips mentality, but some still try us on.