A-body 8-3/4 drums

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Ceedawg

Ceedawg

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My friend sold his 69 Cuda this past weekend and the buyer was saying the drums I had were not right. Got me second guessing myself so I’m inquiring on here. My understanding was ALL 8-3/4 drums were made with the wing-flange, fronts didn’t have that piece. Even the 7-1/4 had them only smaller. Am I right?
My 68 340 GTS auto had them (bought in 1970)
 
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The flanged 10" rear drums started in 1970, and were the same ones used on a 7 1/4 too. They interchange with the non-flanged ones used on the '69 and earlier cars. the flanged ones just had a bit more cooling capacity.
 
cudamark said:
The flanged 10" rear drums started in 1970, and were the same ones used on a 7 1/4 too. They interchange with the non-flanged ones used on the '69 and earlier cars. the flanged ones just had a bit more cooling capacity.
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My 68 had them and 7-1/4 are different size than the 8-3/4 (I tried to use them on the 8-3/4 iirr). I have a 69 notch I’ll go check it.
 
Agree with all of the above.
Your '68, which you bought in '70, probably just had some new drums thrown on it by the dealer.
And they WILL fit 7 1/4 rears if it was ordered and equipped with 10" brakes. Of course they won't fit 9" brake setups. It's a matter of the size braking system used, not the rear end size.
 
Professor Fate said:
Agree with all of the above.
Your '68, which you bought in '70, probably just had some new drums thrown on it by the dealer.
And they WILL fit 7 1/4 rears if it was ordered and equipped with 10" brakes. Of course they won't fit 9" brake setups. It's a matter of the size braking system used, not the rear end size.
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I’m not above admitting I’m wrong. Too dark to look under both 69s I have, maybe tomorrow, both are 9” 7-1/4s. If only 3 years I imagine they’re hard to find.
 
Ceedawg said:
I’m not above admitting I’m wrong. Too dark to look under both 69s I have, maybe tomorrow, both are 9” 7-1/4s. If only 3 years I imagine they’re hard to find.
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'66 to '72, so 7 years used the same 10" brakes on both 7 1/4 and 8 3/4 rear ends. Even real late '65's had them.
 
Around here we call em “Canadian drums”. Supposedly the flange was made to shed the snow from the brakes and backing plates. But yes, they come in flanged and unflanged, and all small bolt 10” rear drums are the same size internally, and are used for both 7 1/4” and 8 3/4” rears.
 
If it helps, my old '69 (8-3/4) drum and Centric side by side................
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It seems the answers is all over the place (55 years a lot can happen) I’ve talked to guys who’s been around these cars all their life, one said Cuda had the bells and darts didn’t, generally, it depends on where each one was built, one said of all the 7-1/4 rears he had not one had the big drum (might have been offered very few bought).
Thanks for the discussion
 
Ceedawg said:
It seems the answers is all over the place (55 years a lot can happen) I’ve talked to guys who’s been around these cars all their life, one said Cuda had the bells and darts didn’t, generally, it depends on where each one was built, one said of all the 7-1/4 rears he had not one had the big drum (might have been offered very few bought).
Thanks for the discussion
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Since the last A body Cuda was built in '69, it couldn't have factory "bell" drums that were only offered beginning in the '70 model year...
Factory 10 inch brakes on a 7 1/4 rear weren't totally uncommon, just optional. Had them on my '66 wagon, '68 GT and a '73 Dart 4 dr. Ordering front disc brakes would also automatically get you 10" rear drums, regardless of rear end size.
 
All V8 A-bodies from '66 on came with 10" rear brakes. They were optional on 6cyl. cars and standard on disc brake cars.
 
Professor Fate said:
Since the last A body Cuda was built in '69, it couldn't have factory "bell" drums that were only offered beginning in the '70 model year...
Factory 10 inch brakes on a 7 1/4 rear weren't totally uncommon, just optional. Had them on my '66 wagon, '68 GT and a '73 Dart 4 dr. Ordering front disc brakes would also automatically get you 10" rear drums, regardless of rear end size.
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Had a few say otherwise so I’ll leave it there since we don’t have a time machine.
I went out back to check the 69 notch, I looked in my old van of parts and lo and behold there was two non bell drums. I have seen them before but thought they were Falcon drums but then saw the small bolt pattern. Have no clue what they came off of.
 
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