Morning all, first post.
Just bought a 51 3800. It had been sitting since 97. Got the motor running well, bled brakes with the exception of LF wheel as I couldn't get the bleeder to turn. Pedal is rock hard. Almost seems too hard-there is zero free pedal at the top.
Drove it around the section. All seemed good. Went around again. Still everything seemed good. Drove seven miles to town for gas. Brakes had started to drag so I went home and jacked it up again. Bled again. Rears aren't dragging at all now. This time I at least cracked open the rubber line at the LF and got some air but then both fronts were locked tight.
Adjusted the brake adjuster on the LF and it no longer drags so I got three good wheels. The adjuster on the RF will not move at all. Wheel is locked tight. I did plasma cut a hole in the backing plate to get a better look. I can always weld that section back in. In any case, drums are like new, no rust, no grooves. I do know the previous owner had all four cylinders rebuilt in 92 and he put about 1,000 miles on it between 92 and 97.
Adjuster is completely frozen and the shoes are tight. Any thoughts? After working on it I thought maybe I could loosen the bleeder or rubber line and pry back the piston into the cylinder to at least get the wheel to turn and I can at least get the drum off. As it is now, no way to get the drum off with the shoes tight. I cut a silver dollar sized hole with the brake adjuster slot in the middle of it so I could pry the adjuster back into the cylinder if you think it might work.
I'm kind of winging it here so any help would be appreciated.
