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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 70 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 70 | Okay... I just bought a '53. She's rough, but a driver. I've got my Nova sub frame with disc brakes sitting in the garage, but am going to drive what I've got for a while before taking the plunge. I've already put the Nova rear end in the truck so I've got the 5 lug pattern in back. I'd like to swap my stock front drums with some other's with a 5 lug pattern so I can run the same wheels front and rear. Is this possible? What drums do I need to get? Thanks! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | welcome to the garage Jet - you might try the hubs/drums from the early/mid 50's Chev car - I think they fit yer spindles, they do on the later trucks - someone else may be able to confirm this ... or not  Bill | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 299 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 299 | I looked for those 50-54 car hubs for years at all the car swapmeets,no one brings them.Any time I found a guy that had parts for one of those ,they always say"I have some at home ".So I took my stock 6 stud to a machine shop ,I'm still waiting to get them back, but at least I'll get my hubs .PS, I'm using 57 car wheel drums.
Lothar | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 37 | You will need the hubs from a "51-54" passenger Car. "50"passenger car will not work on your 53 since it has Bendix brakes. The frt.drums from "51-57"pass car and the rear drums from a 51-64" passenger car will be what you need.
BAN LOW PERFORMANCE DRIVERS...
NOT HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS !!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 70 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 70 | Thanks for the input guys. I was just told (by someone I don't know from Adam) that the drum diameter on my truck is 11" and the car drums are 9" or so. Any comments? | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 187 | I ran car hubs on a 53 GMC and also on a 55 3100 Chevy.
_____________ Floyd If we choose being kind over being right,we will be right every time. Knowledge is a poor substitute for experience. Remember what is precious to another, may not be to you, but it is precious nonetheless. 1948 Chevy 2-Ton | | | | | Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,152 | The disk brake conversions that use Camaro or Chevelle rotors are not real expensive and give you the pattern you want. You might look at going that route.
1955 1st GMC Suburban | 1954 GMC 250 trailer puller project | 1954 GMC 250 Hydra-Matic | 1954 Chevy 3100 . 1947 Chevy COE | and more...
It's true. I really don't do anything but browse the Internet looking for trouble... | | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 37 Junior Member | | Junior Member Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 37 | 9" drums are for the later model Camaro's and that stuff. The drum listings I gave you are for 5-hole x 4 3/4" drums that will work on your 53' axle. The only 5-Hole x 4 3/4" Hubs that will interchange on your 53'axle with out machine work are 51-54 Chevy passenger Car.
BAN LOW PERFORMANCE DRIVERS...
NOT HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS !!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 595 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 595 | dump the drum brakes! update it with disk brakes. conversion stuff is usually bolt on and the upgrade in stopping also gives you safety upgrade to duel master cylinder also. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 180 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 180 | JUST PUT IN THE SUBFRAME!
1950 Chevy 3100 5 window "in progress"
1967 Chevelle 300
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 324 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 324 | Listen to Paul he knows what he is talking about. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 70 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 70 | Thanks again everyone. The subframe will make it in there next winter at the latest. We've got our second kid on the way in about 6 weeks. I've got some stuff around the house to do and I want to drive my truck NOW! So I'm off to find me some '51-'54 parts. If the Honey-Do list gets worked out early maybe the subframe will make it in this summer (subframe tech questions to come at a later date - so get ready). Thanks! | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 180 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 180 | Im doing a 79 Camaro subframe to my 50 this winter, The guy who is helping me has a notebook already all made up for AD trucks as he has already done about 10 of them.....who knows, maybe even he will let me borrow it long enough to make copies of everything 
1950 Chevy 3100 5 window "in progress"
1967 Chevelle 300
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 70 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 70 | Let me know if you bonk him over the head with a rachet and xerox the thing. You may have a lucrative business selling an "instruction book." You can probably sell them online from a jail cell if you get caught, too. So, let me know if you get to copy it. | | |
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