The Stovebolt Site Forums Swap Meet Truck Parts Wanted Wanted - 1946 Chevy ¾ ton brake drums

I'm looking for front and rear brake drums for my 1946 ¾-ton pickup. 8-lug pattern
Searched some of the main suppliers and came up with zilch. Plenty of stock for 6-lug ½ ton but nothing for 8-lug ¾ ton.
Any ideas on suppliers, or should I consider a disc conversion at this point? This truck doesn't get driven much, so if possible, I'd rather stick with the drums for now.

Call these people.

Specializing in antique, vintage, classic, obsolete, unique and hard-to-find brake parts, bonding, riveting, rebuilding, drum and rotor machining, custom made brake hoses

Brake Materials & Parts Inc
800 Sherman Boulevard,
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
260-426-3331
http://www.brakematerialsandparts.webs.com/

Otto Skorzeny, thanks for the lead to Brake Materials & Parts. Unfortunately, they don't have anything that would work for me. He said that he's had calls about these for the past 10 years or more and has never seen them. Seems like I'm chasing a unicorn.

Rats! I thought for sure he'd be able to help you.

What about having them reline the shoes to double thickness in order to work with the old drums? Not ideal but for a lightly used truck I think they'd be fine.

Now that’s using your head for more than a hat rack. Clever means to an end.

Most brake drums have a maximum diameter number cast into them to know when it's time to quit turning them. As the drums get turned, they get thinner and will heat up quicker and may actually separate into a disc and a band stuck to the shoes. One way to reuse worn brake drums is to get the inner surface rebuilt with a metal spray process, but that's big bucks if you can find someone to do it.

eclector - You probably already know that the front drums GM# 609779 for your 3/4 ton are listed in the Master Parts Books as a 1 year only. The rear drums are listed as GM# 609807 and were shown fitting 1946-52 3/4 tons.

Both have achieved "unobtanium" status as far as I can tell searching through the web. The only listing I found was for the rear drums at Jim Carter under MEB126, but they have been out of stock for a long time and unlikely to come back in stock. Absolutely no front drums listed anywhere, not even used stuff.

About the only thing I can offer is to suggest you search your local FBM and Craigslist ads for someone selling off axle assemblies or parting trucks that might still have something useful on them. Other than that, reach out to fellow 'Bolter KCMongo as he might have something used still on hand.

NOTE: I've moved your post to the best forum to continue the parts hunt conversation.

On a follow up note, if you want to discuss upgrading/modifying your existing brakes to replace what can't be found, please start a new thread in the Driveline forum to further discuss those options.

Just a follow-up note that I had lunch with Steve "KCMongo" yesterday and he said he probably does have some usable drums, needing turning as all his stuff is coming off of trucks being salvaged.

Please give him a call if you are interested in moving further on this.