SBP to BBP rear drum change

Mtrhead said
Anyway I like my stock bell drums for my 71 duster...period correct and yes a hens tooth..that's one of those parts that you just buy everytime you see them when they are salvageable ...never had a problem with the drums and I own 10 abodies...half are done this way with 10 holes..that's the truth even if it's not your way!!

Just seems like a completely unnecessary aggravation to me. Not all of these cars even came with the "bell" drums, even from the factory. And the 10x2.5" regular drums don't look all that different from the non-bell drums, especially hidden behind a set of factory wheels. Crap load easier to just deal with the BBP drum swap up front and then be able to buy new drums at the local parts shop and slap them on without any additional work or machining. Plus all of the parts are easier to find and cheaper, no hunting around or buying used drums when you find them to stockpile to keep your car on the road.

If "correct" is an issue then the car should stay SBP anyway. And run 14's with skinny tires. And if that's the case the SBP rear drums are fine, not enough tire to need more anyway. But as soon as you start upgrading, or frequently driving the car, the BBP brake and wheels should be first on the list of things to do IMO. Like I said, re-drilling the old drums isn't a safety thing, it's just a hassle. And if you're buying new axles, why lock yourself into that hassle when it's just as easy to go with the later brakes? A couple of brake jobs later and they'll have paid for themselves compared to staying with the SBP stuff and re-drilling.