Drum Brake Conversion.

[SideValve]

Hi there.
Looking for a bit of advice regarding front drum brake conversion on a 1963 Plymouth Valiant.
Changing the standard 5x4” PCD drums to 5x4.5” PCD drums off a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda.
What bottom ball joint/ steering arm would be required to complete conversion?
Due to the current Pitch on the Valiant Steering arm not aligning.

Kind Regards.

 

[67Dart273]

Are you sure the newer backing plates don't bolt to the old spindles? I don't know.

 

[dano]

67 Barracuda would not have 5x4.5 bolt pattern. I think all drum A bodies fronts were 5x4 up into the mid 70's when the 73-up disc cars went 5x4.5. Do you have part numbers off the spindles of the 67?

 

[Professor Fate]

I'm trying to figure out what parts you actually are working with here...
'67 Barracudas didn't have 5x4.5 bolt pattern, so you either are mistaken as to what bolt pattern they are or they aren't '67 Barracuda drums.
Now for the discussion's sake, I'll assume you're switching from 9" drum brakes to 10" drum brakes.
That should use the same lower ball joint as a '67 Barracuda, provided they are the original Barracuda drums.
If you actually do have 5x4.5 drums, they're either '73 and up A body units or maybe B body units of an unknown year.

 

[SideValve]

I'm trying to figure out what parts you actually are working with here...
'67 Barracudas didn't have 5x4.5 bolt pattern, so you either are mistaken as to what bolt pattern they are or they aren't '67 Barracuda drums.
Now for the discussion's sake, I'll assume you're switching from 9" drum brakes to 10" drum brakes.
That should use the same lower ball joint as a '67 Barracuda, provided they are the original Barracuda drums.
If you actually do have 5x4.5 drums, they're either '73 and up A body units or maybe B body units of an unknown year.

They definitely are 5x4.5” Bolt pattern.
Was lead to believe they were removed from a 67’ Barracuda. (could have been upgraded on that car)
Does that result in me needing 1973 and up A body lower ball joints?
Thanks for your reply.

 

[dano]

They definitely are 5x4.5” Bolt pattern.
Was lead to believe they were removed from a 67’ Barracuda. (could have been upgraded on that car)
Does that result in me needing 1973 and up A body lower ball joints?
Thanks for your reply.

The spindle part number will tell us what you have to start with. If there off another body series then they may not work.

 

[RedFish]

A different lower ball joint may not cooperate with your early A center link. Some combinations simple do not work. Good luck though

 

[halifaxhops]

@mobileparts

 

[SideValve]

A different lower ball joint may not cooperate with your early A center link. Some combinations simple do not work. Good luck though

Thank you. Will update on the progress.

 

[mobileparts]

As a couple others have mentioned / thought / etc. , a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 8 cylinder Drum or Disc ONLY had 5 x 4” from the Factory , as did EVERY “ A “ body 8 cylinder from 1963 - 1972…. “ small bolt pattern “ )
Fronts == 10 “ x 2 1/4 “ Rears == 10 “ x 1 3/4 “

And 6 cylinder for the same years was ONLY 5 x 4 “…..
( “ small bolt pattern “ again … )
Fronts == 9 “ x 2 1/2 “ Rears == 9 “ x 2 “

All “ A “ body from 1973 - 1976 was 5 x 4 1/2 “….
All “ B “ body from 1962 - 1976 was 5 x 4 1/2 “….
All “ E “ body from 1970 - 1976 was 5 x 4 1/2 “….
( All were considered “ Large Bolt Pattern “ )
All small block == 10 “ x 2 1/2 “

If you are using a metric ruler 1 “ == 25.4 mm ……
( 4 “ == 101.6 mm // 4 1/2 “ == 114.3 mm )

 

[Professor Fate]

And 6 cylinder for the same years was ONLY 4 x 4 “…..
( “ small bolt pattern “ again … )

Sorry to disagree, but I have never even heard of an A body Mopar with a 4x4" bolt circle... all 5 bolt right from the beginning, including 6 cyl., right?

 

[mobileparts]

^^^ Corrected —- typo ( darn fat fingers !! ) ^^^

 

[SideValve]

67 Barracuda would not have 5x4.5 bolt pattern. I think all drum A bodies fronts were 5x4 up into the mid 70's when the 73-up disc cars went 5x4.5. Do you have part numbers off the spindles of the 67?

On the Drum it reads ‘7E14’. On the shoes it reads ‘FMS 169 F0’ and ‘WE-169-Wagner’.
They are 10 inch drums.
Can’t find any numbers on the spindles.

 

[SideValve]

As a couple others have mentioned / thought / etc. , a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda 8 cylinder Drum or Disc ONLY had 5 x 4” from the Factory , as did EVERY “ A “ body 8 cylinder from 1963 - 1972…. “ small bolt pattern “ )

And 6 cylinder for the same years was ONLY 5 x 4 “…..
( “ small bolt pattern “ again … )

All “ A “ body from 1973 - 1976 was 5 x 4 1/2 “….
All “ B “ body from 1962 - 1976 was 5 x 4 1/2 “….
All “ E “ body from 1970 - 1976 was 5 x 4 1/2 “….
( All were considered “ Large Bolt Pattern “ )

If you are using a metric ruler 1 “ == 25.4 mm ……
( 4 “ == 101.6 mm // 4 1/2 “ == 114.3 mm )

Would you know if any of these are able to be used on a 63’ Valiant?

 

[mobileparts]

A # 169 brake shoe is 10 “ x 2 1/2 “

 

[Professor Fate]

And if I'm not mistaken, that would make them B body front drums (and spindles).

 

[SideValve]

A # 169 brake shoe is 10 “ x 2 1/2 “

Yes this seems to measure up to what I have got. With the spindles to match.

 

[dano]

Yes this seems to measure up to what I have got. With the spindles to match.

You'd better compare the geometry between what you removed and what you have spindle wise because if they are different your may not react the same as it did before.