anybody heard of using these? i think you get them off of camaros or something and ive heard there worth about a tenth. has anyone heard of this

The late '70's/'80's mid-sized cars (I think) have aluminum rear drums on them if you can find them. And I think they fit, tooo. There is info over at Team Camaro on this if you do a search. pdq67

think Buick and Think (big) Pontiac, but not Chevrolet.

Many of the "G" bodied cars have them. I put a pair on my 67 (came from a Regal). The ones I got didn't have the brake adjusting slot so I cut them in. I guess the G cars have a slot in the backing plate. They shave 2.5 lbs per drum, so somewhat less than a tenth, maybe a half of a tenth. Show car guys shine them up.

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Pat Kelley
66 El Camino, daily driver
67 El Camino, STRIP/street
Pat's Page (CR Calculator, Utilites, car specs) (http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley/)

[This message has been edited by Pat Kelley (edited 03-10-2001).]

According to the Sept.'98 issue of MUSCLECAR REVIEW these are the vehicles that were built with the aluminum drums. The aluminum drums you're looking for have 9.50-inch outside diameter,2.00-inch width, and weigh nine pounds each (iron drums weigh 14 pounds).

Blazer/Jimmy, '83-84, S/T models
Buick, '80-84 LeSabre, '85 RWD, '78-81 Century, '78-87 Regal
Camaro, '82-92
Chevy Passenger (fullsize), '86-89
Cutlass, '78-82
Firebird, '82-92
GMC Sprint/El Camino, '78-88
Grand Prix, '78-85
LeMans, '78-81
Malibu, '78-81
Monte Carlo, '78-88
Olds Delta 88, '80-85
Pontiac, '80-81,'83-85 Bonneville, '86 Parisienne
Riviera, '81-85
S10/S15, '82-84

Kent
'68 Malibu ZZ502/502

They made aluminum front brake drums that fit 64-72 A body and 67-69 Camaro and Firebird also.

I don't know about the accuracy of that list. I have a 79 Regal, had a 78 Regal, have a 78 El Camino and bought a rear end from an 85 El Camino. None of them had aluminum drums. I have seen them on the big Chevy cars of the late 80's but the bolt pattern is wrong for a Chevelle. I worked on S-10's for 13 years and never saw one with aluminum drums.
These are just my observations. I can't imagine a magazine article misleading anyone. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

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Philip #42
Under Construction Car & Page (http://www.citlink.net/~bowtie/index.html)
1964 El Camino
1964 Malibu SS (soon)

I put a pair on my 69 that came off a mid 80's buick station wagon. bolt pattern was right,but the big hole that slides over the hub on the axle was alittle to small, had to put them on the lathe at work and open them up a bit. I paid 5 bucks apiece at a local junkyard which had dozens of cars with them on,they're not hard to find,at least not around here.

I am real interested in knowing which had the aluminum drums that will bolt up to our cars. I need 5 sets of them between me and a friend. How about we start are own list that we know is accurate also if I got to the local pick a part looking for these how can I tell for sure without a scale that what I'm looking at is an aluminum drum? Also how should i determin if the drum is able to be turned?

Thanks

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Thomas (AKA Hot66ss)
66 Super Sport (http://chevelles.com/showroom/myss.jpg) Now striped frame off Project
67 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66ss4) getting there. Soon to be 396
69 El camino Beater (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66sselco) 350 4 speed (Daily Driver)
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262

Oh yeah and maybe we can figure out which casting numbers to look for, may be the easy way?

Thanks again

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Thomas (AKA Hot66ss)
66 Super Sport (http://chevelles.com/showroom/myss.jpg) Now striped frame off Project
67 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66ss4) getting there. Soon to be 396
69 El camino Beater (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66sselco) 350 4 speed (Daily Driver)
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262

It is real easy to spot the aluminum drums, they don't rust http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif All the ones I saw on the B bodies were finned. Starting our own list would be good, at least we know it would be correct.

i got 2 sets off a 78 monte carlo ,and a 82 firebird

I don't know where the MCR article got the weights for alum vs iron. I weighted both when I changed mine and got a 2 1/2 lbs difference each. Since they aren't available for the fronts (rears only), that's a total of 5 lbs. My iron drums didn't have cooling fins but I doubt they add 2.5 lbs.

BTW, they fit fine on my car with stock axles but the center hole is too small for some aftermarket axles.


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Pat Kelley
66 El Camino, daily driver
67 El Camino, STRIP/street
Pat's Page (CR Calculator, Utilites, car specs) (http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley/)

beginning to sound like the alum drums may have been optional or part of a package on the G bodies. The five lb total weight reduction doesn't seem to be worth the trouble to find them for a street car.

It's not the weight reduction, it's the heat dissapation that make the swap worthwhile.

Please take into account that the inner wear area is cast-iron on aluminum drums.

And every ounce we can pull out of our cars (and us overweight drivers) helps gas mileage AND performance.

Drum brakes are lighter then disc's but can't dissipate the heat as well as disc's for mulitply stops. Yes, the aluminum ones would help.

Didn't know they made aluminum front drums for our cars!!. So an all aluminum drum brake system would save "several" pounds (I bet close ta 60lb's.) when compared to a four wheel big rotor conversion if one is after as light a car as they can easily make.

You know, aluminum drum brakes, an aluminum radiator, fiberglass hood, fenders and bumper, aluminum intake and water pump, small light aluminum wheels and tall skinny tires on the front, etc.. all add up. IMHO. pdq67

its not so much the weight of the drums that make them a good swop .but the hp to get the mass moving is where you save

They do make aluminum front brake drums for A body cars, I have 2 sets of them. They were avalable in the early GTOs and they used them in some of the Buick GS and estate wagons. They are not impossible to find but they are difficult to locate a set.

I went to the yard this morning and from what I saw they are on late 70's early 80's mid size rear wheel drive GM's. I found 5 pair today, 3pairs on malibu wagons and the other two on a regal and a malibu 2dr. I only had time to pull two pairs as it started to thunder&lightning and they made everyone get out of the yard. Dave

must be nice to have good junk yards. in the 5 years ive been going ive seen 3 pre 72 cars and they were striped to the bone http://www.chevelles.com/forum/mad.gif i got the list going ill post it when this post seems to die

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Thomas (AKA Hot66ss)
66 Super Sport (http://chevelles.com/showroom/myss.jpg) Now striped frame off Project
67 Malibu (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66ss4) getting there. Soon to be 396
69 El camino Beater (http://chevelles.com/showroom/hot66sselco) 350 4 speed (Daily Driver)
Aces Member 2380
Team Chevelle member #262

Thomas can you also put what state the the drums were found in as well as what cars they come on. Philip