Where can you go and get Drums balanced? Thanks.

I guess you could take it to any machine shop that does balancing.

thanks.

Don,
Depends on what type of balancer and what type of arbors your machine shop has if any. I have done drums before using my flywheel arbor. The only issue I have with it is the safety factor if weight needs to be removed. I flat out refuse to modify any safety related component in any way. What I did with the one set of drums was to spin them, and find out the heavy spot. I marked it and calculated how much weight needed to be put on the wheel to conteract it. That method has worked fine several times.

The real trick way is to find someone that has an ancient on car spin balancer. Fat chance of it happening, but those things were the lick in my opinion.

Thanks Bill, there is a guy here in town that took over his dads machine shop about 20 years ago. I will have to check with him.

Is there an advantage to this? Why not buy new drums?

Not to detract or hijack....but curious what the benefit is over just buying new drums that are already balanced when manufactured.

ops. I can find the non-fined front drums available. But on the rears, I can only find finned drums available that came on later cars. Looks like the front are the same size; but maybe for some reason they wont fit on the rears? Anyone know what the difference between the front drums and the rear drums on the 66 chevelles was? Thanks.

Check your local NAPA.

They list:
UP 6401005 (front, non-finned)
UP 6401158 (front, finned)
UP 6401006 (rear, finned 9.5")
UP 6401060 (rear, finned 11")

RockAuto (http://www.rockauto.com) also lists the following for finned front drums (and has some sweet pricing too...):
Raybestos 2056
AC Delco 18B469

As far as front vs. rear drums go, the front drums (and pads) are wider than the rear by about 1/2", so I don't think they would be interchangeable. Front drums are 9.5" x 2.5", rears are 9.5" x 2.0"

Thanks, I am looking for the original style rear drums which are non-finned? can't believe that I missed the information in the catalog listing the fronts as 2 1/2" wide and the rears as 2" wide. I guess it was a senior moment.

is there a particular reason for not wanting the finned drums other then the fact that they are not original. I would think that the non finned would distort much easier then the finned because of the added material and the fins add to heat disapation which helps braking.

No, just looking for orginality.

James, I just went a similar route. I wanted replacement rear drums, no fins. NAPA had US rear drums until a few months ago. Now they are CHINA. (No thanks). Every one else only had finned ones. I went the Junk yard route. Paid $50 for two plus shipping. They were never cut. If you want the name of the yard let me know. I know finned ones (available and made here) are better but not a standard issue on an '68. I believe starting in '69, they were.

Thanks for the offer Alex. I have a couple of junk yards in western MN and in SD that I plan on checking with when I am out there bird hunting. I don't need these right now.

I have no relation to these folks, but just in case you REALLY need to have the non-finned drums:
NOS Camaro Chevelle Nova Rear Brake Drums 64-74 3996135 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-Camaro-Chevelle-Nova-Rear-Brake-Drums-64-74-3996135_W0QQitemZ260282361819QQihZ016QQcategoryZ34 199QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
NOS Camaro Chevelle Nova Rear Brake Drums 9.5" 1964-74.

Rare pair of GM Part#3996135 still in original boxes!

One box dated 1971 and one box dated 1972.

One drum is factory painted black, and the other is unpainted.

The casting number stamped in each drums is 3993560.

These drums are correct for the following applications: 64-74 Chevy II, Chevelle, Camaro. 68-70 Nova, Chevelle, and Camaro.
Also correct for a 70-73 Nova, and 71-74 Camaro.

These are almost impossible to find in this condition and are for a Concours Restoration, Someone looking for USA made rear drums.

These were discontinued April 1st 1988