Hi all, I am looking to replace my GM disc conversion on my fendered 30 model A coupe. I've the offer of a complete Ford F1 front brake setup but I do not wish to use the 6 stud wheels as the rears are 5 stud. Before I go ahead and buy it I have a couple of questions. Can the hubs be redrilled for 5 on 4 1/2 stud pattern? Has anyone done this or is there another way to use my own wheels? Cheers, Ron.
F1 hubs with six wheel studs? maybe it's really from a Chevy? Pictures would help, so we can see what you really have
Hi Jim, thanks for your reply, I will be looking at it at the weekend. Did Ford not do a 6 stud setup? The guy is telling me it's a Ford F1 system that he had on his own model A. Cheers, Ron.
I've just rechecked the info I have and found out that the hubs have been drilled for Chevy 6 stud fitting. My question is this. Could the hubs be redrilled for Ford 5 on 4 1/2 stud fitting
F-1 hubs can easily be re-drilled to a 4-1/2" bolt circle; but with the already added 6 lug pattern you better check close if there is room.
Thanks Rich, I will take a close look at the weekend and probably buy it then. The idea is to get back to period build as much as possible, the body and interior being basically as it came from the factory 89 years ago. Cheers, Ron.
I have F-1 brakes on the front of my Model A and one other project build. If you use pre '46 spindles (round), the inner bearing race should be chamfered on the inside to fit snug against the spindle. The '46 (square) spindle does not require this.
I had F1 brakes on my '41 pickup and in addition to the chamfer on the inner bearing i believe with the round spindles you may have to grind a little bit of the upper spindle boss in order to get the wheel cylinder to sit flush. I have an article in my "archives" that shows the modifications. I will post that article after I down load a few photos.
could not find my copy of the article but here is something from the HOT ROD Network and it references Speedway Motors having a kit https://www.hotrod.com/articles/0711sr-drum-brake-installation/ Hope this helps, I did not see any modifications to the spindle, just my memory going away!
That hub will have the original Ford 5 lug holes,the GM 6 lug holes,and you want to add 5 more for the later pattern?Whats going to hold it all together?
you could always put studs back in the original 5 on 5/12 inch pattern in the hubs and put ford wheels on it. there are plenty of them out there, and repops are readily available. I see you are in the UK, I believe old Land rover wheels are the same pattern as well.
You could redrill the back axles to the early Ford pattern,and use the F1 pattern on front,and you would have matching patterns.
The idea really is to use the wheels I have on the car at the moment which are almost new and are Ford 5 stud fitting. I'll have to have a think about it. Cheers, Ron.
The Chevy 6-lug pattern is (I believe, going from memory) 6x5.5. The original Ford pattern was 5x5.5. So adding the 5x4.5 should not create a problem with the existing holes. I do agree that too many holes might be concern for strength, but given the diametrical difference, there should not be problem with the current lug holes.
Pretty sure the 37-40 spindles are round back and the 41 to 48 are square back but I have never had to chamfer the inner bearings when converting to F1 brakes..The bearings had a big enough radius [around 3/16ths] that cleared the radious in the spindels..I just got the bearings by the number specified, nothing special as far as I know..
All Ford spindles have a radius where the inner bearing seats and the bearing edges are rounded to clear. The 14116 bearing used to put F-1/F-100 hubs on early Ford spindles do not have this and should be ground so the bearings sit flat against the spindle. Probably not the end of the world if it is not done; but why not do it right. If you are using pre '35 spindles the bearing spacer provides a square edge and the 14116 bearing seats as is. The top edges of '37-'41 round back spindles need to be beveled to clear the wheel cylinder. '28-'36 and '42-'48 work as is.
You guys are on top of it ! You even have photos . I have those brakes on front of my 32 , not one issue .
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