From: Bruce White
Date: 30 Dec 2000
Time: 14:07:00
Remote Name: 129.96.230.236
I have just gone through this.... I finally got 4 good drum (late model cast type) out of 9 tested. The brake guys don't like machining drum here (Australia) past .080" to .100" - I guess it's a safety thing now. The drums still had lots of thickness. So as I see it you have two options:
1 - Have a friend (or do it yourself) turn the drums oversize! Have thicker shoes made to suit and fitted correctly for the oversize drums.
2 - Buy nice new drums. The Austin Seven Club in Victoria sells new cast iron drums to suit both 1926 to 1933 to suit 19" wheels and also 1934 to 1938 drums to suit 16" wheels. They have a new web site listed in the Other Seven Sites section of this site so you could see if they have an email address given. The only catch is the cost - $120 (Australian) each. I think they want you to be a club member as well. Barry or Ian most likely know of a source in the UK for the same or maybe some club in the UK is buying from the Victorian Club. With the exchange rate the way it is you guys get a real bargain! I know of a local Austin Seven Club member in Adelaide that has switched from the pressed tin drums to these new cast iron drums on his 1929 and he is very impressed with the improvement.
Cheers
Bruce