Cast Iron drum brakes - Restoration finish?

[kimeccles]

I looked in the latest MAFCA Restoration Guidelines, but I could not find information on how to correctly finish the drums.

I know originals for my 1930 were steel, but the guidelines do allow for new cast iron drums with only a slight deduction. Late 1931 they were revised to cast iron, as it was an improvement. I just purchased new USA cast drums from Bratton's.

Should the cast drums be painted with black high heat resistant paint like is used on disk brake calipers? Or are they left completely bare and allowed to rust?

What is correct, or recommended?

thanks, Kim

[Bob Bidonde]

I am going to paint my new cast iron drums with POR15 Chassis Black which was tested to withstand 450F for 10 hours.

[Phil Brown]

I have always heard two schools of thought on painting drums, one side says that the heat resistant paint won't disapate the heat well that it kinda insulates or holds the heat in. The other side says it works fine and the drums always look good and fresh.
I've done it both ways over the years and see any differance in performance

[Ernie Vitucci]

I guess my question is 'What did Ford do in late 1931' ? It would seem to me that they would not have spent the money to put a finish on the Cast Iron Drums...anyone know the answer? Ernie in Arizona

[J Franklin]

I don't know for sure but I would bet they just painted them along with the chassis (if painted at all), and were not worried about future judging.

[Phil Brown]

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Originally Posted by Ernie Vitucci

I guess my question is 'What did Ford do in late 1931' ? It would seem to me that they would not have spent the money to put a finish on the Cast Iron Drums...anyone know the answer? Ernie in Arizona

I would be very suprised if Ford would have spent the money on heat restant paint for the brake drums back then. Did they even have heat restant paint in 1931 ? (that might be the answer right there) I know that I have seen a lot of rusty drums on older cars
sorry I dont have a more difinitive answer for ya

[kimeccles]

I was thinking of Rust-oleum High heat like for BBQ grills up to 1200 degrees and says OK for automotive, too, but still curious what was really done by Ford originally before I do that.

[nkaminar]

Mine are not painted. If you want to paint them what about radiator black paint that does not restrict heat flow and can take higher temperatures?

[kimeccles]

Radiator paint is another idea, but the drums can get very hot and it may not hold up.

My current old drums have so much built-up rust that pieces flake off just touching them. I am also still waiting for a definitive answer from tech detail folks at MAFCA as to the restoration standards. Maybe there is a very high heat clear coat.

[J Franklin]

A trip to the Ford archives can usually answer these type of questions. But Ford didn't use hi-heat paint on the drums, if they were painted at all. Do the judging standards address this issue?

[Dale G.]

Some years ago I had four sets of original NOS steel drums. They were all painted black enamel paint with stenciled lettering of part numbers both in yellow or white stenciling. These were just the drums and not the hubs. Why would you want any big parts to rust?

[The Master Cylinder]

Originally Posted by Dale G.

Why would you want any big parts to rust?

Why would you want any part at all to rust??

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by The Master Cylinder

Why would you want any part at all to rust??

That is why I oil all my tools.

[CA Victoria]

POR 15 is a tough and durable paint. I don’t think you need to use a high heat paint.
I have used it as well as a good quality direct to metal paint on drums, the key good surface prep. Since your drums are new, a light media blast to prep the surface and POR 15 will adhere well.
It comes in a semi or gloss black.
There are some good quality cast iron color paints too.

[daveymc29]

So the 31 Drums were cast, correct? I have front drums that the hub and drum are cast as one piece and a 12 inch ID, open spoke, like the 32's, or maybe they were(are) 32. Anyone care to jump in. Mine have no paint on them. My neigbor roto tilled one of the same size and shape hub/drums out of his garden. It was also 12 inch ID and had no visble paint. The back drums on that car were 11 inch steel drums. Does that make any sense?

[chrs1961815]

As far as I'm concerned, this shouldn't be a debate at all. Regular urethane paint lasts fine on brake drums. I have even used it on engines and it will not burn off unless you severely overheat the block. If you get the drums hot enough to burn off the paint you have other issues. They don't get that hot with regular use.

[CarlG]

I painted mine with Rustoleum BBQ paint.

[Bill G]

Seems to me that painting would be good. I painted mine. With the wheel on the drum, the outer edge of the drum shows through the spokes, so my opinion is that black would look better than rust. Just sayin'.

[kimeccles]

I see the POR15 in a spray can costs almost $30. It does sound like it has a very good bond and is durable. I watched some videos and they do stress using metal etch or really good metal cleaner first to remove any oils. Interesting discussion of ideas.

[nkaminar]

Regarding Rustoleum paint. I use the professional version gloss black paint for a lot of stuff, including some brackets recently. It takes two weeks for this paint to thoroughly dry and if you try to re spray during that time you end up with a crinkle finish.

I baked the brackets for about 15 minutes up to 30 minutes in my gas fired grill with all three burners set to low. The thermometer indicted 450 F. I put the brackets on the upper rack used for low temperature cooking. The paint was completely cured and dry. So I don't think the normal drum temperature (less than 180 F) is going to hurt that paint.

If you are not married you can try to cure the paint in the kitchen oven. Try 375 F.