The Ford Barn

vintagehotrods · 03-29-2023, 03:01 AM

A friend of mine recently picked up these early Ford Lockheed style hydraulic backing plates. He's been working with this old Ford stuff for 50 years and has never seen another set like it. What makes them different than the regular '39 to '41 hydraulic backing plates is that the the bottom halves are ventilated. They have Factory Ford script stamped on them and they look like factory stampings, not modified hydraulic backing plates. After looking closely at them myself, I can't see any evidence that they were cut, trimmed and ground. They are for standard 12" drums and have grooved brake shoes. What were they used on and what years were they made?

Mart · 03-29-2023, 04:03 AM

No piccies showing...

rich b · 03-29-2023, 09:43 AM

Sounds like some interesting parts; but I'm just getting "minus signs" here too.

Randy in ca · 03-29-2023, 01:24 PM

Here's one of the pictures posted on the HAMB.

Look like the first series Ford hydraulic starting in 1939 (adjustable lower pins) that have had the edges neatly trimmed away(?). Or?

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Mart · 03-29-2023, 01:37 PM

Severely trimmed stock brakes. Surprised they didn't drill the heck out of what was left! Interesting grooving on the shoe material too.

Randy in ca · 03-29-2023, 01:38 PM

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Another:

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V8COOPMAN · 03-29-2023, 01:49 PM

.

Essentially what is left of original '39-'41 Ford/Lockheed brakes.

Coop

Ronnieroadster · 03-29-2023, 02:29 PM

Typical of what was done for a Roundy round stock car back in the day {1950's to early 60's} Usually these would have full floating hubs {3/4 ton type} on the stock Ford spindles. The brake drums used were usually wide five early Ford bolt pattern brake drums or on the better builds modified finned aluminum Buick brake drums on the Ford wide five hub. The Ford backing plates were modified so the brakes would cool off faster. Just some good old back yard Hot Rodding use stock production parts with some slight modifications as needed.
Ronnieroadster

vintagehotrods · 03-29-2023, 03:49 PM

Thanks for posting the pics, I tried and they show up on my computer but not anywhere else. They did a really good job on them because there's no sign of them being cut or ground that I can see. The consensus is that they are modified originals so I'll go with that.

Ol' Ron · 03-29-2023, 06:15 PM

RR has it, spent 10years at Danbury. Tried everything, some worked , some didn't. Part of the learning curve.
Ron

rich b · 03-30-2023, 07:28 AM

Yep, homebrew "spider" brakes.

pistonbroke · 03-30-2023, 08:25 AM

I would think in my world those are off some piece of industrial equipment . As for roundy round racing ,yes I bet they were great for that but I don't think they are back yard made. Tim

pistonbroke · 03-30-2023, 08:36 AM

I stand corrected . After doing a little research I now see how it was cut down from a 1940 style backing plate to look as it does. But I will say they did a good job of it as it looks factory. I need to listen more and learn, Tim

Ronnieroadster · 03-30-2023, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pistonbroke

I would think in my world those are off some piece of industrial equipment . As for roundy round racing ,yes I bet they were great for that but I don't think they are back yard made. Tim

They were back yard modified

03-29-2023, 03:01 AM	#1
vintagehotrods Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 15	Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? A friend of mine recently picked up these early Ford Lockheed style hydraulic backing plates. He's been working with this old Ford stuff for 50 years and has never seen another set like it. What makes them different than the regular '39 to '41 hydraulic backing plates is that the the bottom halves are ventilated. They have Factory Ford script stamped on them and they look like factory stampings, not modified hydraulic backing plates. After looking closely at them myself, I can't see any evidence that they were cut, trimmed and ground. They are for standard 12" drums and have grooved brake shoes. What were they used on and what years were they made?

03-29-2023, 04:03 AM	#2
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,746	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? No piccies showing...

03-29-2023, 09:43 AM	#3
rich b Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,825	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? Sounds like some interesting parts; but I'm just getting "minus signs" here too.

03-29-2023, 01:37 PM	#5
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,746	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? Severely trimmed stock brakes. Surprised they didn't drill the heck out of what was left! Interesting grooving on the shoe material too.

03-29-2023, 01:49 PM	#7
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,106	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? . Essentially what is left of original '39-'41 Ford/Lockheed brakes. Coop __________________ *Click Links Below* __ ▼ *'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN* *T5 W/TORQUE TUBE*

03-29-2023, 02:29 PM	#8
Ronnieroadster Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: East Coast in CT Posts: 1,525	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? Typical of what was done for a Roundy round stock car back in the day {1950's to early 60's} Usually these would have full floating hubs {3/4 ton type} on the stock Ford spindles. The brake drums used were usually wide five early Ford bolt pattern brake drums or on the better builds modified finned aluminum Buick brake drums on the Ford wide five hub. The Ford backing plates were modified so the brakes would cool off faster. Just some good old back yard Hot Rodding use stock production parts with some slight modifications as needed. Ronnieroadster __________________ I use the F word a lot no not that word these words Flathead , Focus and Finish. "Life Member of the Bonneville 200 MPH Club using a Ford Flathead block" Owner , Builder, Driver of the First Ford Flathead bodied roadster to run 200 MPH Record July 13, 2018 LTA timing association 200.921 in one and a half miles burning gasoline. First ever gas burning Ford flathead powered roadster to run 200 MPH at Bonneville Salt Flats setting the record August 7th 2021 at 205.744 MPH Last edited by Ronnieroadster; 03-29-2023 at 02:36 PM.

03-29-2023, 03:49 PM	#9
vintagehotrods Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 15	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? Thanks for posting the pics, I tried and they show up on my computer but not anywhere else. They did a really good job on them because there's no sign of them being cut or ground that I can see. The consensus is that they are modified originals so I'll go with that.

03-29-2023, 06:15 PM	#10
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,857	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? RR has it, spent 10years at Danbury. Tried everything, some worked , some didn't. Part of the learning curve. Ron

03-30-2023, 07:28 AM	#11
rich b Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,825	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? Yep, homebrew "spider" brakes.

03-30-2023, 08:25 AM	#12
pistonbroke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Perry Mo. Posts: 477	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? I would think in my world those are off some piece of industrial equipment . As for roundy round racing ,yes I bet they were great for that but I don't think they are back yard made. Tim

03-30-2023, 08:36 AM	#13
pistonbroke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Perry Mo. Posts: 477	Re: Identify these mystery ford backing plates??? I stand corrected . After doing a little research I now see how it was cut down from a 1940 style backing plate to look as it does. But I will say they did a good job of it as it looks factory. I need to listen more and learn, Tim