Playing with DrumsI was so glad that someone in the media actually understands that drum brakes are still usable in a rod. It seems that almost all of the media people today are pushing somebody's disc brake kit. We all know that disc brakes offer superior performance, especially in racing applications, but somehow we managed for a long time without them.
When a reasonably sized drum brake system will not stop a car being driven in a sane manner, it usually means that there are repairable problems that a bit of maintenance will take care of. I've driven my car on many enjoyable trips with the stock brakes. I do, however, have to anticipate stops and not run right up on a stoplight or sign.
Many cars and trucks have drum swaps available from larger or newer models that offer superior performance from stock with very little effort to install. Disc brakes are great if you have the cash, but don't count out a good set of drums for getting the job done. Howard DavisSearcy, AR
There's really no question that a good disc brake setup will out perform a good drum brake system, but under most normal driving situations the drums will work fine and shouldn't be discounted just because they're old technology. In the same way, installing disc brakes shouldn't be overlooked just because they're not traditional. Stopping just a few feet shorter in a panic stop might more than pay for the cost of the upgrade. In either case, both systems should be maintained in top condition.
Stock ShotI have an idea that you might want to add to your pictorial features. Most of your readers have memorized what a stock early Ford or Chevy looks like, but what if you do a feature on, say, a Hupmobile or some other unusual custom? Why not include a small picture (if you can find one) of an original stock car for comparison? This idea came to mind because of the feature of Ron Gomez' '41 Buick in the December '05 issue. There are a lot of body mods listed, but how many people can remember what a stock '41 Buick Special looked like?Ed BonuccelliSan Jose, CA
Great idea, Ed, but as you stated, getting access to a photo of a stock car might be a challenge at times. We'll have to see what we can do in the future.