Lincoln Versailles rear ends - brake questions disk to drum

[4T64RD]

Back again, I thought the RRT might be a better source of information for this.

I got a Lincoln Versailles rear end, it's missing a rotor and one e-brake bracket. I want to use it under my 46 Tudor.

I'm cheap, Versaille rear parts aren't, so......

Has anybody ever converted a Versailles rear to drum?

What was the brake donor?

Finding a 9" Granada with drum brakes would almost be as hard and expensive as replacing the missing parts.

Is there a FoMoCo product that had the same combination of 28 spline and large bearing that the axle depth could be adapted, Versaille axles have extra long studs because the mounting flange is thicker than a drum axle.

Or the simplest way out, anybody want to trade even for a Granada 9" or 8" drum rear?

[enjenjo]

There are several options here. Explorer 8.8 disc brakes can be adapted, you have to redrill the backing plate holes. I think Ford Motorsports sells this as a kit. Or you can adapt most any Ford drum brake, as long as the axle bearing size is the same, the spacing between the housing flange, and the axle face is the same on most of them. You would have to change the lug studs. the third alternative would be adapting a rotor from something like a Jeep, or a Tbird, and use your original calipers.

[4T64RD]

There are several options here. Explorer 8.8 disc brakes can be adapted, you have to redrill the backing plate holes. I think Ford Motorsports sells this as a kit. Or you can adapt most any Ford drum brake, as long as the axle bearing size is the same, the spacing between the housing flange, and the axle face is the same on most of them. You would have to change the lug studs. the third alternative would be adapting a rotor from something like a Jeep, or a Tbird, and use your original calipers.

Hmmm, I have a 64 T-bird rear end, hasn't been taken apart yet, does anybody know if it has the biggest bearings? it has some cool finned brake drums on it and it would be FREE!

[enjenjo]

Look at the bolts holding the backing plate to the housing. If they are 1/2" bolts, they have the big bearings. 3/8" bolts will be the small bearings. I hate to tell you this, but the 64 Tbird drums are obsolete too. But there are other, later drums that will fit, and are reasonably priced.

[4T64RD]

Look at the bolts holding the backing plate to the housing. If they are 1/2" bolts, they have the big bearings. 3/8" bolts will be the small bearings. I hate to tell you this, but the 64 Tbird drums are obsolete too. But there are other, later drums that will fit, and are reasonably priced.

That's all that matters, as long and the guts are reasonable and available.  The worn out T-bird drums will make excellent tool stands later.  I'll check it in a few minutes when I go to my barn.

Thanks, Enj

[4T64RD]

Look at the bolts holding the backing plate to the housing. If they are 1/2" bolts, they have the big bearings. 3/8" bolts will be the small bearings. I hate to tell you this, but the 64 Tbird drums are obsolete too. But there are other, later drums that will fit, and are reasonably priced.

I pulled the drum of the t-bird rear, 3/4" wrench fit's on the nuts, that makes the bolts 1/2",  it has the big bearings. it's a 3:00 rear too, so it's a better ratio than anything they put in the Versailles (the highest they put in it was a 2.75).

[enjenjo]

Then they should work.

[4T64RD]

Finally got the brakes out of the T-bird rear,

Too big for the Versailles bearings.

I also tried a 65-66 Mustang 8" backing plate, too small

Off the to the pick-and-pull with measurements in hand.

[enjenjo]

To my knowledge there are only two bearings sizes used in all Ford  8 and 9" car rears. The smaller one measures 2.87, and the other is 3.150. If you have the small one, it will have 3/8" bolts holding the backing plate on. If you have the large one, there are two possible bolt patterns, both with 1/2" bolts. If you have the large bearing backing plate with the wrong bolt pattern, it can be redrilled to fit the housing you have. You should have all the parts you need right there.

[4T64RD]

Re-drilling, that never occured to me. :oops:

That is why you are the master, sir