'63 J65 Brake Drums

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

A couple of weeks ago, there was a thread between Duke Williams, Michael Hanson, and Chuck Henige discussing this topic. This weekend, I did some brake work on my J65 car, and took down some numbers for you. I've got pix as well, but everyone pretty much knows what they look like.

Rear Drums - casting number 3828688. There is also a "W4" cast into one. The other has a code too, but it is illegible.

Front Drums - casting number 3869582. I suspect these are not original. One has the "MAX DIA. 11.090" cast in. The other has "T42" and what appears to be a date code? - "G270".

These is on a very late '63.

Pete

[Duke W.]

Re: '63 J65 Brake Drums

Thanks for the info. The 688 rear drums are probably original. The front drums are probably not. Original fronts should be 3828671.

Can you verify the front drum casting numbers? I have 3869532 as the later service replacement casting number, but 3 and 8 can be easy to mix up. A little work with a brass or steel wire brush will usually bring out the images better.

Also want to verify that only ONE of the front castings has the max diameter cast in and the other does not.

Not sure what the "T42" means. I could be the mold number. "G270" could be a date code - like July 27, 1970 or 1980.

Do all your drums have a small racetrack shaped line on the face? That would be the "knockout" for backing off the adjuster if the drum won't slip over the shoes for removal.

Always appreciate any information that anyone can provide on drum casting numbers or other information stamped or cast in. BTW, drum casting numbers for both base and RPO 686/J-65 Metallic Brakes are the same. The only difference was the finish on the friction surface. I'd be very interested in hearing from anyone who has a '63 or '64 with a 3752623 rear drum casting.

If you have some close-up digital photos of the drums with the data and knockout outlines, can you e-mail them to me?

Duke

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

Re: '63 J65 Brake Drums

Hi Duke -

Fortunately, with the new Torq-Thrust D's, I can still see the casting numbers on the drums. I have confirmed that the front drum numbers are 3869532.

The MAX DIA 11.090 appears on only one of the front drums. The other has T42 and the date? code.

All my drums have the adjuster knockout. In fact, a couple of them have been used and re-plugged.

Here's an image of one of the rear 3828688 drums showing the W4. You can see a re-plugged knockout in the upper right. I'll send some other pix to you via email shortly.

Pete