!964 Grand Prix 8 bolt to 5 bolt
 

my 1964 GP has the 8 lug wheels and i want to put torque thrust wheels on it. But the front wheels on a 1964 GP have the brake drum bolted onto the spindle where the hub would go. (some Grand prix's had regular 5 bolt wheels)
I am looking for 5 bolt hubs for my 1964 GP but I cant find any place that has them. some places have 5 bolt hubs for a 1964 GTO.
Does anyone know where I could get front brake hubs for my 1964 GP?

You need the whole 5 lug front hub/brake drum assembly to replace the existing 8 lug setup. They were the same from 1962 through 1964 and shouldn't be too hard to find since the vast majority of cars used them instead of 8 lugs, the main issue will be sourcing a set that still has enough meat left on the drum braking surface. They bolt right on, there's no difference to the bearings or how they fit on the spindle. Of course, you need to get 5 lug brake drums for the rear wheels too. You could put an ad in the parts wanted section here on the forums.

Ok thanks that help's me out a lot!

I should have a pair from my '63 Bonneville parts car. If you can wait until I get back to NY on the 6th, I'll have a look at their condition (should just be surface rust, and I think there is enough material for them to be turned).

Ok, that sounds good, Do you know how much life is left on the drums?

Also, how much would you want for the hubs? Or hubs and drums together?

You don't need hubs, as the hubs are integral to the front drums. You will need new races, however. I can't vouch for the condition of the ones in them, but these are pretty standard parts (even now).

I'll mic these drums when I get back home (as I say, 12/6).

$25 ea plus UPS ground shipping would be more than fair, assuming there is enough material to turn them and have some life left (which I fully expect).

I got this parts car in 2005. I don't recall how many miles were on it when I got it, but it had been in an enclosed trailer/portable garage in northern California for several years (over a decade, IIRC). The drums have been loose in my garage until this fall when I had to move a bunch of stuff out of that bay to make room for my '63 Bonneville to come back from the shop. They have been outside under a tarp since then. They should not be in bad overall condition, but let's see what the mic says.

I went the opposite way with my '63 in the mid-'80's, and picked up a set of 8-lugs at Carlisle one year. This is how I know how easy they are to swap. ;-)

Edit: I should have rears, as well. Let me see.

So you are saying that the drums are fixed to the 5 bolt hub? or the 5 studs are bolted right onto the drum that is attached with the same bolt and bearings as the 8 bolt drum/hub?

Sorry that was confusing. I am used used to 1964 impala stuff where the brake drum and hub are seperate. So your 5 bolt and drum are 1 piece?

New drums are available from various sources. I bought new front and rear drums for my '63 Catalina within the past year from NAPA.

For the front, yes. In the third picture, below (Front_wheel_assembly_cross_section.jpg), the shaded area in the inset is all part of the brake drum itself.

Now, if new drums are available, you might want to go that route instead. In fact, Ames has them listed in catalog P25 (current, AFAIK) as their part number PR447W (front) for $139 ea, and PR448W ('59-early '64 rear) or PR449B (late '64-'70 rear) for $139 and $125 ea, respectively. I can't tell you which rears you have (nor was I previously aware that there was a mid-year change in '64). The nice things about new drums are that you know they're straight, that they have life in them, and that they don't need to be cut.

Frankly, if you want to go the new route, I'd call Ames and discuss the situation with the rears with them. Those guys are great, and can usually (80-90% of the time? better?) direct you to the proper choice for your application.

I should mic these drums, anyway, if I want to re-home them to someone, so no issues on my end whether you go with new or something from Frank's.

Rear drums for the 5 stud application are available from Rockauto for around $70 each. I used them on my own car and they are name brand.

No doubt if new ones are available, they can be had for less somewhere else. :-)

(Rachelsdad) - So the Ames drum says it comes with no hub. I would need the 5 bolt front hub to put their drum on. If the 5 bolt hub is removable from the drum that you have then I would like you buy just the 5 bolt hubs from you.

(Scarebird) - I plan on running 17x7" torque trust II wheels on the front with 215/50R17 tires
And for the rear, 18x8" rims with 255/45R18 tires
I Haven't finished all the calculations with offset and ratios. but this is what I have come up with so far.

Also thanks for the info on the 64 half year change in the rear drums. I didn't know about that and it is good to know.

I have looked at disk brakes but I don't really want to spend $800.

I came across a guy with a car and I was able to borrow his front hubs to check if they would fit. And they did! the bearings and everything match up. so then I think I will either order from franks. Or depending on the condition get those that you have(Rachelsdad). Thanks for the help guys! :)

I won't order the drums from franks until I hear from you (Rachelsdad) about how the drums are that you have.
BTW franks will be closed for most of december so I can't even order the drums till after december.