[hootsk]

Also, just throwing this out there -- California Phil, the mechanic who did the '62 215 convert's brakes in Kansas sourced a drum from a late-model Ford Ranger and machined it on a lathe to fit the Tempest. I didn't have time to test it thoroughly, but it seemed to work great.

Out in rural Kansas they're apparently used to not being able to get stuff and having to make it out of whatever they can get. Phil took one of the old drums that looked like it had sat at the bottom of Salt Lake for 30 years to his parts guy, they got out the books, fired up the computer and compared physical specs of new drums until they found a close match. I think it was for a 2004 Ford Ranger rear.

The stud holes fit exactly over the Tempest's studs. But the drum was slightly deeper side-to-side on the outside due to a lip that looked like it was made to fit in a slot on the Ranger's backing plate, and on the inside, there was a little "step" ring of metal on the inside corner (maybe because the Ranger's shoes are slightly narrower than the Tempest's?). So he chucked it up on a brake lathe and machined off the lip and the step, and then it seemed to fit fine.

If I remember right, he said there were two versions, finned and not finned, and they were both about $15. The finned version was the one he tried.

I shipped the drum back to Seattle, so I don't have it with me to give you the part number, but I could post it when I get back if anyone's interested.

Chuck