[roflo619]

I've searched the forums for this and got half of my answer.

My 1965 Pontiac Catalina is an 8-lug car. I'm wanting to switch over to 5-lug. I understand that all I would need are drums for the rear, but I would need the drums AND hubs for the front.

My parts researched quickly showed me that I could get new drums front and back, but hubs are nowhere to be found unless I found a donor car. I spoke with a classic Pontiac parts specific business owner who had a set of front hubs and drums for sale for $300.

Now, I had already purchased new front and rear drums thinking I could just buy the hubs by themselves BUT the parts guy told me they don't sell hubs all by themselves because they are a "1-piece" unit. They had many stories about wheels coming off at highway speeds, etc. when the hubs were pressed off of the original drums and pressed back on new drums, and so they only sell them as the hub and drum as a unit. I asked what would happen to all these classic Pontiac owners who have worn drums and need a replacement drum but the hubs were good? I was told that they would go to people like him to buy "1-piece" hub and drum units off a donor car.

Huh??? What makes the Pontiac hub and drum so special that they can't be pressed on and off like so many other cars of that era without having the danger of a wheel coming off? Or was he just trying to get me to buy his set for $300?

#1 Does anyone sell new hubs without having to go through the trouble of finding a donor car?

#2 If I HAVE to source the hubs from a donor car, can I safely use those hubs on the new front drums that I bought from OPGI by taking them to a machine shop and having them press them on?

#3 What other years/makes/models of cars can I try to source the hubs from? Can I grab them from any other B-body car?