[bull529]

now that roger from custom circuits is gone..anyone know of anybody else that restores these drums?

[bull529]

now that roger from custom circuits is gone..anyone know of anybody else that restores these drums?

[Stuart]

It doesn't sound good at the moment...I just saw this message over on the POCI tech forum, posted by Bob Lundwall:

"I'm afraid the drum relining situation isn't looking too good. My friend Tom sent four drums from his '64 GP to a fellow named Earl in New Berlin, New York. This would be Rogers buddy who is taking over the relining buisness. Earl told my friend that he needed 20 drums to take to the machine shop. He already had 16 so if Tom sent his 4 he would have enough to get a batch relined. Tom packaged the drums carefully, wrapping them in blankets and boxing them with extra cardboard for protection. He received a call from Earl a few days later, saying that he received the drums and that three of them are basicly junk, the aluminum fins heavily damaged in shipping. Then there were contradictions. Earl says the box was not damaged, and Tom doesn't understand how the drums were damaged but not the box. And they must not have been that bad because Earl offered to give Tom a credit on the 'junk' drums toward the purchase of another set of drums. And Earls math skills must be a bit rusty because he says he still doesn't have 20 drums to go to the machine shop. Fortunatly, Tom insured the package and UPS will be sending someone to inspect the box and contents. This is as of yesterday, April 12th. Tom called me today but I was out of town and got home late. I'll be checking with him tomorrow. I'm wondering who the other 16 drums belong to, and how long they've been waiting."

[Jerry H.]

I had a super machinist look a mine last week. He thinks he can reline them. However, this is a shot in the dark, as mine are not needing anything at this point. We were just talking about the fact that someone needs to reline theese. Does anyone have a set out there that are un useable at present that they would give up or sell very very cheap for me to give to him to experiment with? This, of course, would be a long term project and may or may not amount to anything and the drums may be ruined. A true shot in the dark. The upside is that this guy is a true perfectionist and if he were to come thru we would have a source for relining. And I'm sure that the costs would be fair. Any suggestions?

[64fullsize]

I have 1 front and 1 rear drum that need work.Would you consider $20 each?

[Jerry H.]

Send me an email to [email protected]. Thanks.

[mikediaz]

a very quick asside:

how do the 8-lugs work..
i ve only seen pics with the wheels / tires mounted on the car.

are the wheel hubs actually 8-stud hubs or is it some sorta 'trick' so to say where the drum has 8 lugs to fit the rim while the hub still has 5?

[Stuart]

The finned aluminum part you see in the center of the wheel is actually the brake drum. The rim basically has a giant hole in the middle, with a 8 bolt pattern that fastens around the outside edge of the drum.

Take a look at this site: 8 lug article. There are several pages to it, at the bottom of each page you can go to the next page. It shows what the drums and rims look like when they are separated.

[andres]

i just found out that barry riehl and his family inherrited custom circuits and they are religning 8 lug drums

[tom s]

might also check a Buick site as they used a lot of alu brake drums,same tech to do them as the 8 lugs.Tom

[ponchopio]

Hello everyone.

I haven't spent much time at the PY board lately as I've been busy launching my business, Arrowhead Components, Inc. When the most recent issue of Smoke Signals arrived, my jaw dropped. I've just been taught my first lesson in running my own business...

Quite awhile back, I contacted Val Blazer @ MFT about manufacturing the 8 lug drum for me as it is the first item my business will be bringing to market. He's been running an ad for his manufacturing business is Smoke Signals for some time and I thought would be a logical and trust-worthy partner to bring these drums to market for me. We had come to terms on pricing and turn-around time for the project but he could not/would not provide anything in writing to guarantee pricing, quality, liability, etc. He insisted on working on a handshake from 1500 miles away with nothing to document the partnership. Against my better judgement, I was going to move ahead and have him begin the process but he never showed-up for a teleconference set up to solidify the arrangement. I requested he ship my sample brake drum back to me and was charged $125 to return my own part that return shipping had already been paid for. The next time I hear Val Blazer's name, I learn that he is now bringing the SAME product to market that I approached him about manufacturing for my own business venture months ago! This is a free enterprise environment and I don't know that I have any legal recourse. Suffice it to say that the situation is far more involved and complex than this post can get into nor do I want to get into anything personal in a public forum, but I felt it necessary to address the situation...

My new company, Arrowhead Components, Inc., will be bringing new 8 lug drums to market very soon. As the prototypes become available, I'll be posting details and photos on my club website, www.fullsizepontiacs.com. If anyone has any questions about these items, please feel free to drop me a line. I'm a dedicated enthusiast that has been neck-deep in the hobby forever and a day. If you're interested in a product of the highest quality that is made in America and is coming to market in an ethical manner, I'd love to hear from you. It's an exciting and scary time for my family and my business, but I look forward to working with you and leaving my stamp on the hobby in the years to come!

John Piotrowski
www.fullsizepontiacs.com
[email protected]

[tom s]

IMO,Val is a crook and cant be trusted.I got into a deal with him but soon learned he is FOS and cut my losses.I know he was originally involved with Steve on the alu tripower intake but because of poor quality Steve had to go elsewhere.FYI,Tom

[63 Pontiac]

John, that's too bad you ran into such a lowlife on your first deal, my business won't be going there.

I'm waiting for your product to hit the market.

BTW, about 98% of your website works for me now.

[ponchopio]

Tom and Phil, thanks for your responses. Tom, I can only guess what happened in your situation but my communication with him was flat-out strange and felt very "shady".

Phil, glad to hear the site is working for you now. I've spoken to the others that were having problems, but they can now utilize it fully as well.

Thanks for your interest in the 8 lug project guys. Val's ad for new 8 lugs is not going to stop me from producing them myself. My wife and I feel that if we bring a superior part to market and back it up with superior service, we should be OK. We just felt more betrayed than anything else and we'll have to have thicker skin than that to start our own business!

John Piotrowski
www.fullsizepontiacs.com

[65N66Drkside]

John, I too was having problems with your site. It's all good now.

And for those who have never met John, I have. He is an honest guy. I sold some seats to him for Steve Snyder and sold him the original engine from my 65 Cat. Nice guy. Not a BS'er.

So....John, when your business is up and running, you can count me as a customer.

Bob

[60man]

Damn John...........sorry to hear that about Val "the crook".

It's a shame you can't trust anyone these days.

Good quality and good service is a sound investment....

Good luck John.

[6T5 Cat]

John, get those 8 lug drums on the market, you can count on my business. As it relates to Val, he'll get justice due someday. I dealt with a guy like him about 20 years ago...he still has nightmares about the a$$whipping I gave him.

[ponchopio]

Thanks for your kind words fellas...means the world to us--really.

No need to be proactive about the other party. We're just going to do our best to move forward and make this work. Once the Arrowhead Components, Inc. site is operational, we'll post updates, photos of prototypes and eventually document the entire process as it is enormously interesting (to me anyhow)! You'll probably get a kick out of the process as well.

John

(P.S. Rosemont Bob, how ya doin' brother?!)

[Ziggy]

John,

We're behind you all the way!! Let us know when you have them ready and if you need any test subjects for the initial run.

Ziggy

[ponchopio]

Ha! Jeff, you're the best. Kinda funny how we met by you calling on a 64 GP I was selling, isn't it?! OK, maybe a little schoolyard bashing would be healthy...it would make ME feel better anyhow!

JP