Value of BN1 Original Front Drum Brakes?

[christophe]

Is there any value to the original front drum brakes on a BN1? I just rebuilt my original units, but since my car has been changed to a V8 and is more of a restomod(in a very light since of the word), i am contemplating adding disc brakes to the front. However, the disc brake conversion package from Dennis Welch is quite pricey, so unless I can actually get a few bucks for the original drum brake units, then I don't think it's worth the expense.

Thanks!

 

[Randy Forbes]

Good luck! Unless someone is requiring the parts for an accurate restoration, I doubt there's ANY value in them. Someone could possibly benefit from having a spare set of the drums/hubs themselves, but little else.

IF THERE IS a market, I've got a couple of BN6 front drum sets that are weighting down my shops rafters!

Truth be told though, I honestly had a firmer, more responsive brake pedal when I still had the original drums on my car; proper adjustment is paramount, of course! I converted to discs because it seemed like the thing to do, but they're no more confidence-inspiring than the drums I removed nearly thirty (<30) years ago. Only ONCE did I ever fade the drums, and that was in a late night run accelerating DOWN Stanyan Street in San Francisco; I was standing on the brakes at the bottom of each intersecting, and back hard on the throttle across, making all the lights as I went__Bullitt Style__until I reached Lombard Street!

In their defense, those drum brakes had every right to be overheated!

 

[Michael Oritt]

Christophe--

I too doubt they have any real value and you should hang onto stuff like that just in case you ever sell the car to someone who might entertain thoughts of reversing changes, etc. FWIW you can get the parts you need from Moss. Everyone I know--including me--used a BN/BT7 front disc setup. I don't know what DW is selling but the above works just fine and will undoubtedly cost you less $$, so now you do not have to sell the drums.

 

[christophe]

Well, that is all I needed to know! I saw where some front brake drums and backing plates had recently sold on ebay for decent money, a few hundred dollars, but nothing that would offset the 1100 or so plus shipping of the disc brake conversion kit. I'll just stick with the drums!

 

[steveg]

I converted from front drums to discs in March, 2013. With the BJ8 thicker discs and Toyota 4-piston calipers--have to say on my initial hard stops I felt it stopped better than the drums did.

Possibly the BN7 setup with thinner discs and smaller calipers doesn't.

Supposedly discs fade less than drums.