How to Identify front drums

[Techie79]

I have a 1958 GMC 3100 that I am in the process of rebuilding and need to figure out what the front wheel assemblies originally came off of. Some time prior to 1987 when the truck was parked someone replaced the original 6 lug hubs with 5 lug car drums with the 4.5 lug pattern. The only part numbers I can find on the assemblies is on the outer bearing and race. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or info.

[dwcsr]

There should be a slip on inner cone on the inner spindle that has a number on it

[1project2many]

Are you sure the drums are 5 X 4.5? It used to be popular to swap the truck drums for full size Chevy car drums.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Techie79

I have a 1958 GMC 3100 that I am in the process of rebuilding and need to figure out what the front wheel assemblies originally came off of. Some time prior to 1987 when the truck was parked someone replaced the original 6 lug hubs with 5 lug car drums with the 4.5 lug pattern. The only part numbers I can find on the assemblies is on the outer bearing and race. Thanks in advance for any suggestions or info.

That bearing number fits

CHEVROLET BEL AIR 1950-1957
CHEVROLET CORVETTE 1953-1957
CHEVROLET FLEETLINE 1942-1952
CHEVROLET FLEETMASTER 1942-1948
CHEVROLET ONE-FIFTY SERIES 1953-1957
CHEVROLET SPECIAL DELUXE 1942
CHEVROLET STYLELINE DELUXE 1949-1952
CHEVROLET STYLELINE SPECIAL 1949-1952
CHEVROLET STYLEMASTER SERIES 1946-1948
CHEVROLET TWO-TEN SERIES 1953-1957

[mr48chev]

Drum and hub are 49/54 Chevy and 5 on 4-3/4.

You can buy just the drum and knock out the rivets and replace them. If you run alloy wheels you have to cut the heads off the rivets anyhow. I've got the same ones on my 48.

No at all hard to find, the same drum fits 51 through 70 on different Chevrolet models. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...itemDetailTab_

[Techie79]

Thanks everyone for the info. mr48chev, you are correct. I remeasured the lug pattern and it is 5x4 3/4. Not sure why I thought it was 4 1/2.

[mr48chev]

Some tape measures will do that to you.
Good news is that you can find new drums at your favorite go to parts house and not have to pay a stiff "collector car part" price. 55 bucks each is a bit stiff to me but I didn't hunt around either.

[Techie79]

That is why my dad has always told me to measure twice and cut once because that 1/4 inch will get you every time. Based on the info that dwcsr posted it sounds like the outer bearing was used in quite a few models from the late 40s through late 50s. When i go to the parts house the won't have a clue, so does all of the 48-50 chevy cars use the same wheel assembly parts or just certain models?