ACI ALUMINUM BRAKE DRUM AND LUG NUTS
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| New, reproduction lug nuts. |
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Beautiful new lug nuts are now available for your new 8 lug drums! These gorgeous reproductions are slightly taller than the originals (see photo) making them compatible with replacement studs that are a bit longer than original. This allows them to be torqued down properly, without bottoming out before seating. See the ORDER page for pricing information.
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This is an original Kelsey Hayes 8 lug brake drum in full dress with center cap, trim rings and lug nuts. Each year 8 lug has a number of variances from the length and width of the cooling fin to the color of the area between each fin.
Arrowhead Components, Inc. will be bringing the 1965 through 1968 front brake drum to market in 2006. Research seems to show that the early 1965 8 lug drums had slightly narrower fins. The ACI inaugural drums will have the beefier fins but are bolt on replacements for all 1965 through 1968 front drums. Why just the front drums for now? The front brakes do the majority of the work and endure the majority of the stress making them the most likely candidates for deterioration, warpage and damage. These brand new drums will essentially eliminate the shudder and vibration associated with the aging, original drums currently still on the road.
The drums will not include the studs, however, we will likely stock them and make them available for purchase separately. The finishes offered will be natural, silver or satin black with the correct natural finish on the fin edges. The target date for availability is now September of 2006, but the process of bringing a beautiful and safe product to market is an involved one. While our goal is to be the first to bring this much-needed item to the hobby, it is far more critical for Arrowhead Components, Inc. to be the best.
Dealer inquiries are welcome. Please contact John Piotrowski at ponchopio@hotmail.com for more information.
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Below, you'll see a 3D image created by the design engineer. At this point, every conceivable surface has been noted, measured, catalogued and input into this CAD program to create a three dimensional image. This image and a series of others are used to created the prototype. Once that prototype has been created, we triple check each measurement to ensure accuracy. If that checks out, we're off to the mold-creation stage!
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| 3D Engineering File of Drum |
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April 18, 2006. Below you'll see the master pattern created from those 3D CAD files and engineering drawings. This is where it gets very interesting. As you can see, the accuracy is spot on. All plugged areas such as bearing surfaces and stud holes will be machined out. As you read this, the first castings are being created. It won't be long now...
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| Master pattern for brake drum |
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June 2006...Last but certainly not least, the first ever aluminum replacement drum! This is what it looks like right out of the mold. Next, it's off to machining. The machining process will incorporate the all lug stud holes, fin surface, grooves, spindle and bearing surfaces, etc. that will make it a bolt-on piece. It's taken a lot of research, time and money to get to this point, but it's all been worth it!
In addition, we're working on stocking the correct studs and have secured a manufacturer of brand new (better than OEM!) and correct chrome lug nuts that will be stocked as well!
Please see our order page for product pricing and order information. Thank you for your interest and support!
John Piotrowski
Arrowhead Components Inc.
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