Buick drums are the perfect finishing touch for any traditional-style hot rod, and Walden Speed Shop hubs make the conversion an easy chore.
Any rodder worth his or her salt recognizes the name Bobby Walden. The first thoughts that come to mind when he's mentioned are of his flawless metalworking skills and the first-rate doorskins and roof inserts he handcrafts and sells. But, there is another outstanding product he has designed and marketed for years that many are still unfamiliar with-his early Ford hub kits, which he's made and sold since 1999, that allow the use of '59-66 Buick finned aluminum drums on early Ford spindles. This conversion normally requires machining and fabrication that many traditional hot rodders have shied away from because of the aggravation factor alone.
The Walden hubs are a direct replacement for early Ford iron hubs and are manufactured from 6061-T6 billet aluminum. They feature multi-lug patterns-5-1/2-, 4-3/4-, and 4-1/2-inch-so they can be matched to your favorite wheel choice. Speaking of choices, the conversion not only works utilizing Ford backing plates but also with the repro Lincoln, and custom backing plates from Wilson Welding. Walden has handled all the difficult machining on the hub assemblies, so you'll be able to mate those beloved finned aluminum Buick drums to your Ford spindles with ease. One note, though; the lip of some Ford backing plates may have to be shaved a bit so they don't contact the edge of the shoe surface of the Buick drums.
I noticed the Buick drums and aluminum hubs on Bobby's personal '46 Ford sedan during a recent visit to his Pomona, California, shop. When he mentioned they had more than 133,000 miles on 'em, I was impressed and asked to see a set of the hubs. He not only grabbed a pair off the shelf but actually took the time to show me how easy a conversion it really is, and now I'm seriously considering a pair for my Bruiser A project. In turn, I whipped out my trusty camera and chronicled the demo to share with you, so take a look at this easy conversion.
Walden hubs are direct replacements for early Ford iron hubs and are manufactured from 6061-T6 billet aluminum, featuring 5-1/2-, 4-3/4-, and 4-1/2-inch multi-lug patterns for use with a variety of wheel choices. | 
Though Walden hubs are custom CNC-machined, they're designed to be used in conjunction with '46-48 Ford bearings and seals, and are drilled for 1/2-inch studs. The hubs are shipped complete with bearings, seals, and hardware for immediate installation. | 
You're ready to go to work once you get a nice pair of '59-66 Buick drums and a Walden hub kit. The first step in the process is to locate the hub into the drum center hole (from the outside surface) and clock the hub to avoid the OEM rivet holes-or, if you're anal, you can weld up those holes. Once clocked, mark both the hubs and the drums so the hub's lug stud holes are located on virgin drum surface. |
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The hubs are machined with an outside diameter (od) that is equal to the inside diameter (id) of the center hole in the Buick drums, ensuring a snug fit. | 
The drum should be heated slowly with a torch in order to seat the new hub in the old drum, since the id and od are the same. Heating the drum causes it to expand enough so the hub can be tapped into place, making sure the marks made earlier on both the drum and hub are aligned. |
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With the hub firmly seated on the outside face of the drum, the next step is to choose your desired lug pattern-remember, the hubs are pre-drilled for 5-1/2-, 4-3/4-, and 4-1/2-inch patterns-and use a transfer punch to mark the hubs for drilling. | 
Once the desired lug pattern has been transferred to the drum, the hub is then tapped out using a rubber or dead-blow hammer. |
Using a standard punch, you'll then enlarge the transfer punch marks and proceed drilling pilot holes for the new stud locations. | 
A 7/64- or 9/16-inch bit is then used to open up the pilot holes to accept the 1/2-inch studs used in the drums. | 
The drum is then reheated and the hub remounted to the drum, making sure to align the marks on the hub and drum to line up the lug stud holes to the desired bolt pattern on the hub. |
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Walden supplies 1/2-20 Allen-head bolts with the hub kits to hold the hubs-tapped for 1/2-20 threads-to the drums and serve as lug studs for wheel mounting. Bobby suggests applying a dab of antiseize compound to the bolts during installation, as well. | 
With the hub seated on the outside face of the drum, the bolts are then threaded through the drum and hub assemblies and tightened, thus completing the easy assembly. |
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The next step is packing the supplied bearings and installing the supplied grease seals. That accomplished, the new assemblies are slid onto the spindles and the castle nuts and cotter pins installed. | 
Threading on the billet bearing cap is the finishing touch-though the hubs will accept the original-style hexagon bearing caps, as well-and you're ready to mount up your wheels and go for a ride. |