Dismiss the myths! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

hanssolo · 07-08-2002, 08:13 PM

Myth #1 "You need a big block for that TH400 in there".
Ride in my 355c. i./TH400 and see if you feel bogged down.

Myth#2 "Drum brakes suck".
I've got all 4 drums and they'll put you thru the windshield.

There! Got it off my chest. Thanx guys.

**68 Stepside** · 07-08-2002, 08:18 PM

LOL, all of us central IL folks must think the same way huh? I don't mind having drum brakes, I just need to rebuild them (that's why they suck, and why they suck for other people too). And I wish I had a TH400

TJ

Alexis · 07-08-2002, 08:59 PM

i love drum brakes in the rain, was so much fun locking them up a sliding for al least 25 yards

junkyardjohn · 07-08-2002, 09:34 PM

Turbo 400S are great trannys behind any motor. & as far as drum brakes go -- when everything is in good shape & properly adjusted, they stop great under ideal conditions. The troubles not with them. They just don't stop as quickly as disc brakes do(not an opinion, or myth,but a fact) & a big percentage of the cars in modern day traffic have 4 wheel discs & anti-lock brakes. It's a real bummer when the car in front of you slams on his brakes, & stops 10 or 15 feet shorter distance than you can. an awful lot has changed in braking technology, in the last 30 years.

ebfabman · 07-08-2002, 10:17 PM

Ever got those great drum brakes all wet? You'll wish for discs real quick!

Longhorn Man · 07-08-2002, 10:50 PM

I love my drums...I like living on the edge.

Chicks dig it.

**Desert Rat** · 07-09-2002, 03:00 AM

I dont mind drums if its all in good shape,can go them with eyes shut.a t400 is awesome tranny soes a t350 im running one of each behind the big block contrary to what people say sometime you need a t400 for the torque my buddys 69 Chevelle 468 NOS motor,holds up find behind it.well see i have 2 t350 behind 2 big blocks and ive had t400 behind 305's before no probs.

68 Suburban · 07-09-2002, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Ever got those great drum brakes all wet? You'll wish for discs real quick

Yep and Nope. :p

http://forums.vmag.com/suvsuburban09...ages/2295.html

hanssolo · 07-09-2002, 04:54 PM

Anyone can stop with discs. It takes a MAN to stop with soaking wet drums on the Eisenhower Express at rush hour. Seriously, they grab better when wet. LOL. My truck is 200 lbs. lighter since it came outta the factory. Makes braking better the lighter it gets.

**COBALT** · 07-09-2002, 05:41 PM

I drive my truck in Seattle traffic. I have drums all around, and I can definitely give a testimony about the difficulties of stopping. There's always some punk in a little Acura, VW, or Honda that will dart in front of me at the last second while traffic is slamming on their brakes. Several times I've locked up all four wheels to keep from hitting them. Dumb bastards don't even look up to see the great 4400 lb truck that's about to eat their car for lunch.

I also get abuse from "Soccer Moms". There's these gals in mini-vans, Ford Expeditions, or Range Rovers (with small children and toddlers strapped to the seats) who simply don't want me in front of them. They'll try to speed around me, or cut me off, and THEY can stop on a dime. It takes a while to get stopped, or avoid these idiots.

Good news is I can usually leave them at the traffic light wondering how in the world that old beat-up pickup could be so damn fast.

I think it's a matter of preference. If you want a truck that drives like a truck then drums are brakes for trucks. Period. If you want higher performance and you want it to handle like a hotrod then you have to convert...

As for transmissions I simply love the SB-TH400 combo.

07-08-2002, 09:34 PM	#4
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	Turbo 400S are great trannys behind any motor. & as far as drum brakes go -- when everything is in good shape & properly adjusted, they stop great under ideal conditions. The troubles not with them. They just don't stop as quickly as disc brakes do(not an opinion, or myth,but a fact) & a big percentage of the cars in modern day traffic have 4 wheel discs & anti-lock brakes. It's a real bummer when the car in front of you slams on his brakes, & stops 10 or 15 feet shorter distance than you can. an awful lot has changed in braking technology, in the last 30 years. __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

07-09-2002, 04:54 PM	#9
hanssolo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: central Ill. USA Posts: 447	Anyone can stop with discs. It takes a MAN to stop with soaking wet drums on the Eisenhower Express at rush hour. Seriously, they grab better when wet. LOL. My truck is 200 lbs. lighter since it came outta the factory. Makes braking better the lighter it gets. __________________ 69 C10 longbed: 357c.i. /TH400/3.73s/AC/ beige primer/saving $ for paint ______________________________

07-09-2002, 05:41 PM	#10
COBALT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 5,817	I drive my truck in Seattle traffic. I have drums all around, and I can definitely give a testimony about the difficulties of stopping. There's always some punk in a little Acura, VW, or Honda that will dart in front of me at the last second while traffic is slamming on their brakes. Several times I've locked up all four wheels to keep from hitting them. Dumb bastards don't even look up to see the great 4400 lb truck that's about to eat their car for lunch. I also get abuse from "Soccer Moms". There's these gals in mini-vans, Ford Expeditions, or Range Rovers (with small children and toddlers strapped to the seats) who simply don't want me in front of them. They'll try to speed around me, or cut me off, and THEY can stop on a dime. It takes a while to get stopped, or avoid these idiots. Good news is I can usually leave them at the traffic light wondering how in the world that old beat-up pickup could be so damn fast. I think it's a matter of preference. If you want a truck that drives like a truck then drums are brakes for trucks. Period. If you want higher performance and you want it to handle like a hotrod then you have to convert... As for transmissions I simply love the SB-TH400 combo. __________________ '69 3/4 ton C20 2wd-350ci/TH400 '69 3/4 ton Custom 20 2wd-350ci/4sp Manual '99 2wd 5.7 Chevy Tahoe Seattle, WA.

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07-08-2002, 08:13 PM	#1
hanssolo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: central Ill. USA Posts: 447	Dismiss the myths! Myth #1 "You need a big block for that TH400 in there". Ride in my 355c. i./TH400 and see if you feel bogged down. Myth#2 "Drum brakes suck". I've got all 4 drums and they'll put you thru the windshield. There! Got it off my chest. Thanx guys. __________________ 69 C10 longbed: 357c.i. /TH400/3.73s/AC/ beige primer/saving $ for paint ______________________________

07-08-2002, 08:18 PM	#2
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	LOL, all of us central IL folks must think the same way huh? I don't mind having drum brakes, I just need to rebuild them (that's why they suck, and why they suck for other people too). And I wish I had a TH400 TJ __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

07-08-2002, 08:59 PM	#3
Alexis Member since 2000 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Mountain View Ca / Mexico Posts: 7,879	i love drum brakes in the rain, was so much fun locking them up a sliding for al least 25 yards

07-08-2002, 10:17 PM	#5
ebfabman Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 2,489	Ever got those great drum brakes all wet? You'll wish for discs real quick!

07-08-2002, 10:50 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I love my drums...I like living on the edge. Chicks dig it.

07-09-2002, 03:00 AM	#7
Desert Rat Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Darrington, Washington Posts: 3,963	I dont mind drums if its all in good shape,can go them with eyes shut.a t400 is awesome tranny soes a t350 im running one of each behind the big block contrary to what people say sometime you need a t400 for the torque my buddys 69 Chevelle 468 NOS motor,holds up find behind it.well see i have 2 t350 behind 2 big blocks and ive had t400 behind 305's before no probs.



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