'71s With Drum Brakes??

[special-K]

Is there anyone here to claim they know of any bonified '71s that came through with drum brakes? Maybe an early model? I've heard tell from time to time but remain in doubt. Was there a 'Drum Brakes' decal on the tailgate?

This is one of those oddity/exception claims and I'd like to see what turns up

[A1971Blazer]

Chevy touted the front disc brakes for the '71 model.
I doubt they would have slipped in drums on some unsuspecting customers. But I suppose anything is possible. Like claims of the small back window '68....
sales broshure for the '71

[special-K]

I really doubt there ever was a '71 from the factory with drum brakes. This is a safety feature, not appearance. It would be like selling a vehicle advertised as having ABS but they left it off. The NTHSA get's all the specs for the next model year to check over and approve or not for production. If GM submitted the '71s as having disc brakes they damn sure better have disc brakes.

But like the '68 small window I keep seeing this come up with people claiming they have one. I have yet to be convinced by what these people have been able to offer as proof. The closest is one with '71 VIN-plate (with rivets hidden using tape) and matching '71 VIN on frame. The cab has the '71 interior mirror mounting boss. It could be a '71 frame and cab, from different trucks (VIN-plate swap) using '70 front suspension assembly. One fender I can see is a 69/70 by the fender emblems. The whole truck is painted over inside and out.

I don't buy the "used up extra parts" theory either. They are required to produce something like 10% extra parts for each year to be able to provide replacement parts. This is a law. These are the parts that became N.O.S. There were plenty extra of about all parts used.

And production line. "Ok boys, switch tools, this one truck coming through gets these old leftover drum brakes from last year. I hope this buyer doesn't expect better brakes". "Hey, get that 'Disc Brakes' decal off that tailgate. That's the one with drum brakes"

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by special-K

I really doubt there ever was a '71 from the factory with drum brakes. But like the '68 small window I keep seeing this come up with people claiming they have one. I have yet to be convinced by what these people have been able to offer as proof. The closest is one with '71 VIN-plate (with rivets hidden using tape) and matching '71 VIN on frame. The cab has the '71 interior mounting boss. It could be a '71 frame and cab, from different trucks (VIN-plate swap) using '70 front suspension assembly. One fender I can see is a 69/70 by the fender emblems. The whole truck is painted over inside and out.

On any vehicle as old as these, and the fact that nearly all the parts will interchange, there can be infinite combinations of years.
I bought a '67 that I assumed to be a true '67....when I disassembled it, the frame was from a '69 which really was better because of the PS gear mount.
Luckily my county has no inspection or verification that require matching VIN numbers or other such regulations. All I needed was the previous title....

[dagnabbitt]

50 years is a long time, and people mess with things, they can't help it. I hadn't heard of the 10% law, that makes a lot of sense.

[michael bustamante]

feeding on this......I ran into a guy at the swap meet swearing his 67 short fleet was actually a 66, i should have took a pic of the vin. lol
anyone ever heard of a late production 66 like this in our genre?

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Im on the side that all 71s had disc, but Chevy in the past has done enough odd stuff that I would not be surprised if early trucks had the option to have drums. I know in 65 Corvettes had the option to have drums for credit instead of the standard 4 wheel disc, also early 69 Camaro's (Aug-Dec 68 cars) had the ability to delete the headrests before it became a federal requirement in Jan 69.

Only thing that would be odd with a early 71 with drums would be they would have to have a special drum with the change over to 5 lug, unless they stayed 6 lug for some reason as they used leftover 70 stuff.

[MJN]

I'm going to say not possible- basing that on the GM Info kit and parts catalog for 1971. The only front drums referenced in the parts catalog are for G series vans, all C/K trucks show front discs. Also, the only brake related option for C/K 10 trucks in 1971 was J70 power brakes. Front discs were standard equipment and no reference to a drum brake option is mentioned or published.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

feeding on this......I ran into a guy at the swap meet swearing his 67 short fleet was actually a 66, i should have took a pic of the vin. lol
anyone ever heard of a late production 66 like this in our genre?

well, the '67s came out in fall of '66, so some DMV might have titled per calendar rather than actual model year.

Originally Posted by CAMAROBOY68SS

Im on the side that all 71s had disc, but Chevy in the past has done enough odd stuff that I would not be surprised if early trucks had the option to have drums. I know in 65 Corvettes had the option to have drums for credit instead of the standard 4 wheel disc, also early 69 Camaro's (Aug-Dec 68 cars) had the ability to delete the headrests before it became a federal requirement in Jan 69.

Only thing that would be odd with a early 71 with drums would be they would have to have a special drum with the change over to 5 lug, unless they stayed 6 lug for some reason as they used leftover 70 stuff.

This one truck I mentioned has 6-lugs. What's different here from the exceptions you mentioned is, point blank, this was not offered by GM... period. These people seem to think they have a freak that slipped through or all the first '71s got drums. Ok, where are all of those? Find one, could be changed over. Find a dozen? I'd be wanting to know more.

Originally Posted by MJN

I'm going to say not possible- basing that on the GM Info kit and parts catalog for 1971. The only front drums referenced in the parts catalog are for G series vans, all C/K trucks show front discs. Also, the only brake related option for C/K 10 trucks in 1971 was J70 power brakes. Front discs were standard equipment and no reference to a drum brake option is mentioned or published.

All true

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

I agree if there was never a RPO code on any paperwork that customers saw or a record for like a regional office, it never happened. Both my examples had RPO codes attached to them. Granted in the case of the headrest delete option on the 69 camaro, under 400 cars got it before it was dropped, so you would be very hard pressed to a survivor at this point as most people just assume they all had headrests.

I also don't see there being any reason to have a COPO number for a series of fleet trucks in 71 with drums. Again if there was no paper trail next to impossible to prove. That really could have been the only real way to skirt all the printed paperwork for normal truck purchasing, but there should still be some kind of paper trail stating that a fleet buyer specifically ordered 71s with drums.

In the end I agree that it never happened, the lack of paper work and the short window of it even being possible makes it pretty much a never happened.

[special-K]

I'll confess, this all originated on a Facebook group and the one with the truck I mentioned is the one who started the thread. And on there this guy is viewed as knowledgeable, from what I've gathered. Everyone seemed to follow in behind him, even a few speaking of the '71 they had or have that came with the drum brakes. I must have stumbled upon all the rare '71 drum brake owners all at once. Pretty freaky, aye? This guy does have proof, you see. He says his grandfather worked for GM and he told his uncle GM would use up spare parts from the year before. I couldn't argue with that, since both my grandfathers and all my uncles have passed on and my aunt's second cousin's step brother won't talk to me

[Rust_never_sleeps]

There was an RPO for that, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone ordering a fleet of cheap beater trucks chose that option

"RPO J61 Shoe and Drum Type Brake (disc brakes deleted)"

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/....php?p=9191720

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Originally Posted by special-K

I'll confess, this all originated on a Facebook group and the one with the truck I mentioned is the one who started the thread. And on there this guy is viewed as knowledgeable, from what I've gathered. Everyone seemed to follow in behind him, even a few speaking of the '71 they had or have that came with the drum brakes. I must have stumbled upon all the rare '71 drum brake owners all at once. Pretty freaky, aye? This guy does have proof, you see. He says his grandfather worked for GM and he told his uncle GM would use up spare parts from the year before. I couldn't argue with that, since both my grandfathers and all my uncles have passed on and my aunt's second cousin's step brother won't talk to me

well I can agree with GM, more specifically Chevy, reusing some stuff for a bit during model change. From years of dealing with first gen Camaro's there was always one or two noticeable items that stuck around for a few months with the new year model car. Early 68 Small block Super Sport cars had the finned inserts in the hood, then early 69s with spoilers used narrower 68 spoilers for a bit. Nothing as major as a chassis component like brakes.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

There was an RPO for that, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone ordering a fleet of cheap beater trucks chose that option

"RPO J61 Shoe and Drum Type Brake (disc brakes deleted)"

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/....php?p=9191720

hmm that is interesting. The next part of the rabbit hole of this thing then would be to figure out when that RPO list was published. If it was early in production, would then need to see if there is a later set and then see if it was still listed.

[MARKDTN]

I'd say that maybe the first owner was a disc brake hater. I had a friend in the 80s with a '69 GTO that had factory disc brakes and he swapped them for drums. He was convinced that it stopped better.

Unless it can be found/proved on a SPID I don't think it happened.

[special-K]

That J62 disc brake option mentioned is listed among the heavier truck options, not with the light truck options. And for light trucks disc brakes were never an option, standard equipment beginning '71 model year. Prior to that they were never offered, standard or option. If this is a true thing, it sure is rare. I've been into these trucks the way everyone is now for 50 years and been all over the country, talked trucks to a lot of people. Never heard tell or seen such a thing and I don't know anyone else who has. This forum has been around since long before FB and never had one show up. So far I have never seen bonified proof.

In true FB fashion, we have this guy that many consider an expert because he has more trucks than them, there were others who chimed in they had a '71 with drum brakes. One had a SWB K/10 and the other a K/20. Then there was a guy who said he has a '72 with drums, with no mention of which model. Sure is odd that in all these years involved with these trucks and almost 19 years on this forum full of information we have never had a bonified drum brake '71, but on one thread on FB we have three or four. I'll say three. The guy with the '72 is F.O.S!

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by CAMAROBOY68SS

hmm that is interesting. The next part of the rabbit hole of this thing then would be to figure out when that RPO list was published. If it was early in production, would then need to see if there is a later set and then see if it was still listed.

The thread is about '71, so assuming that's what was posted, but I haven't seen the orig.
It's definitely after '70 because there were no standard discs to delete until '71

[michael bustamante]

wouldnt this mean then that they used 5 on 5 drum brakes then on these 71`s?
would they have used car drums then?

[A1971Blazer]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

wouldnt this mean then that they used 5 on 5 drum brakes then on these 71`s?
would they have used car drums then?

more definitive information suggesting they’re likely to be hybrids rather than some “rare” option.

[factorystock]

The South American market is notorious for using older model equipment well after they were abandoned by the North American market.

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

feeding on this......I ran into a guy at the swap meet swearing his 67 short fleet was actually a 66, i should have took a pic of the vin. lol
anyone ever heard of a late production 66 like this in our genre?

Prior to when the federal regulations as we know them today kicked in for vin numbers, some states identified the vehicle as the year it was first sold. His 67 may have been sold in late 66 and called out as a 66 on the title.

[CAMAROBOY68SS]

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

The thread is about '71, so assuming that's what was posted, but I haven't seen the orig.
It's definitely after '70 because there were no standard discs to delete until '71

Sheets would be updated throughout the model year as changes were made. So what I was referencing is was that option sheet published at the start of the 71 model year in the summer of 1970 or are these later in the year, say April of 71. Usually updated RPO sheets would be sent out in Februaryish time frame. Again this is based off what I know of first gen Camaro and going with the thought that the process was similar across Chevy as a whole. An example was of this updated literature would be the RS grilles of 68 camaro's. the grille changed in March of 68 and the actual brochures and dealer documents were updated to reflect that.