My advice to anyone wanting to install cast iron brake drums is to never take the project to a commercial shop unless they speak Model A as they will likely crack the new drums and warp the hub flanges.
There is an art to the swaging process and the old guys that once worked in commercial shops that knew the process are long gone.
The first task is to remove the old steel drums from the hubs. The lugs are swaged in and need to be pressed out. Here is where a commercial shop will likely warp the flanges. The flange needs to be supported with a special "C" shaped tool. In most cases it is best to cut the swaging on the lugs with a special hollow cutting tool.
The new cast iron drums need to be re-swaged to the hub flanges without warping the hubs and not cracking the cast iron drums.
Special support tooling is need and a knowledge of how to go about the swaging process.
Look for a shop that specializes in Model A's. There are several here in Orange County, California I can recommend.
Tom Endy
