It depends on the style you're looking for. If you want it to look like a traditional hot rod, bias ply tires with either big drums or "gussied up" discs. The finned aluminum drums from a '58 to '70s Buick look great in fenderless applications and reduce unsprung weight. One simply adapts them to a Ford or Lincoln backing plate. Also you can use "skeleton" Lincoln backing plates from Wilson Welding to further reduce weight and add cooling.
"Gussied up" discs come in two flavors: either the finned caliper covers discussed or SoCal makes a Buick drum look-alike that is actually a cover over a disc. I question the cooling ability of a disc brake inside a fake drum, however. I'd rather have a set of F100 or Lincoln brakes with a drilled or scoop-equipped backing plate than the fake drums.
The limitation to bias ply rubber and disc brakes is in that few people use wide enough rubber for maximum stopping power. However, if you compensate for this and aren't competing with cars wearing big, fat radials, you'll do quite well.
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"Gussied up" discs come in two flavors: either the finned caliper covers discussed or SoCal makes a Buick drum look-alike that is actually a cover over a disc. I question the cooling ability of a disc brake inside a fake drum, however. I'd rather have a set of F100 or Lincoln brakes with a drilled or scoop-equipped backing plate than the fake drums.
The limitation to bias ply rubber and disc brakes is in that few people use wide enough rubber for maximum stopping power. However, if you compensate for this and aren't competing with cars wearing big, fat radials, you'll do quite well.
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