MTFCA Forum

I have non-demountable bands in my transmission and have started installing wood bands. I checked the steel bands on an old drum and managed to pound them fairly round. I've only drilled the holes in the wood so far, but noticed that the ends of the metal bands are slightly bent inwards at the lugs, probably from years of being tugged by the pedal shafts....so they're not a good fit on the wood.

Are those lugs forged steel? If so, can I heat them with the oxy torch and push them back where they belong?

Yes you could use heat on that Ford tough steel. But surprised the lugs are bent!

Most times a little gap of the riveted steel band to those lugs is unlikely to cause much issue. Just do try to get the new wood linings to protrude out the end of the metal band.
They are made extra long for that reason, so you use a coping saw and trim the ends for the approx. 1/8" overhang, to prevent the foot of the lugs from gouging into the drum surface.