I have 40 Ford drum brakes on the front of my roadster pickup (see avatar). They stop it fine, (running 85 S10 rearend with drum brakes). If I had any complaints at all, it would be that they are somewhat difficult to adjust. I may eventually swap backing plates and move up to the 53-56 Ford pickup front drum brakes, because they are easier to adjust, and are a "self energizing shoe" setup, which requires a bit less pedal pressure. I have no power booster, just a manual master cylinder. I have built cars with disc brakes on the front before this, and found that if you are running without a power booster on the brakes that discs require just as much (or more) pedal pressure than a good drum brake set-up. Discs are not "self energizing", so require a damn healthy brake pedal force.