Classic/Antique Car Repair: Rear drum removal 1954 Coronet, dodge coronet, rear drums

Question
I can not remove the rear drums on my 1954 dodge coronet. I am using a heavy duty puller that you hit with a hammer to turn the center pressing shaft. The drum is stuck so bad that the puller is damaging the threads on the axle shaft. I have heated the hub with a torch even glowing it red around the shaft to no avail. The puller has even stripped the threads on one stud. Any suggestions?

Answer
One little trick to using one of those pullers is to smack the end of the puller screw pretty hard while there is pressure on the puller. This some times shocks the hub loose. Also when I use this type of puller I put the nut on backwards so that it is just flush with the end of the shaft. Now I have had these things stick on so bad that I have had to slice the hub with a cut off wheel and wedge it open with a chisel.
Brad