K1100 (I know, not y *smile*ur real name),
Welcome. Wow, a 50 mile initial test ride. That's bold. Was the wife following in the pickup truck? Otherwise, was it eight revolutions around a 6-mile ring circuit?
As a '54 swing-arm, our bikes are similar, as mine is a '55. We are in that narrow realm between plungers and the change to right-side-pull, full-width rear brakes on the swing-arm models.
Regarding this: "(b) seriously in need of attention to the front brake". Do you mean it's working perfectly, but is as expected for a half-width drum, or that it really is failing? Now, another one of these:
More pictures appreciated, especially as you work on the bike.
Richard L.