Those things can be tough to get off sometimes. They do make a drum puller which helps a lot.
Big sledge hammer has been used before by me to break them into peices.
I think you should convert to disc brakes up front because front drums are gonna be hard to find I think. I converted my 71 from 4 wheel drum brakes, used spindles from a 73 E body that I used to own.
I do still have the old 11" drums from the front but have never took them apart yet to check them out.
What's crazy is my best new parts guy who I have known for a long time called me recently looking for those front 11" drums for one of his customers, he tells me he can't get them anymore?