Rear radius rod construction. Just something interesting.

Reno Speedster · Post by **Reno Speedster** » Tue Mar 29, 2022 11:49 pm

I am making some custom rear radius rods to fit the lowering brackets I made for my speedster project. I could make entirely new ones, but I wanted to modify original ones to make them more period. I needed to shorten the rods and make new “forks” to clear things. I am also taking the opportunity to drop them down slightly to make a bit more frame clearance. Anyway, I was cutting the “forks” off of a set of pre-26 rods and discovered that Ford built these with a 1/4 inch thick plate installed inside the outer tube to reenforce the fork. I cut around the tube then pulled the plates out so I can slip the new plates inside before welding and riveting them to the tube. I discovered that on one of the rods the 1/4 inch plate was rusted clear through but the much thinner tube was in pretty good shape. So, they must have used a much lower quality steel for the reenforcement than for the tube. Just thought how they put them together was interesting.

Post by **Mark Gregush** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 12:18 am

When you got the Warford, it came with ends that had an extension. You cut the radius rods and inserted the piece, then riveted them back together.

Reno Speedster · Post by **Reno Speedster** » Wed Mar 30, 2022 12:59 am

I have seen that in the books. I am running a Muncie transmission but my brackets make for a longer wheelbase, which means a custom length for the radius rods.