Rear Brake Line
 

What the general consensus on running Hydraulic brake lines to the rear of a pre war car? have seen both .1 line then split at the diff and then run to each wheel and also split at the start of the radius rods ,then run down each to the wheels.

Re: Rear Brake Line
 

Torque tube rears we split them at the front and use 1/4" lines as Ford originally built them.

Seems that would be the typical way to go.

Maybe what was done with the front of the wishbones on your open drive sample picture; caused the builder to run the line down one side and split at the rear; but even with the Bendix brakes, looks like they should at least have run 1/4" line to the tee before switching to 3/16"

Re: Rear Brake Line
 

The 39 to 40 arrangement was split at the front of wishbone with two 1/4" tubes run to each rear wheel. The diagram from the Green Book is shown on Vanpelt's site.

http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/F...m_1939to42.jpg

Re: Rear Brake Line
 

In my view, the stock configuration looks "cleaner".

Did you use a torque arm when you converted to open drive line?

The stock rear radius arms are not strong enough alone to safely keep the rear end stable.
Be sure and do a HAMB search on torque arms and also visit Hot Rod Works website.

As Dick Spadaro (RIP) said on HAMB:

NOTICE: 37-48 radius rods are not radius rods, they are triangulation brackets to keep the torque tube square. They are made from sheet metal and are nowhere near strong enough to control the acceleration torque or even the brake torque in the event of a panic stop. You should not be using these as locating arms for a rear axle..

Re: Rear Brake Line
 

Get a catalog from Chassis Engineering www.chassisengineeringinc.com They manufacture track bars for use when the original transverse spring is used. They are used to prevent twisting of the axle under acceleration and braking when the torque tube is removed. As said above, the original bracket tubes are not sufficient for safety's sake.