The Ford Barn

mrbilman · 01-28-2025, 08:55 PM

The rear Radius Arms from a 1931 Town Sedan have a gap at the bottom were the stamped steel meets. Would it make sense to stitch weld the seem? Maybe 4 or 5, 1/2" long welds.

Joe K · 01-28-2025, 09:05 PM

Lilies can always stand improvement.

Sorry - facetious.

What do you hope to accomplish?

My own experience with radius rods is due to the gap there is always rust inside the rod. Typically you can pick it up, turn it end for end and hear the rust "tinkling" in its passage internally from one end to the other.

AND I have seen holes formed in the radius rod from the loss of metal on the inside. I have at least two rods which have been set aside because of a hole. (The damage ALWAYS seems to occur on the passenger side rod - closer to the gutter at the edge of the road?)

If you're not going to seal weld it shut and prevent the entrance of water - what is the point? And in the process of welding you may find something you might not want to know?

Joe K

bobbader · 01-28-2025, 09:06 PM

Unless you see deterioration to warrant doing so, I would not suggest this nor find it necessary. They've lasted 90+ years in spite of what might seem like a design flaw, and have traversed all types of terrain, drivers, accidents, poor preventive maintenance procedures. etc. If they're not ready to fall apart (which would suggest replacement before repair), clean them as best you can, blow out any accumulated rust by flushing that entire open length with compressed air, paint them if you choose ........ or .... just leave them as they are. The areas shown in your pictures look fine.

nkaminar · 01-29-2025, 07:04 AM

Welding a split tube will improve the torsional stiffness. In the case of the radius rods, the stress is compression or tension. Welding up the tubes is not necessary and may cause a problem when you re-install them because they would not flex to adjust to the rear backing plate.

Fullraceflathead · 01-29-2025, 07:09 AM

I personally would not do it in running a weld along that seam would induce a pretty good warp unless you weld it very small amounts spread out without creating a lot of heat!!!

Bob Bidonde · 01-29-2025, 08:42 AM

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Do not weld the tube. Structurally there is nothing to be gained by welding it locally but a stress concentration point that is not good.

01-28-2025, 09:05 PM	#2
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,612	Re: Rear Radius Arms Lilies can always stand improvement. Sorry - facetious. What do you hope to accomplish? My own experience with radius rods is due to the gap there is always rust inside the rod. Typically you can pick it up, turn it end for end and hear the rust "tinkling" in its passage internally from one end to the other. AND I have seen holes formed in the radius rod from the loss of metal on the inside. I have at least two rods which have been set aside because of a hole. (The damage ALWAYS seems to occur on the passenger side rod - closer to the gutter at the edge of the road?) If you're not going to seal weld it shut and prevent the entrance of water - what is the point? And in the process of welding you may find something you might not want to know? Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

01-28-2025, 09:06 PM	#3
bobbader Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Huntington, NY Posts: 352	Re: Rear Radius Arms Unless you see deterioration to warrant doing so, I would not suggest this nor find it necessary. They've lasted 90+ years in spite of what might seem like a design flaw, and have traversed all types of terrain, drivers, accidents, poor preventive maintenance procedures. etc. If they're not ready to fall apart (which would suggest replacement before repair), clean them as best you can, blow out any accumulated rust by flushing that entire open length with compressed air, paint them if you choose ........ or .... just leave them as they are. The areas shown in your pictures look fine.

01-29-2025, 07:04 AM	#4
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,872	Re: Rear Radius Arms Welding a split tube will improve the torsional stiffness. In the case of the radius rods, the stress is compression or tension. Welding up the tubes is not necessary and may cause a problem when you re-install them because they would not flex to adjust to the rear backing plate. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

01-29-2025, 07:09 AM	#5
Fullraceflathead Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Chillicothe, Missouri Posts: 1,684	Re: Rear Radius Arms I personally would not do it in running a weld along that seam would induce a pretty good warp unless you weld it very small amounts spread out without creating a lot of heat!!! __________________ "If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses." -Henry Ford "Primitive technology is not a design flaw" 1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup 1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor 1941 Willy's Pickup 1960 Thunderbird-For Sale 1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425 1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper 1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford Engine Build up on DVD ask

01-29-2025, 08:42 AM	#6
Bob Bidonde Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,113	Re: Rear Radius Arms Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Do not weld the tube. Structurally there is nothing to be gained by welding it locally but a stress concentration point that is not good. __________________ Bob Bidonde