32 rad mounting measurements please

[hb32]

Swapping out the 4 cylinder rad for an original V8 version.
Need the measurement from the firewall bracket to the flange on the rad, where the steady rods attach if possible. I am using the 4 cylinder rods and know the V8`s are slightly shorter.
Thanks

[Steve/IL]

I was not aware that there is a difference in the length of the 4 cylinder and V8 steady rods!? The purpose of the radiator steady rods is to adjust the adjust the center hood strip (32" long) to fit against the front and rear hood strip brackets. I usually adjust the steady rods to allow a small amount of fore and aft movement of the center hood strip between the hood strip brackets. If your 4 cylinder steady rods permit the proper adjustment of the center hood strip with a V8 radiator, I would use them.

[MIRoger]

V8 rods are 5/8" shorter.

[GSCOV]

All you need to know is all 32s have a 32 inch hood. Mount the grille shell on the radiator and adjust the rods to create a 32 1/8 inch opening for the hood.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by Steve/IL

I was not aware that there is a difference in the length of the 4 cylinder and V8 steady rods!? The purpose of the radiator steady rods is to adjust the adjust the center hood strip (32" long) to fit against the front and rear hood strip brackets. I usually adjust the steady rods to allow a small amount of fore and aft movement of the center hood strip between the hood strip brackets. If your 4 cylinder steady rods permit the proper adjustment of the center hood strip with a V8 radiator, I would use them.

The rods are different lengths and not interchangeable. You cannot cut off the longer rods to make them fit as the threaded part will not be long enough. Spoken by someone that has been down the road. Make some temporary rods until you find what you need.

Charlie Stephens

[hb32]

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I should be able to cut new threads and shorten the rods.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by hb32

I should be able to cut new threads and shorten the rods.

You must have missed the part in my post where I said "You cannot cut off the longer rods to make them fit as the threaded part will not be long enough". I was not joking or making it up. The diameter in the front of the rod near the radiator is larger than the diameter in the center of the rod. You screw the nut to hold the rear of the rod to the bracket on the firewall over the front threads and then is slips along the rod to the back where it again picks up threads. Look carefully and please don't do any cutting until you understand what I mean (and then you won't want to cut). That is not to say that you couldn't cut a section out of the middle of the rod and weld it back together again but I was assuming you would not want to go to that much trouble. Make something temporary while you look for the correct rods (maybe carriage bolts and rod splices). Put an ad in the wanted section and offer to buy outright or swap.

Charlie Stephens

[hb32]

Maybe I am missing something?
I was planning on adding some thread past the nut towards the firewall.

[DavidG]

Original rods have rolled threads, not cut threads hence the threaded portion has a smaller diameter and that's why it is difficult to extend the threads with a thread die. Reproduction rods' threads are not rolled and can be extended with a thread die.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by hb32

Maybe I am missing something?
I was planning on adding some thread past the nut towards the firewall.

What you are missing is the original rods. As Dave said what you are starting with will allow you to extend the threads back towards the firewall. Here are a couple of pictures of my radiator support rods. Note that the attachment to the firewall incorporates what looks like the head of a carriage bolt. To assemble the rods the washers for the rear attachment are slipped over the rod first. The nut for the attachment to the firewall is screwed over the threads in the front and then slips along the rod to the rear where it again picks up threads to secure the rear attachment. The nuts and washers for the front attachment at the radiator is straight forward.

Charlie Stephens