The Ford Barn

Garageguy · 07-25-2023, 05:33 AM

Hello , as I restore the 34 sedan I have noticed the rear bars off the diff have a curve to them as seen in the picture, are they bent or is this a factory thing. If bent it would be near impossible to straighten them without the tube collapsing .

nickthebandit · 07-25-2023, 05:48 AM

Try to straighten them by using a 2 x 4, about 18" long on each side of the tubing. Put the flat side of the 2 x 4 against the tubing, top and bottom. Use a press to gently push the upper tubing against the lower tubing. Don't put the press ram directly against the tubing as that will cause the tubing to collapse.

Garageguy · 07-25-2023, 06:07 AM

Thanks Nick for that, I did try to something like that but it would flatten down then it would just spring back to where it was previously.

glennpm · 07-25-2023, 06:24 AM

You need to slightly yield the bend. If you just push against the 2X4 it will spring back. Put small spacers, maybe 1/2 to 3/4" thick or so, between the tube and the 2X4 where it presently touches them. Just pushing flat against the 2X4 won't yield the mid-point bend back to straight.

deuce_roadster · 07-25-2023, 10:20 AM

It looks to me like the bend is in the vertical plane (note bolt holes for brake rod anti rattle) like maybe someone in the past put a jack under the center or something like that. Maybe just due to the camera angle. If it is just a long gentle bend between the attachment points, I would bolt them into place on the car and put gentlle pressure in the opposite direction in the middle. That actually looks in the picture like later radius rod then a 32-4 which are quite thin metal welded on the bottom, compared to the later ones.
It is true that anytime metal bends (except for spring steel), it is stretched somewhere and then there is usually "too much" materal for it to go back to the exact original shape. That is why shrinking is involved in metal finishing a dent out of a fender.

petehoovie · 07-25-2023, 10:54 AM

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I have noticed the rear bars off the diff have a curve to them as seen in the picture.

bobH · 07-25-2023, 01:15 PM

If we weren't across a pond from each other, I would say, why not just take the pair that I have.... Are there any sources local to you?

nickthebandit · 07-25-2023, 01:27 PM

Glen added to what I stated. He is correct, I had forgot about doing it his way.

Flathead Fever · 07-25-2023, 01:33 PM

I straighten that kind of stuff in my hydraulic press, but you can straighten it with a bottle jack and a chain. Hook the chain to each end and put the jack between the chain and the tube and if the chain ends don't slip it will bend it. Maybe put a piece of wood between them so it doesn't dent the tubing.

glennpm · 07-27-2023, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickthebandit

Glen added to what I stated. He is correct, I had forgot about doing it his way.

Thanks Nick

Glenn

07-25-2023, 05:48 AM	#2
nickthebandit Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shippensburg, pa. Posts: 417	Re: 34 ford sedan rear diff whishbones Try to straighten them by using a 2 x 4, about 18" long on each side of the tubing. Put the flat side of the 2 x 4 against the tubing, top and bottom. Use a press to gently push the upper tubing against the lower tubing. Don't put the press ram directly against the tubing as that will cause the tubing to collapse.

07-25-2023, 06:07 AM	#3
Garageguy Junior Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: New Zealand Posts: 16	Re: 34 ford sedan rear diff whishbones Thanks Nick for that, I did try to something like that but it would flatten down then it would just spring back to where it was previously.

07-25-2023, 06:24 AM	#4
glennpm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wiscasset, Maine Posts: 1,981	Re: 34 ford sedan rear diff whishbones You need to slightly yield the bend. If you just push against the 2X4 it will spring back. Put small spacers, maybe 1/2 to 3/4" thick or so, between the tube and the 2X4 where it presently touches them. Just pushing flat against the 2X4 won't yield the mid-point bend back to straight.

07-25-2023, 10:20 AM	#5
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: 34 ford sedan rear diff whishbones It looks to me like the bend is in the vertical plane (note bolt holes for brake rod anti rattle) like maybe someone in the past put a jack under the center or something like that. Maybe just due to the camera angle. If it is just a long gentle bend between the attachment points, I would bolt them into place on the car and put gentlle pressure in the opposite direction in the middle. That actually looks in the picture like later radius rod then a 32-4 which are quite thin metal welded on the bottom, compared to the later ones. It is true that anytime metal bends (except for spring steel), it is stretched somewhere and then there is usually "too much" materal for it to go back to the exact original shape. That is why shrinking is involved in metal finishing a dent out of a fender.

07-25-2023, 10:54 AM	#6
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,151	Re: 34 ford sedan rear diff whishbones Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have noticed the rear bars off the diff have a curve to them as seen in the picture. __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

07-25-2023, 01:15 PM	#7
bobH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: so cal, placerville, vegas Posts: 1,394	Re: 34 ford sedan rear diff whishbones If we weren't across a pond from each other, I would say, why not just take the pair that I have.... Are there any sources local to you?

07-25-2023, 01:27 PM	#8
nickthebandit Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shippensburg, pa. Posts: 417	Re: 34 ford sedan rear diff whishbones Glen added to what I stated. He is correct, I had forgot about doing it his way.

07-25-2023, 01:33 PM	#9
Flathead Fever Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,095	Re: 34 ford sedan rear diff whishbones I straighten that kind of stuff in my hydraulic press, but you can straighten it with a bottle jack and a chain. Hook the chain to each end and put the jack between the chain and the tube and if the chain ends don't slip it will bend it. Maybe put a piece of wood between them so it doesn't dent the tubing. Last edited by Flathead Fever; 07-25-2023 at 01:41 PM.