Radiator support rod length?

[Ranchero50]

Dumb questions, but how long are the radiator to cowl rods and how far apart are they at the firewall?

I didn't make it down to Bratton's today to pick up a set for my speedster so I'm asking the hoard.

Thanks in advance,
Jamie

[Joe K]

The rods install in fixtures on the firewall which are exactly 12" apart.

The rods themselves are 26 inches long from the underside of the "carriage head" (firewall) to the radiator end.

There is of course a nut/thread portion on the carriage end to "pinch" the fixtures and hold the rod in place, and two nut of smaller size on a perhaps 4" threaded portion at the radiator end.

Original rods were frequently "hollow" made of rolled tube welded to the end threading.

Joe K

[Ranchero50]

Thanks Joe. It figures that my firewall is now 26.5" away from the radiator saddle so I assume I'll be extending the rods to fit.

[redmodelt]

You might want to check hood fit before you add length. Could be radiator is too far forward, leaning or could be body issue. You could end up with a gap by adding extra length to them.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I had to extend a pair of original radiator rods so they would fit a repro radiator with brackets that were made too short.

[Joe K]

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Is this a place where "coupling nuts" would be of service?




Joe K

[redmodelt]

Thanks Tom for adding the part about some repo radiators. I forgot about the one we had in the shop. The top tank and brackets were just a little shorter so we cut down 32 aftermarket rods which are a little longer to fit.

[Ranchero50]

Originally Posted by redmodelt

You might want to check hood fit before you add length. Could be radiator is too far forward, leaning or could be body issue. You could end up with a gap by adding extra length to them.

It's a speedster setup so no hood yet. Heck, no real body to hang it on. Just working the firewall and sub rail fitment now.