Thread: Help needed on 37 Ford coupe frontend assembly.

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Hello Fellow Club HotRod members,

My club HotRod name is Mickeystan and I am in the process of assembling the front end on my 37 Ford coupe. I have just installed one of the inner fender panels to the passenger's side of the engine compartment. I have the radiator mounted using the set of mounting holes in the frame that are the closest to the motor so the radiater is inboard from the front end of the car as far as possible. My question relates to the round tie rod bar that runs in front of the radiator and connects the tops of the two inner fenders panels. I purchased a new tie rod and it seems too short to me. I am assuming the rod's raised bosses at the base of the end threaded section should be flush to reinforcing plate located at the top of the inner fender on each side. The only way it looks like the two inner fenders could come together enough to fit the rod is if the top of the radiator was to be tilted back towards the firewall. Should the radiator be tilted towards the firewall? I may have this problem as I have made the radiator support rods too long so the radiator sits straight up and down. This car has a small block Ford (289) installed in the engine bay if this info helps. If some one has a picture of the tie rod bar connecting the two front inner fenders that would be very helpful to me. Or if someone knows a web site where I could see such a photo. Thanks for any help, I have searched the internet without luck. Thanks again Mickeystan.

Mickey the radiator does in fact lean back at the top, about two inches back from verticle.

406Rich,

Thanks for the reply. I spent the early part of today playing with the parts and did in fact tip the radiator back which allowed the two inner fenders to come close enough together for the tie rod to fit in front as it is intended. To do this, I had to remove a 1" fan spacer I had between the water pump pulley and fan blade and rework my custom made fan shroud. The time spent was well worth it as all looks good at this point and I believe it is now assembled as intended. Thanks for your reply as it is comforting to know the radiator should tilt back at the top. Mickeystan