'33 Radiator Brace

When I bought my radiator I told them I was going to run at least a hood top and would install something like the Carolina Custom's brace set for a three piece hood. Well, I've changed my mind for now and will run with no hood at least for now, and I'm looking at the stock style braces from Speedway that have a pair of firewall mounts and SS rods threaded on both ends for adjustment, and thread covers for smooth look. Does anyone have a picture of the brace on the radiator end? The rods say '32 to '36 so I'm thinking the front piece should be the same for that range? I'm also thinking I can probably fab something from some aluminum sheet (or get my aviation mech/airframes son to make it for me ) and have it heliarc'd to my shroud cover, or if necessary to the top tank. So first I need a picture.

Now my big question. This is on a glass body from N&N. There are three parts involved, rods, supports and thread covers as shown here along with a diagram, all from Speedway's site. The rods measure just 32", and my distance from firewall, at what I believe to be the proper angle, is 36" to 36.5". Are the "Thread Covers" simply decorative covers or do they perhaps add length? If it does not add length I'm faced with 1) ordering all parts and welding in a piece of SS rod to extend and polishing, or 2) ordering the supports and thread covers and making longer rods from scratch, but I'll likely have to order a set of rods to see exactly what to build. I doubt this is a unique problem. Any help here?

Rog, I use N&N also and all I do is buy 1/4 round stock,cut to length and thread last 3/4 " or so.

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Originally Posted by DA34GUY

Rog, I use N&N also and all I do is buy 1/4 round stock,cut to length and thread last 3/4 " or so.

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Don,
This is my first rodeo. Just a couple of jam nuts using the support in the back, or through the firewall with nuts & washers both sides? In the front, I have a question in to PRC about the front bracket, to see if it is something I can have welded on by a good aluminum welder or if rigging something from the shroud is better. Any thoughts on the front which is a bare tank, center hose connection now?

Would a picture of the top tank from a reproduction 34 ford radiator help? I don't currently have one but I can take such a picture this afternoon. And post it later today/tonite

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Originally Posted by 34_40

Would a picture of the top tank from a reproduction 34 ford radiator help? I don't currently have one but I can take such a picture this afternoon. And post it later today/tonite

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Yes, a picture would be great! I also understand now that the "thread covers" are basically a piece of SS tube welded to a nut - fancy jam nuts, in effect. I was doing a mental stretch trying to figure out how to get another 4" from the OEM type rods.

OK! I'll snap a few this afternoon and post'em tonite!

How to get an extra 4" in the rods,
With a rod streacher, of course:LOL:
Seriuosly, Thru the firewall as you stated and have a 90 degree bracket tig welded on the top tank in the center.

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Originally Posted by rspears

Yes, a picture would be great! .

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Hope this helps. Like a dummy, I forgot the camera! Ran home grabbed the camera and ran back to the shop. So I just got home and finished supper, now it's your turn!:LOL:

Roger, hopefully these pics will help too. I recommend you look in places other than Speedway for the support rods, there are lots of other kits out there, you will find the length you need. I also wouldn't drill a hole in the firewall for the support rods themselves, but rather use the firewall brackets for the rods and drill two smaller holes for each bracket. Be sure to use a reinforcement plate on the inside of the firewall, similar to what you would use for seats or seat belts in the floor. JMO

Mike

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Originally Posted by 34_40

Hope this helps. Like a dummy, I forgot the camera! Ran home grabbed the camera and ran back to the shop. So I just got home and finished supper, now it's your turn!:LOL:

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34 40, thanks for taking time to go back to the shop. That bracket is a bit different than I had envisioned, and I like the simplicity of it.

Mike, thanks also for the pictures you posted. They explain how a nominal 32" rod works on a '33/'34 - that top cover piece on the radiator has to be at least five inches set back toward the firewall!! At this point every radiator support system I have seen ranges from 31.5" to 32.5", stating that they are for '32-'36 (some say '32-'39) - Speedway, RJays, Vintique, Parr, Old Dog to name a few. I'm not sure that anyone markets longer than OEM dimensions, and given the low cost of a bulk SS rod I'm not sure it is worth too much chasing a supplier.
About the firewall supports, I understand your point and may indeed go that way, but that "cradle" unit is sized for a flat carriage bolt style head with a square shoulder formed on the end of the rod (or welded to it after threads) and a jam nut pulling it into place. I'm not sure they would work very well with a threaded end rod and nut/washer in the cradle. Here's a closer shot from one that I believe is common to all of the "kits" out there. I believe that a 1/4" rod penetrating the firewall with a SS nut and polished fender washer inside and out is going to provide plenty of reinforcement for those rods. My radiator has very little flex with the combination of the spring mounts squeezed down, the splash aprons bolted to the frame and positioning the grille shell, and the grill shell being bolted to the top of the radiator tank in front. At least it seems that way to me. If I'm wrong on this I would appreciate being pulled back on path.

Roger, Cecil loaned me a stainless steel support rod kit to help do the mock up when mounting my PRC radiator/grill shell. He also advised me that I wouldn't really need the support rods once the Carolina Customs hood hinge system was mounted, they added all the support the radiator/grill shell needed. It's a shame because I ordered the radiator with the support rod bracket on the top tank and now I don't need it.

Mike

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Originally Posted by Mike52

Roger, Cecil loaned me a stainless steel support rod kit to help do the mock up when mounting my PRC radiator/grill shell. He also advised me that I wouldn't really need the support rods once the Carolina Customs hood hinge system was mounted, they added all the support the radiator/grill shell needed. It's a shame because I ordered the radiator with the support rod bracket on the top tank and now I don't need it.

Mike

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Mike,
Can you snap a picture of the PRC radiator support rod bracket just for grins? I'm exactly opposite from your situation - told Duane I would be running side supports so I did not need the top bracket and he located my radiator & shell for me sans rods. Now I've decided no hood is my initial look so I need the rods & bracket with my stretched splash aprons pushing things out a few inches.

Roger

Just as an aside, the firewall brackets for a '33-4 are different than the earlier ones pictured in this thread. The '33-4 ones mount with three screws, two under the cowl flange, one through the firewall, see picture. Glass cars may not have this flange provision because it makes the mold more complicated, and you may not be going for any level of authenticity just practicality, but for g.p. I thought I'd mention/show it.

Here is a pic of mine,similar to mike's. All hand made and painted

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Originally Posted by rspears

Mike,
Can you snap a picture of the PRC radiator support rod bracket just for grins?
Roger

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Roger, I hope these help, let me know if you need more or from a different angle.

Mike

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Originally Posted by Don Dalton

Here is a pic of mine,similar to mike's. All hand made and painted

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Don,
On the firewall end your support rods appear to mount directly through the firewall, correct? Anything special on the inside, other than perhaps a fender washer?

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Originally Posted by rspears

Don,
On the firewall end your support rods appear to mount directly through the firewall, correct? Anything special on the inside, other than perhaps a fender washer?

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Yea,just a nice large washer and locking nut.

FYI, the latest is from PRC who answered my question about a support bracket, "We can send a hood rod bracket to you if you would like but I do need to tell you that if any one welds on our radiators it will void the warranty. If you would like to get the piece on order please give us a call at XXX-XXX-XXXX." I understand their position, but it is a bit of Catch 22 - if I ask for their bracket they void my warranty, and if I make a bracket and have it welded on, it voids my warranty. I have not yet talked to them directly, but likely the only option which maintains warranty (not sure it's a big deal at this point) is to send the radiator back to them for the bracket at about $25 shipping each way. :CRY::HMMM:

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Originally Posted by rspears

FYI, the latest is from PRC who answered my question about a support bracket, "We can send a hood rod bracket to you if you would like but I do need to tell you that if any one welds on our radiators it will void the warranty. If you would like to get the piece on order please give us a call at XXX-XXX-XXXX." I understand their position, but it is a bit of Catch 22 - if I ask for their bracket they void my warranty, and if I make a bracket and have it welded on, it voids my warranty. I have not yet talked to them directly, but likely the only option which maintains warranty (not sure it's a big deal at this point) is to send the radiator back to them for the bracket at about $25 shipping each way. :CRY::HMMM:

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I guess it's a 50 buck change of mind! We've all done worse! At least I know when I change my mind it usually costs me thousands! **):LOL:

So 50 bucks to preserve the warranty seems cheap. (to me anyway!) :3dSMILE:

It's a one year warranty, legally from date of sale but in practice from reasonable date of first operation. After talking to them directly the chances of causing any hidden damage if a qualified commercial welder does the work are slim - the risk is over heating the core and weakening the furnace braze joints at the core to header area. If a problem were to be totally unrelated to the weld area they would tend to honor their warranty, but there is a risk. PRC estimated the two way shipping at $60 plus the cost of the bracket at $15. I guess I'm cheap, but a $60 component warranty of nominal a year or less seems expensive to me, all things considered. Still thinking, but shipping a radiator back to Indiana, with the inherent risks of shipping damage, does not make an attractive option to me.

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Originally Posted by rspears

It's a one year warranty, legally from date of sale but in practice from reasonable date of first operation. PRC estimated the two way shipping at $60 plus the cost of the bracket at $15. I guess I'm cheap, but a $60 component warranty of nominal a year or less seems expensive to me, all things considered. Still thinking, but shipping a radiator back to Indiana, with the inherent risks of shipping damage, does not make an attractive option to me.

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I'm with ya on the shipping deal. And like you, I feel it's over the top for that small part. If you knew someone with a portable TIG machine, they may be able to weld it in place with the radiator full of fluid to help protect the core from overheating. It's a thought anyways. Let me /us know what you decide and how it works out!

Roger - This is the "standard" firewall mount for a '28-'32:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i8...DSC_0001-2.jpg

Probably could be used for any '30's car but why when MAC's (Cat pg 67) has the right part - only takes $$$:eek:: http://www.who-sells-it.com/images/c.../pdf_20912.pdf

I don't like the rods bolted through the firewall - somehow it doesn't look right and on a 'glass car, plus I do wonder about the actual support. But that's only my opinion (amongst many others:HMMM:)

Now - as far as the radiator bracket - why I like a Walker:D

Roger, do you have a bracket like the one in my pics on page #1? If you do, let a qualified welder TIG it on. I don't like the way PRC welded the mounting tabs on my A/C condenser, it's almost like 1 tack weld on each side of the tab. I wouldn't trust them to stay attached for very long. I'm taking the condenser with me to Tenn next month, I'm going the let my son, who's a certified welder, add a little more 'bead' for strength.

Mike

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Originally Posted by Mike52

Roger, do you have a bracket like the one in my pics on page #1? If you do, let a qualified welder TIG it on. I don't like the way PRC welded the mounting tabs on my A/C condenser, it's almost like 1 tack weld on each side of the tab. I wouldn't trust them to stay attached for very long. I'm taking the condenser with me to Tenn next month, I'm going the let my son, who's a certified welder, add a little more 'bead' for strength.

Mike

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Mike,
I don't have that bracket, but PRC has offered it at $15. IC2 had a really good idea to weld it with the radiator filled, which will elimnate any concern of over temping the core. I have a young man that is a welding inspector and ASME certified that will weld things for me - he did my headers, and considering the mess I handed him and the finished product I got back he's good for a radiator support!! I'm really close to calling PRC back and telling them to send me the bracket, and I will get it welded in a way that will protect the core and eliminate any concern. I'm pretty confident, after talking to them today, that they will honor any future warranty claim that is legitimate.

While at the Turkey Run in Daytona, I talked to Duane (yes, I know, another Duane :LOL:) at the PRC display, I expressed my concern with a 'blemish' on my PRC radiator and a possible warranty issue down the road. I also explained that my car wouldn't be on the road for a long time. I suggested an email with a pic of the area to show the blemish so he could see what might have caused it, along with my invoice information. He offered to take care of any issue that might come up if the blemished area ever started leaking. My gut feeling is they would take care of any warranty issue that you might have as long as it wasn't specifically related to the bracket you weld on.

A couple of pics of the area of my concern.

Mike