Because of the installation of a Vintage Air system in my 3100, it loooks like I have to jetison the 2 rods that tie the lower apron to the top of the radiator frame. The condenser and dryer have to go in front of the radiator and the Vintage Air supplied brackets have the dryer bracket colliding with the passenger side rod (see picture).
I am not skilled enough to change the plumbing of the Vintage Air system to find a way around this.
I have already had to cut out the cross braces that span the radiator frame in an X fashion, in order to move the radiator more forward to clear the installed LS3 engine.
Question: If I jetison these two support rods, am I going to regret it?
Note: If this thread belongs in the HIPO forum, feel free to move it.
Does it interfere with the top or bottom of the rod? If the bottom, you could swing the rod outboard and drill another hole in the apron for it. If it hits the top of the rod, you could shorten the rod and attach it lower on the radiator frame. Since you've got a V8 in there, you likely won't have the rods from the firewall to the inner fenders, so the rod supporting the radiator frame is likely more important to have in place in some fashion. I definitely wouldn't leave out both rods in front of the radiator.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
once I put the radiator, condenser and dryer in position, I will fashion a set of supporting rods that will connect to radiator frame in a different position. Stay tuned for pictures (could be a couple of months... I am old and slow).
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
There is nothing magical about the placement of the support rods but the higher on the radiator frame the better (both sides do not need to be the same) and they can be less angled toward the center for the lower mounting point if that helps. Straight rods are preferred but they can also be formed to clear other componentsif necessary.
You could duplicate those rods with angle iron or square tubing (maybe 3/4" square) and build in whatever offsets are necessary. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Many thanks, Gentlemen, for helping me find a good solution to keeping the front structures stable while trying to modernize the running gear of this piece of art (I mean this 47 - 53 AD truck).
MN... is that an LS3 you have hiding in there? It was the LS3 that caused me to move the radiator itself deeper into the radiator frame and to extend the stock VA brackets by close to 2 inches in order for the condenser to sit in front of the radiator with about 3/8 inch space between them. Thanks
Here is what I would do. Install the radiator and all of the A/C parts during your current mock up phase of the entire front clip without the support rods in place, then see what you would need to do to get the rods to fit around whatever is in the way. Let me know when you are close to getting to that phase and I will make that road trip down there that we have been talking about. We can make them fit. Even if we're slow.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
