Support Rods

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Dec 7, 2011 | 10:16 AM

yamagrant

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Joined: Jun 2011

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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Support Rods

I was just wondering, the rods running from the firewall to the front fenders on 56 f100's necessary? I've seen some with and some without. I have neither the rods nor the brackets that mount to the fenders. If I do need them where can i get them? Thanks - Grant

Dec 7, 2011 | 10:38 AM

CharlieLed

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Joined: Aug 2006

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From: Brentwood, TN

Those rods serve to add rigidity to the front sheetmetal and they are used to align the fenders to the hood. Without them you will get a lot of movement in the sheetmetal on the frontend...the hood latch will probably squeek as the hood mount pad moves. The front fender mounting points at the cab will see a lot of movement which may result in cracks in the metal.
I have a set of stainless steel rods that I bought from Midfifty that are a really nice upgrade but they also carry the painted variety. If you really don't want to run them then you could always find another way to add support for the front end. Guys in our club have left them off without any apparent harm but then again these folks only drive their trucks a few hundred miles a year on nice roads.

Dec 7, 2011 | 10:52 AM

yamagrant

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Joined: Jun 2011

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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba

I do plan on using the truck as a daily driver, and our roads leave alot to be desired.

Dec 7, 2011 | 01:53 PM

thepitshop

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Joined: Jun 2006

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From: manitoba

Potholes, there`s no potholes in the `peg, streets are perfectly smooth

, i boxed in the frame so i`m not using those bars

Dec 7, 2011 | 02:02 PM

CharlieLed

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Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 8,094

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From: Brentwood, TN

Actually boxing the frame does little to eliminate movement in the sheetmetal. The front sheetmetal bolts to the cab and to the frame (crossmember) under the radiator. Since the four cab mounting points and the one radiator mounting point are all rubber-isolated and floating, then the rigidity of the frame has little affect on the movement of the fenders, etc. Now if you chose to rigid mount the cab to a stiffened frame then that would be a different story. On my truck I fabricated a whole new core support assembly that bolts directly to the frame rails on each side. That coupled with the welded-in IFS crossmember makes the front end very stable.