The Ford Barn

alt63bird · 08-11-2015, 01:17 PM

Can someone provide the length of '40 rear axle radius rods vs '41? I'm looking for a pair for my '40 tudor as they are missing; a local person has a pair of '41s he's willing to sell. I want to go look at them after work today. We don't know how long they need to be. And, yes, I'm aware that '42-'48s are shorter, but I don't know the dimension for those, either.

JSeery · 08-11-2015, 01:52 PM

Don't know about the length, but the 41 has a unique part number from both the 1940 and the 42 and later. So, something is different and unique to the 41, just not sure what it is! It may depend on what you need a correct part for your year or something that can be made to work.

skidmarks · 08-11-2015, 03:29 PM

41 are by themselves. They are short like 42-48 but the angles of the mounting ends have a different angle because the rear is narrow like a 1940 . I think some of the 42 parts are more like a 41. I had a roached out 42 coupe and it had the early round spindles and 39-41 style brakes.

So they wont work on a 40. You can use 1937 to 40 but the 37-38 you will have to drill the holes to mount the brake lines but thats not a big deal.

Check them when you buy a set to see if they are benf or cracked in the ends were the bolt to the backing plates

alt63bird · 08-11-2015, 04:32 PM

Thanks all! Looks like I won't need to make a side trip to look at them if they won't work to begin with, but if would be good to know length of the arms going forward. This also answers a question I had about using 37-38 vs 39-40 because of the brake line clip mounting points. So, does anyone have a length for either the '37-'40, '41 or '42-'48 arms for comparisons' sake?

V8COOPMAN · 08-11-2015, 05:18 PM

Here's a pic of some '41 radius rods (BOTTOM picture) on a built-up rear end......pic taken from the Streed Rodder article, link below! DD

http://www.flatheadv8.org/fordrear.htm

35fordtn · 08-11-2015, 05:59 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Look at this thread, and you will see I have a 37-40 pictured next to a 41. The 41's are way shorter.
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174803

alt63bird · 08-11-2015, 09:16 PM

Looked at the rear end/radius rods tonight on the '41 rear end. If I wanted to use the rear on the '40 I probably could, as the width is the same between backing plates. Length of arms are definitely not same as '37-'40 since the fronts fall in the middle third of the tube rather than near the front.

Since nobody posted a measurement, distance from front bolt hole to forwar bolt hole at backing plate was approximately 43 inches. What a 37-40 arm's dimension is I'd still like to know, but could probably guesstimate by measuring from the tab on the bottom of the torque tube to the front lower bolt on the backing plate. Anyone have a spare set or an axle/spring assembly near Omaha for sale?

26 lakes · 08-11-2015, 10:25 PM

I sent you a PM. I am close by and have what you need.

08-11-2015, 01:17 PM	#1
alt63bird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: outside Omaha, NE Posts: 276	Length of 40 vs 41 Rear Radius Rods Can someone provide the length of '40 rear axle radius rods vs '41? I'm looking for a pair for my '40 tudor as they are missing; a local person has a pair of '41s he's willing to sell. I want to go look at them after work today. We don't know how long they need to be. And, yes, I'm aware that '42-'48s are shorter, but I don't know the dimension for those, either. __________________ Alan H. Tast AIA, LEED AP BD+C Technical Director/Past President-Editor-Publications Director, Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l. (VTCI) http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years" 35+ year member, Crown Victoria Ass'n.

08-11-2015, 01:52 PM	#2
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Length of 40 vs 41 Rear Radius Rods Don't know about the length, but the 41 has a unique part number from both the 1940 and the 42 and later. So, something is different and unique to the 41, just not sure what it is! It may depend on what you need a correct part for your year or something that can be made to work.

08-11-2015, 03:29 PM	#3
skidmarks Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: newark, delaware Posts: 3,735	Re: Length of 40 vs 41 Rear Radius Rods 41 are by themselves. They are short like 42-48 but the angles of the mounting ends have a different angle because the rear is narrow like a 1940 . I think some of the 42 parts are more like a 41. I had a roached out 42 coupe and it had the early round spindles and 39-41 style brakes. So they wont work on a 40. You can use 1937 to 40 but the 37-38 you will have to drill the holes to mount the brake lines but thats not a big deal. Check them when you buy a set to see if they are benf or cracked in the ends were the bolt to the backing plates

08-11-2015, 04:32 PM	#4
alt63bird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: outside Omaha, NE Posts: 276	Re: Length of 40 vs 41 Rear Radius Rods Thanks all! Looks like I won't need to make a side trip to look at them if they won't work to begin with, but if would be good to know length of the arms going forward. This also answers a question I had about using 37-38 vs 39-40 because of the brake line clip mounting points. So, does anyone have a length for either the '37-'40, '41 or '42-'48 arms for comparisons' sake? __________________ Alan H. Tast AIA, LEED AP BD+C Technical Director/Past President-Editor-Publications Director, Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l. (VTCI) http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years" 35+ year member, Crown Victoria Ass'n.

08-11-2015, 05:18 PM	#5
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,113	Re: Length of 40 vs 41 Rear Radius Rods Here's a pic of some '41 radius rods (BOTTOM picture) on a built-up rear end......pic taken from the Streed Rodder article, link below! DD http://www.flatheadv8.org/fordrear.htm __________________ *Click Links Below* __ ▼ *'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN* *T5 W/TORQUE TUBE*

08-11-2015, 05:59 PM	#6
35fordtn Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: McMinnville, TN Posts: 2,327	Re: Length of 40 vs 41 Rear Radius Rods Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Look at this thread, and you will see I have a 37-40 pictured next to a 41. The 41's are way shorter. http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174803

08-11-2015, 09:16 PM	#7
alt63bird Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: outside Omaha, NE Posts: 276	Re: Length of 40 vs 41 Rear Radius Rods Looked at the rear end/radius rods tonight on the '41 rear end. If I wanted to use the rear on the '40 I probably could, as the width is the same between backing plates. Length of arms are definitely not same as '37-'40 since the fronts fall in the middle third of the tube rather than near the front. Since nobody posted a measurement, distance from front bolt hole to forwar bolt hole at backing plate was approximately 43 inches. What a 37-40 arm's dimension is I'd still like to know, but could probably guesstimate by measuring from the tab on the bottom of the torque tube to the front lower bolt on the backing plate. Anyone have a spare set or an axle/spring assembly near Omaha for sale? __________________ Alan H. Tast AIA, LEED AP BD+C Technical Director/Past President-Editor-Publications Director, Vintage Thunderbird Club Int'l. (VTCI) http://www.vintagethunderbirdclub.net Author, "Thunderbird 1955-1966" & "Thunderbird 50 Years" 35+ year member, Crown Victoria Ass'n.

08-11-2015, 10:25 PM	#8
26 lakes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee's Summit, Mo Posts: 338	Re: Length of 40 vs 41 Rear Radius Rods I sent you a PM. I am close by and have what you need.