Hi , I am working on the plan to rebuild the Model A I inherited from my dad and the flathead engine has two "torque rods" as my dad called them mounted from the back of the engine to the body. You can see one in the picture. He converted the drive line from the original torque tube to open several years ago so I am thinking these rods are no longer needed since the engine/trans are now installed like most newer cars. Am I correct? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks Mark Sent from my SM-G960U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
i believe that you are correct .with out the factory torque tube , the rear axle can,t apply fore and aft forces to the transmission . they shouldn,t cause any adverse affect to leave them in .
I think that they are useful since the rotating clutch throwout shaft puts force on the engine ***embly still. They aren’t hurting anything. My dad’s current project has a flatty and a T-5 and we are installing chatter rods.
On Fords with the X-member frame, they attached to the X member with a weird bolt that has a 1/2" square recess head. The ones on your car are not original Ford rods--they look like all-thread from the hardware store. As others have said, they're not hurting anything but, with open driveline, they're not doing anything either.
Wonder if I should have them/keep them on either my 39 or 40 ? The 39 should be a 8ba to a TOD 4sp over drive to a 8" Ford rear. My 40 will be basically stock with the exception of a 8ba to the stock 3sp trannie - still closed driveshaft.
closed drive shaft should have them really, sometimes you can get bad clutch chatter, especially in reverse when the tires are trying to pull the drive train back and it affects the clutch adjustment enough to have "questionable" engagement resulting in chatter. lots of post about putting them on 8ba motors that have no mount for them.
They came on '32 Fords and others with originally with closed drive lines...I would continue to use them if possible, if you remove them, don't throw them away If your front motor mounts and the rear mount on your T5 are rubber, I am sure you will need them.
My '40 has an 8ba with stock trans and I run the stock anti chatter rods. I have broke more than one trans in my '39 coupe years ago because I forgot the rods. Usually in reverse. Put 'em in! Dave
They should mount to the crossmember somewhere near where the clutch spring is in a male female cup in the frame. All thread wont really cut it , it will stop the pull forward from clutch engagement , with rubber mounts you may be able to see the engine trans move forward with clutch engagement . Leave them in .
My 52 Willys CJ3A has an open driveline and has just one those rods on the drivers side. I believe it's for the clutch to keep from pushing the engine forward when pushing the clutch in.
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