i have model a r/rods to small in diam. for a hiem or tie rod bung. open drive shaft because s10 t5. makeing old school, can i use ladder bars instead of radius rods? the bible of M Bishop and Tardel say with open drive, you need r/rods to the frame same with ladder bars. so can i just use ladders?
Model A rear rods will not hold up to an open drivshaft setup. Check out some pete and jakes rear ladder bars.
check out how rolling bones do their rear set up.it uses fodr radius rods for the lower arm of the wishbone(ladder bar).i did my 28 sedan that way from the side and the back it looks like just a set of ford radius rods.
You won't go wrong with the Pete & Jakes stuff and you can buy the full kit which will make the job easier and give you a good crossmember to use up front.
the ones above aren't mine.i used 39 bones.i made the whole set up for less than $100.it's worth the effort if your goin' for the look.
Thats what I'll be doing too. I have the bones etc... The P&J stuff (and the like) is better for the OP because its already engineered, comes complete and is a simple retrofit for the most part.
Model a radius rods are a joke, way too thin, they relied almost totally on the torque tube then, now later radius rods with a brace going to the top of the rearend is anouther story though
I've made ladder bars from '35-'36 bones as well, and used a lot of P & J stuff. Looks like the op is a novice builder,maybe first hot rod build? I would point him to P & J for the reason that Hackerbilt stated.
I understand that model radius rods are thin, but what about a 39 or 40 rear end? will those hold up, or best to beef them up?
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