Radiator Support Rods and Chassis Flex


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Posted by Alex J [205.129.10.198] on Friday, October 23, 2015 at 11:50:52 :

I'm here to overthink something and need some help with overthinking it.

My Carryall, err, Carryall project; I have plated the stock frame to reinforce it, and the front is now a 4 link suspension. Engine is a 4 cyl Cummins. I removed the factory front cross member and built a new one that bolts between the front frame horns in a similar location. From the face of the cross member, I have vertical plates that run nearly full height of the radiator side covers that utilize the fender bolts to attach the sides to the vertical supports made from 1/4" plate that connect back to the front cross member. So, that being said, since there is no longer the single support under the center of the radiator shell, and the frame is plated and flex is reduced... What is the need for the support rods from the firewall to the cowl? I am very tight on space under the hood already as I am running a large intercooler with all of the piping, Air conditioning, etc. I have somewhat of a fear that if there is frame flex, that the hood rods are going to put a punching load into the firewall that is not needed. Without the hood rods there, mounting a few more goodies to the firewall will be much easier as well.

So my real question is, by not restraining the front core section to the firewall, am I going to experience a significant slippage of the hood back and forth driving the truck that will chew on the chassis? I plan to use delrin liners for the hood hinge rods at the hinge locations and also use a rubberized felt instead of the canvas for the hood to body contact / seal surfaces.

Truck is far from a restoration project and lets not even go down that road.

If your answer is "Dodge designed the truck to have hood support rods so ofcourse you need them", please reread the above configuration one more time.

Thanks in advance.



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