35 Engine Stabilizer Rods
- Thread starter Trelpdx
- Start date
JM 35 Sedan
Well-known member
They prevent the engine and trans form shifting for and aft during acceleration and deceleration. They also prevent or at least reduce clutch chatter as Tinman stated. May be some other benefits that I can't think of at the moment. You definitely want to have them properly bolted in place, especially if your fan is very close to your radiator like mine is. JMO, JM
Flathead Fever
Well-known member
The engine stabilizer rods were installed on 1948 and older Fords because of the transverse rear spring and the torque tube.
On a conventional rearend with parallel rear springs and a modern slip yoke driveshaft, the motion of the rear wheels is transferred to the body through the parallel leaf springs, the rear springs are actually pushing the body down the road.
On a vehicle with a transverse spring and torque tube, the torque tube and spring are pushing the vehicle down the road. This means that during acceleration the torque tube is trying to push the engine through the radiator.
Model A’s had solid motor mounts so the engine could not move, When Ford installed rubber engine mounts in 1932 they had to install stabilizer rods to keep the engine from moving. Apparently, the 1932 chatter rods were too weak because I find a lot of the ‘32 chatter rods that have been broken and re-welded. The later chatter rods were a larger diameter and appear to be a lot stronger.
In 1949, Ford dropped the torque tube rearend and went to a modern slip yoke driveshaft with parallel springs. The chatter rods were no longer needed so the 1949 -1953 8BA blocks do not have the holes in them for the rods. If your building a hot rod with a torque tube rearend you should use a 1948 or older block with the chatter rod holes in them. There were aftermarket brackets available for installing the later 8BA blocks in earlier chassis. These brackets locked the motor mounts to the front cross member (see attachment).
Jerry
On a conventional rearend with parallel rear springs and a modern slip yoke driveshaft, the motion of the rear wheels is transferred to the body through the parallel leaf springs, the rear springs are actually pushing the body down the road.
On a vehicle with a transverse spring and torque tube, the torque tube and spring are pushing the vehicle down the road. This means that during acceleration the torque tube is trying to push the engine through the radiator.
Model A’s had solid motor mounts so the engine could not move, When Ford installed rubber engine mounts in 1932 they had to install stabilizer rods to keep the engine from moving. Apparently, the 1932 chatter rods were too weak because I find a lot of the ‘32 chatter rods that have been broken and re-welded. The later chatter rods were a larger diameter and appear to be a lot stronger.
In 1949, Ford dropped the torque tube rearend and went to a modern slip yoke driveshaft with parallel springs. The chatter rods were no longer needed so the 1949 -1953 8BA blocks do not have the holes in them for the rods. If your building a hot rod with a torque tube rearend you should use a 1948 or older block with the chatter rod holes in them. There were aftermarket brackets available for installing the later 8BA blocks in earlier chassis. These brackets locked the motor mounts to the front cross member (see attachment).
Jerry
Attachments
Just to clarify Jerry's explanation a bit further, as of 1942 the stabilizer (anti-chatter) rods were no longer fitted by Ford although the 59 blocks still have the holes for them.
From this model on until the end of the 1948 production the rear gearbox mount was changed to a single large cross mount which was designed to stop the forward-rearward motion of the motor and take the load from the torque tube. This mount is successful when it is new but after it has been soaked in gearbox oil for a few years it doesn't work too well.
Ford and others offered an after market kit (part No. C21A-6044-S) after the war to fix this problem and it was two stabilizer rods which ran from the bell housing forward under the exhaust manifolds and connects to the front cross member. The installation procedure of this kit is detailed in the Canadian Ford & Mercury shop manual
David
From this model on until the end of the 1948 production the rear gearbox mount was changed to a single large cross mount which was designed to stop the forward-rearward motion of the motor and take the load from the torque tube. This mount is successful when it is new but after it has been soaked in gearbox oil for a few years it doesn't work too well.
Ford and others offered an after market kit (part No. C21A-6044-S) after the war to fix this problem and it was two stabilizer rods which ran from the bell housing forward under the exhaust manifolds and connects to the front cross member. The installation procedure of this kit is detailed in the Canadian Ford & Mercury shop manual
David
Lyndon
Member
This is an interesting thread. I have often wondered why these rods are not remanufactured (at least not that I have seen). In every parts car I have ever come across where the engine was removed, the rods have almost always been cut off with a cutting torch. In my car (a '36) a previous mechanic blew them out of the frame rails with the torch. Not knowing their full function in preventing engine fore and aft movement (makes sense now!) I left them out. I am rethinking that decision now, and am interested in the after market kit (part No. C21A-6044-S) mentioned above. Anyone have one, or have photos showing how it works?
My fan is about 3/4 to 1 inch away from the rad, maybe I don't need to worry about it? (somehow I think this is wishful thinking).
My fan is about 3/4 to 1 inch away from the rad, maybe I don't need to worry about it? (somehow I think this is wishful thinking).
Joe KCMO
Senior Member
The absence of the rods was most noticeable on my 8BA engine in a 39 coupe when backing up. The clutch chattered terribly when backing up hill. I used the special mount for the 8BA and installed the rods. Problem gone. I recommend them highly. I would think that Ford(Henry) as cheap as he was would not put them on the car if not needed.
The 4 cylinder rods are longer than the V8 rods. So the 4 cylinder rods need shortened when installing a V8 motor.