Fender brace question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

winchster · 03-14-2010, 11:25 PM

Can somebody tell me what stock part is structurally deficient to make the support rods necessary?

Edit: '49 3100 by the way

Edit: For clarification I'm asking about the rods from the firewall to the fenders. Not the fender supports.

cajundragger · 03-15-2010, 12:36 AM

I dont have the firewall to fenders and all my stuff is fine.

I did make brackets that bolt the bottom of the grille to the frame. This helped a ton with a bouncy front end. solid as a rock now.

Steve@OldSub.com · 03-15-2010, 01:03 AM

I'm thinking the radiator might be a little heavy to only be secured down low. The stuff attached to it is really supported by it, not the other way around.

Dan Bowles · 03-15-2010, 08:14 AM

They are a bit triangulated to help keep the front end centered. Remember, there were "adjustment" slots in the bottom and you are hoping everything stays in one place but the fenders/rad/cab basically make it a box and it will flex as it is going down the road. To keep it square, the triangles are used.

When doing an S10 type swap, mounting the radiator to the frame pretty much keeps the side to side forces down to a minimum but you still run the risk of the top twisting side to side. With the new suspension, most of this is eliminated unless you are driving in very harsh washboard type conditions. The old straight axle would have you bouncing around and twisting.

mylow53 · 03-15-2010, 01:09 PM

other than the fender to cab bolts those rods anchor the cab to the entire front end. if their is flex in the cab/front end motion and the rods are off your fenders will be doing the flexing. have you ever ridden in the bed of a truck and see the cab move differently the the bed? i would assume those rods help with the flexing issue. my cab had multiple spider cracks around the cab bolt holes....
GT

winchster · 03-15-2010, 09:50 PM

I was just curious seeing how b****in products says you can do away with them if you use their core support and inner fender. I'm having issues with my build and was thinking of fabbing a honest to God core support then since my inners are useless fabbing up some new ones. I figured if it has a real core support like a modern truck then I wouldn't need the rods. They don't really bother me I was just seeking enlightenment.

Dan Bowles · 03-16-2010, 07:01 AM

We don't have many miles on my son's truck but so far, so good. I think a good anchoring system, combined with the stiffer frame (the ladder frames were MEANT to flex as part of the "suspension" of the original truck) you'll be in good shape.

**mr48chev** · 03-16-2010, 03:32 PM

I have/had a lot of miles on my 48 and ran without them for a long time. From experience I can well say that they help keep the front end sheetmetal aligned and also help some with keeping the squeaks down by stabilizing the fenders.

I'm not familiar enough with that particular aftermarket core support except to say that it does look interesting from a lot of standpoints and I may need to run one before I am done due to a couple of mods I have planned.

I won't go as far as saying a guy has to run those rods on his truck but I for sure won't run a truck without them again.

winchster · 03-16-2010, 04:01 PM

Guess I will keep 'em. I still have to figure out the core support and inner fenders though. Thanks guys.

03-14-2010, 11:25 PM	#1
winchster Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 220	Fender brace question Can somebody tell me what stock part is structurally deficient to make the support rods necessary? Edit: '49 3100 by the way Edit: For clarification I'm asking about the rods from the firewall to the fenders. Not the fender supports. __________________ '49 AD 5 window deluxe cab sitting on a '78 K5 chassis Support our troops, stand behind 'em or get in front of 'em. What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Last edited by winchster; 03-15-2010 at 12:27 AM. Reason: Year

03-15-2010, 12:36 AM	#2
cajundragger Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: louisiana Posts: 1,008	Re: Fender brace question I dont have the firewall to fenders and all my stuff is fine. I did make brackets that bolt the bottom of the grille to the frame. This helped a ton with a bouncy front end. solid as a rock now. Last edited by cajundragger; 03-15-2010 at 12:37 AM.

03-15-2010, 01:03 AM	#3
Steve@OldSub.com Cancer Survivor in the making. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bainbridge Island, WA Posts: 303	Re: Fender brace question I'm thinking the radiator might be a little heavy to only be secured down low. The stuff attached to it is really supported by it, not the other way around. __________________ '55 1st GMC Suburban - '54 GMC 1-ton trailer puller (in process) - '54 GMC 1-ton Hydra-Matic - '47 Chevy AD COE and lots more rusty old iron. Steve@OldSub.com OldSub.com . MaxwellGarage.com . OldGasTowRigs.com

03-15-2010, 08:14 AM	#4
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: Fender brace question They are a bit triangulated to help keep the front end centered. Remember, there were "adjustment" slots in the bottom and you are hoping everything stays in one place but the fenders/rad/cab basically make it a box and it will flex as it is going down the road. To keep it square, the triangles are used. When doing an S10 type swap, mounting the radiator to the frame pretty much keeps the side to side forces down to a minimum but you still run the risk of the top twisting side to side. With the new suspension, most of this is eliminated unless you are driving in very harsh washboard type conditions. The old straight axle would have you bouncing around and twisting.

03-15-2010, 01:09 PM	#5
mylow53 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: thousand oaks, California Posts: 732	Re: Fender brace question other than the fender to cab bolts those rods anchor the cab to the entire front end. if their is flex in the cab/front end motion and the rods are off your fenders will be doing the flexing. have you ever ridden in the bed of a truck and see the cab move differently the the bed? i would assume those rods help with the flexing issue. my cab had multiple spider cracks around the cab bolt holes.... GT __________________ Greg 1953 chevy 1/2 ton 5 window, chevy 350 330 horse 700r tranz, lowering spindels mustang 2 frount. ford 9", airbags on 4 corners . purchased in 1983 for $325 while in high school http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=215079&page=5

03-15-2010, 09:50 PM	#6
winchster Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 220	Re: Fender brace question I was just curious seeing how b**in products says you can do away with them if you use their core support and inner fender. I'm having issues with my build and was thinking of fabbing a honest to God core support then since my inners are useless fabbing up some new ones. I figured if it has a real core support like a modern truck then I wouldn't need the rods. They don't really bother me I was just seeking enlightenment. __________________ '49 AD 5 window deluxe cab sitting on a '78 K5 chassis Support our troops, stand behind 'em or get in front of 'em.** What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?

03-16-2010, 07:01 AM	#7
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: Fender brace question We don't have many miles on my son's truck but so far, so good. I think a good anchoring system, combined with the stiffer frame (the ladder frames were MEANT to flex as part of the "suspension" of the original truck) you'll be in good shape.

03-16-2010, 03:32 PM	#8
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,735	Re: Fender brace question I have/had a lot of miles on my 48 and ran without them for a long time. From experience I can well say that they help keep the front end sheetmetal aligned and also help some with keeping the squeaks down by stabilizing the fenders. I'm not familiar enough with that particular aftermarket core support except to say that it does look interesting from a lot of standpoints and I may need to run one before I am done due to a couple of mods I have planned. I won't go as far as saying a guy has to run those rods on his truck but I for sure won't run a truck without them again.

03-16-2010, 04:01 PM	#9
winchster Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 220	Re: Fender brace question Guess I will keep 'em. I still have to figure out the core support and inner fenders though. Thanks guys. __________________ '49 AD 5 window deluxe cab sitting on a '78 K5 chassis Support our troops, stand behind 'em or get in front of 'em. What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?



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