Originally posted by bobs:
<strong>I have a 35 ford pickup and I would like to keep the original front and rear suspention. What is the down side of the original front end? Also I plan to install a 302 and c4 under the hood. The original radius rod look pencle necked. Will thay bend under the strain of a modern engine?</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have 40 Ford coupe with the original front end under (40 has hydraulic brakes....stock). It has a 4" dropped axle and a few leaf springs removed. It rides and drives good. It has a 283 Chevrolet adapted to the 40 transmission by way of a Wilcap engine adapter.
The radius rods are plenty strong. Do not worry about them. The 302 and C4 presents a different set of problems. 1935 Ford trucks have a enclosed driveshaft. It runs from the transmission to the rear end in a torque tube. This will have to be eliminated and a open drive conversion fitted to the rear end. Then the rear end ratio is way off (4.11 -4.44) for today's driving. The radius rods must be cut and split to clear the C4.
Here is a catalog to help
<a href="http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com/ford/1935-1940ford.htm" target="_blank">http://www.chassisengineeringinc.com/ford/1935-1940ford.htm</a>
Most folks go ahead and do away with the rear end, buy a kit and use a later rear end ( better brakes, ease of parts ect).
These folks also have a kit to install later steering boxes.
Check out the catalog
.