Fly wires, streamlined clevis rod ends, tie rods...

[Christopher Crowe]

Looking for 1/4" (or less) for floor bracing rods and hardware.

Threaded rods or cables and attendant hardware for bracing floor panels by running in rods or cables in tension from the upper chassis sides down to the outer floors.

Does anyone know a source for this kind of hardware other than spending billions on English fly-wires and etc.?

Also, any tips on light and streamlined ways of doing this?

Thanks much.

[nhmcclure]

Keith at Averill Racing Stuff has them

[S Lathrop]

I use 3/4" wide x .049 stainless strips. I get them from AED in Indianapolis. My stomp shears won't cut stainless very well.

I have used stream line rods in the past and I have a set for an airplane project but that is way too much money today.

I have used aircraft cables, as well, but they tend to break more often that straps, unless you use larger diameters. There is tooling necessary to crimp cables properly.

[starkejt]

Ditto Steve, though 0.030 stainless seems to work fine.

[RobLav]

I've made these out of aluminum sheet. As long as the bend is not sharp, my experience is that they hold up well. Mine are about 3/4" wide in the center then get wider at the bends and mounted with (typically) 2 screws at each end. I've found that 10/32 or AN3 screws are overkill and have been using #8's lately with those neat aircraft countersunk washers.

Not as pretty as wire, the aluminum is light, cheap, and effective. I've had my share of broken wire stays. You want the sidepod floors to be able to move slightly up but not down, so don't use anything to take compression loads.

[Rick Kean]

Ditto Steve, though 0.030 stainless seems to work fine.

How are the edges finished?

Rick

[Christopher Crowe]

Strips are a neat idea. At first blush I might have worried about some flutter-in-the-wind potential...but I guess the general sturdiness of the material prevents this.

Thanks again, everyone.

[starkejt]

How are the edges finished?

Rick

I just touch them to a belt sander with a scotch brite belt to break the sharp edge.

[Jnovak]

Tension cable and hardware at McMaster Carr

Thanks ... jay Novak