I'm ready to install ladder bar crossmember?

I'm ready to install my 2x3 ladder bar crossmember and was wondering the best way to locate it. I have the car totally level, rearend in car, going to be using plumb bobs to center it all up, but the thing I need to know is at what adjustment on the rod ends do I put them at. I mean do I tighten them up do I put them in the middle for adjustment later like pinion angle and tracking etc.? When I get that part figured out then I will know exactly where I am going to put the crossmember because I am leaving a tight fit in the wheel well opening to really not have too much leeway to move the rearend back to start adjusting later. Thanks for any input.

I don't know for sure where to set them at. WhenI put mine in years ago I set them all the way in and it really limits the adjustment of them. I would guess that cntered would be better than what I have on mine.

Rod ends arent designed to run centered with a lot of threads showing. Although they probably never would you dont want any side deflection on a threaded surface because it promotes cracking at the bottom of the thread. On my four link rod ends they are 1" diameter thread and I run about 1/8" to a max of 3/16" of thread showing past the jam nut. I would probably let them go out 1/4" and not worry but they're not designed to be a 'big' adjustment source. Get the rear square and where you want it and use what little there is for 'fine' adjustment. TACK everything in place and bolt it all together and put it at ride height and see if its ok. Once the rear is square in the car the only thing you'll adjust is the pinion angle. Mocking it up is worth the trouble, believe it.

Most decent ladder bars won't bend or flex much so you sort of have limited adjustment from the rod ends. If you get them out too much the ends will be too wide to get the bolts in the rear brackets. On the coil over cars we use shock simulators to position the rear at ride height then set the pinion angle where we want it and weld it up. If you have ladder bars with the lower bar adjusters you get alot more adjustable set up to me. RM

I do have the lower rod adjusters in place, I don't have any drive train in yet to determine the pinion angle in relation to trans. angle, I guess I will just have center everything up with the ride height that I want and go from there.