traction bars
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 1
From: Earth
Pull those leaf springs and go with the 4-link setup from TCI. 
The kit has gone up about $120 since I got mine years ago. I'm happy with it...
http://www.totalcostinvolved.com/pro...cfm?prodID=863
The kit has gone up about $120 since I got mine years ago. I'm happy with it... http://www.totalcostinvolved.com/pro...cfm?prodID=863
Last edited by 53fatfndr; May 19, 2006 at 07:04 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Originally Posted by oldmercury
"Wheel hop" eh? Could that be the sensation I experience on my '51 F1? Happened a few times while accelerating from a stop. I have all new leaf springs, pins, bushings, et.al., all around and I was taken aback when this occurred; didn't think this was supposed to happen on a completely stock, non-hot-rodded F1. I noted the axle is, of course, under the leaf springs and this is how Ford designed 'em. Is this a normal thing for the axle to move like this?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
That's why I was wondering if he was getting tire hop (or sometimes called tire shake) instead, i.e. where wrinkle wall slicks bunch up the tread in front of the tire until the lightly loaded rear end climbs up over it breaking loose the traction and then the process repeats itself. Feels like you're driving over a washboard. A common occurance with front engined drag cars when they get too good a bite.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Oh that was me; I got some "expert" advice that this panhard bar was a cure for improved handling and I was trying to verify if that was true. I think I'll not go that panhard route...seems like since no one makes one for the F1 it's probably not a good idea.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 895
Likes: 1
From: OK
Cool pictures Knucklebuster. Looks like a lot of fun.
My truck loves to squat leaving. When it doesn't, the tires go up in smoke. I don't think I'm losing power by it squating either. I think my 60ft. times are very respectable for a completely stock suspension '48' F-1 that wasn't meant to be drag raced.
hotrod48
My truck loves to squat leaving. When it doesn't, the tires go up in smoke. I don't think I'm losing power by it squating either. I think my 60ft. times are very respectable for a completely stock suspension '48' F-1 that wasn't meant to be drag raced.
hotrod48
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 895
Likes: 1
From: OK
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
thats what I meant by loosing power, energy which would normaly go to the tires is being absorbed by the suspension. Ultimatly what matters is that the individual is happy with his/her vehicals performance. I am of the mindset that there is always room for improvment.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 1
Anyone ever make a set of these? I think they work similar to the cal-tracs, but I have never seen the cal-tracs. Only what I have read people post.
http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/Traction.html
Seems like a reasonable idea and cheap to make.
http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/Traction.html
Seems like a reasonable idea and cheap to make.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
If you are looking for something quick, easy to build and effective the first picture in that article is the way to go IMHO, we used to build them all the time. the other can break a spring especially on the street. But that's all pretty much dinosaur technology today with ladder bar, 3 and 4 point geometry prefered for serious racing.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
I know plenty of people over here in lake charles that have been running cal-tracs for years on the street without breaking anything. there's one guy in particular who has a 69 camaro all steel full interior running 9's with a SB 400 and no2, a personal freind of mine running low 10's with a 454 BB in an all steel camaro with a full interior, a 68 camaro running low 10's with a naturally aspirated SB400 all street cars running 10 inch tires on the street with no problems with parts breakage at all. I personally can say these bars kick the crap out of any slapper bar on the market. If anyone can save the 300 bones these things cost by making them themselves go at it they rock. They are adjustable as far as setting preload, or altering your instant center so it is easy to adjust how hard they bite. If you do go with a slapper bar desighn just be sure the snubber is directly under the front eye of the spring, you can adjust how they hit by changing the gap between the spring eye and the snubber. There are plenty of cars running really fast with small tires at alot less cost then a four link and without the binding problems of ladder bars.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Hotrod48,
my 60ft time was 2.16 sec ET 9.49 @ 74.936 mph (1/8th mile track)
My reaction time was lame, the lights dropped real fast and I found my self staring at the green thinking "Holly sheite, I better get going"
Of the 3 races, my last was against an '06 Mustang GT and I got him by .656 sec's
Nice way to end the day.
my 60ft time was 2.16 sec ET 9.49 @ 74.936 mph (1/8th mile track)
My reaction time was lame, the lights dropped real fast and I found my self staring at the green thinking "Holly sheite, I better get going"
Of the 3 races, my last was against an '06 Mustang GT and I got him by .656 sec's
Nice way to end the day.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
good 60' time! We race a series called Pro Solo, a cross between drag racing and roadracing. (We call it more exciting, less boring dragracing! 
) We start with a full Xmas tree, we get our reaction times and 60' times. Our Celica on race tires does 2.2 60' times. Modified 4WD Evo VIIIs, Subaru STis are usually the quickest times at ~ 1.7s.
) We start with a full Xmas tree, we get our reaction times and 60' times. Our Celica on race tires does 2.2 60' times. Modified 4WD Evo VIIIs, Subaru STis are usually the quickest times at ~ 1.7s.