Cummins Conversion Update
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
You're not kidding. It makes me grin every time I drive it. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like when I throw another 100 HP at it. The stroke never pulled this hard. It's actually got me worried a little about axle wrap and damaging the rear u-joint now. I'm very strongly looking into getting some traction bars of some sort because of it.
I'll find the short. It will no doubt take some time, and probably will require me to tear into all the wires I loomed up, but I'll find it.
I'll find the short. It will no doubt take some time, and probably will require me to tear into all the wires I loomed up, but I'll find it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,549
Likes: 14
From: Payson, AZ
You're not kidding. It makes me grin every time I drive it. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like when I throw another 100 HP at it. The stroke never pulled this hard. It's actually got me worried a little about axle wrap and damaging the rear u-joint now. I'm very strongly looking into getting some traction bars of some sort because of it.
I'll find the short. It will no doubt take some time, and probably will require me to tear into all the wires I loomed up, but I'll find it.
I'll find the short. It will no doubt take some time, and probably will require me to tear into all the wires I loomed up, but I'll find it.
Gone, but not forgotten
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,026
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte-Fairbanks-Bflo
Between you me and the nearest fencepost. That thing looks real cute in a photo, but not something that would put up with much torque. Do you know of someone putting that particular one to any strenuous use? Just the size of the bolts and the brackets would scare me off. I'm going back to my School of Hard Knocks class here. I once left the line side stepping the clutch at 6500 rpm with ladder bars a little better than those and ended up with a whole lot of broken parts and a pinion pointed skyward and a whole lot of laughing onlookers.
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Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
Got it that time. 
I'm talking to a guy around here who builds a lot of off road vehicles and has built many different sets of bars on several trucks. If he can come up with something that I'm cool with, hopefully I can have them made locally and save some money.
I'm talking to a guy around here who builds a lot of off road vehicles and has built many different sets of bars on several trucks. If he can come up with something that I'm cool with, hopefully I can have them made locally and save some money.
Gone, but not forgotten
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,026
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte-Fairbanks-Bflo
When I was worried about traction, streetability did not enter the equation. So all I cared about was strength. I think I would rather have some tire spin and count on say lockers front and rear rather than install something mickey mouse and try to use some real high traction tires for say street racing and count on those little ladder bars to keep my pinion pointed at the transmission.
Thread Starter
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
I was thinking Caltracs were more like $500...hmmm.
Unfortunately, streetability is definitely part of the equation for me. Since this is not a dedicated racing or pulling rig, I need to have some suspension movement still. I know there are setups out there which are very strong, yet don't bind either. I've read through a bunch of threads on some other forums talking about all that stuff, but that was a while back and I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention because this wasn't a problem for me at the time. I am worried about keeping that pinion pointed at the trans though.
When I was worried about traction, streetability did not enter the equation. So all I cared about was strength. I think I would rather have some tire spin and count on say lockers front and rear rather than install something mickey mouse and try to use some real high traction tires for say street racing and count on those little ladder bars to keep my pinion pointed at the transmission.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,549
Likes: 14
From: Payson, AZ
Between you me and the nearest fencepost. That thing looks real cute in a photo, but not something that would put up with much torque. Do you know of someone putting that particular one to any strenuous use? Just the size of the bolts and the brackets would scare me off. I'm going back to my School of Hard Knocks class here. I once left the line side stepping the clutch at 6500 rpm with ladder bars a little better than those and ended up with a whole lot of broken parts and a pinion pointed skyward and a whole lot of laughing onlookers.
The Caltracs look sophisicated. Caltracs Link
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
Likes: 12
From: 21791
basically you want a ladder bar style mount that either is welded to the axle housing or bolted around it, as to add an "arm" to the axle that would want to pivot straight upwards towards the frame at the end of the bar, where it would have a shackle on it. It would allow it to move forward and rearward like the springs need, however wont allow it to twist upwards, a single bar style is not that forgiving.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,413
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
For some reason, I was thinking shackles on the ladder bars had a negative effect of some sort. Can't remember what it was, but Charles had mentioned it over there before.
The Caltracs actually look like a pretty decent option. Pretty much a bolt on kit and they seem to have a lot of positive reviews and comments about them.
The Caltracs actually look like a pretty decent option. Pretty much a bolt on kit and they seem to have a lot of positive reviews and comments about them.