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Hot Rods 56 chevrolet bracket car

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by buffaloracer, Mar 23, 2019.

  1. buffaloracer
    Joined: Aug 22, 2004
    Posts: 816

    buffaloracer
    Member
    from kansas

    Building a 1956 bracket car with a partner. He is bound and determined that we should run leaf springs with ladder bars. Will sliders like those available from Speedway run at the front pivot of the spring get rid of the binding and be a safe solution?
    Pete
     
  2. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Floaters at the axle tube to spring is preferred.
     
    427 sleeper and lumpy 63 like this.
  3. RmK57
    Joined: Dec 31, 2008
    Posts: 2,659

    RmK57
    Member

    Get rid of the ladder bars altogether and run Caltracs, and never look back.
     
  4. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,299

    oldiron 440
    Member

    If you move the springs in the frame or use coilovers you can mini tub for 3" more wheel house.
    Caltracks work, get there springs also.
     

  5. buffaloracer
    Joined: Aug 22, 2004
    Posts: 816

    buffaloracer
    Member
    from kansas

    CalTracs were my thought from the start. Partner wants to stay more traditional.
    Pete
     
    hoodwinx454 likes this.
  6. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,580

    wvenfield
    Member

    That's kinda the big question isn't it?
     
  7. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,299

    oldiron 440
    Member

    Are you talking long ladder bars from the sixties then you might not need sliders, I personally don't care for sliders on the axle housing use coilovers and gain tire clearance.
     
  8. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,244

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Why not truck arms? If you want to be traditional, just an option. As to ladder bars and leafs, well it never was the most admired get up under a drag racer. And it actually goes back to the mid/late 70s thru the early 80s. At least around here it did. Change the leaf geometry to something akin to the Mopar super stock set ups then add a nice pinion snubber with a reinforced contact pad. Just some ideas that work FWIW.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  9. buffaloracer
    Joined: Aug 22, 2004
    Posts: 816

    buffaloracer
    Member
    from kansas

    I like the pinion snubber idea. Might be able to sell that one. He's taking care of the body and suspension. I'm doing the engine and transmission.
    Pete
     
  10. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    My 57 has the springs moved to the center of the frame rails I'm using Danchuk 3" wider inner wheel tubs and Caltrac bars, But if your'e partner wants the more traditional look do like Johnny Gee suggested and use housing floaters.
     
  11. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Tradition in my book dictates home brewed parts. You now, before speed shops and the internet made anybody a car guy. Look familiar?
    [​IMG]
     
    Shadow Creek likes this.
  12. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    Yep got a homemade set of those on my Stude:D . Mc master Carr is my friend...
     
    Johnny Gee likes this.
  13. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

  14. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    Ok I realize I may be hijacking this thread but this is a story worth telling...Years ago shortly after Caltracs came on the market me and my buddy Scott were running his F stock 302 Camaro at Pamona ...He was in the burn out box and I was standing by the car. A guy walks up behind me and asks if those are Caltracs or knock offs..I told him my bud built them....He says too bad my name is John Calvert and if those were mine I'd tell you how to make em really hook. Not that the car hooked all that bad though:D
     
    FinnishFireball likes this.
  15. 56sedandelivery
    Joined: Nov 21, 2006
    Posts: 6,695

    56sedandelivery
    Member Emeritus

    UGH, partners! Had a couple of those along the way, never again. Best you can do is let him learn the hard way.
    I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
     
    olscrounger likes this.
  16. hoodwinx454
    Joined: Apr 19, 2012
    Posts: 131

    hoodwinx454
    Member

    I would run Caltracs that’s just my opinion. I was actually at Calvert Racing on Thursday picking up some parts from them for my bird really good people there.


    Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  17. Partners in race cars... never again. It lead to me and my brother not talking for 2 years.
     
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  18. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    "Things have come to a pretty pass
    Our romance is growing flat
    For you like this and the other
    While I go for this and that
    Goodness knows what the end will be
    Oh, I don't know where I'm at
    It looks as if we two will never be one
    Something must be done
    You say either and I say either
    You say neither and I say neither
    Either, either, neither, neither
    Let's call the whole thing off
    You like potato and I like potahto
    You like tomato and I like tomahto
    Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto
    Let's call the whole thing off"
     
  19. southcross2631
    Joined: Jan 20, 2013
    Posts: 4,413

    southcross2631
    Member

    Yeah, I would go store bought Cal Tracs. Stupid old antique ladder bars never hook up.
    Build some floaters or use coil overs like I did on my old car.




    faded memories.jpg
     
    Budget36 likes this.
  20. glrbird
    Joined: Dec 20, 2010
    Posts: 601

    glrbird
    Member

    Partner,s can work if you both don’t act like dicks, raced with a friend for 5 yrs, all types of combo,s. 4 speed & tunnel ram, 4 speed & single 850, powerglide & 750, and owerglide & 650 2 barrel, you have to try to make it work. Like being married, without the sex.
     
  21. Let's see..So far, we know nothing about this car. Engine, transmission, weight, HP, tire and wheel size, projected E/T.
    Top Sportsman is a bracket race and so is Street Eliminator.
    We DO already know..Caltracs good, Caltracs bad , ladder bars good , ladder bars bad, floaters /leaf springs good /bad.
    Lots of clairvoyant folks here...;);)
     
    lumpy 63 likes this.
  22. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    I like both ladder bars and Caltracs....Just depends on the car I'm working on, and the proper way to install either one of em:D I've also have had cars with slapper bars that would show daylight under the front tires..
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2019
    loudbang and 427 sleeper like this.
  23. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    Does it really matter. Per the original concept. Putting sliders at the front of the leaf spring.
     
    lumpy 63 likes this.
  24. Brian Penrod
    Joined: Apr 19, 2016
    Posts: 216

    Brian Penrod
    Member

    Keep reaching, you're almost there!
     
  25. 427 sleeper
    Joined: Mar 8, 2017
    Posts: 2,866

    427 sleeper
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    What about a shackle type front mounts for the ladder bars? It would let the suspension work, and control spring wrap at the same time. Just thinking out loud...
     
    loudbang likes this.
  26. Brian Penrod
    Joined: Apr 19, 2016
    Posts: 216

    Brian Penrod
    Member

    I know a couple of guys that have been 8.30's-8.40's in the 1/4 with slapper bars.
     
    lumpy 63 and loudbang like this.
  27. Yup, and you were one of the few who addressed the specific question.
    I suppose I could try, too. I looked at Speedway sliders and all I saw were rear ones to replace the shackles. Since he said front ones(?) , maybe he could provide a link. Or anyone else?
     
  28. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    ^^^^^ I get the concept of using sliders up front to do away with binding. But that leads to another problem not seen by some. If ladder were to let go what would rear axle do and how would car react?
     
  29. Yeah, I suppose it would work. I'd rather see floaters on housing like you said.
    Seeing we're worried about being traditional here, he could make floaters using U-bolts and design them in such a way that most would never notice them.
    I don't know about anyone else, but if I was going to build a traditional bracket racer, I'd worry a bit about the guy in the other lane with the air shifter, the electric water pump, the MSD and 2 step, etc.:D
     

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