Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

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Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby 71LS1Vega » Sat Apr 06, 2013 10:39 pm

I currently have the stock 4 link setup on my car with Spohn adjustable uppers and lowers. Since the car will be a street strip car and being 6-speed i didnt know if i should keep the stock style suspension or how benificial it would be going with the Ladder bars. I would like to get the car down into the low 10's and i dont think the stock style will hold up from the impact of the manual transmission. Any thoughts?
71 Vega GT LS1/M6
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby speedphreake » Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:49 am

For a street car, stock will handle better. I've been 10.40's on stock style suspension, other have been in the 9's and even into the 8's. Set up right, you'll be happier with the handling and traction the stock suspension will give you.
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby Fasterthansome » Sun Apr 07, 2013 7:30 am

Stock
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby rtm » Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:34 pm

I have a ladder bar car, and I have to agree with the "stock" voters.
Not that I can't drive on the street at all, but it's very stiff, and you cringe when you hit bumps.
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby Rickracer » Thu Apr 11, 2013 8:07 am

I've been 9.70s on a stock style 4 trailing arm system, :th:
Rickracer
ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby 71LS1Vega » Sat Nov 09, 2013 10:36 pm

So i finally made it to the track with slicks. Launching around 3500 wasnt a good idea apparently. Should i even bother trying to beef up my lower mounts or go with a ladder? I know the bolts were all tight, i just ordered all brand new hardware that fit tight. The photo shows the lower mount pushed forward into the body.
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby Fasterthansome » Sun Nov 10, 2013 7:48 am

If it was mine I would weld all the seams, locate the bolt at the back of the hole(now slot) then weld a "large" washer Or plate with hole on the outer sides of lower mount.
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby Kenova » Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:53 am

Reinforcing the body mounts would be the simpler option. I have seen several examples of the lower control arm mount reinforcement being incorporated into the sub frame connectors.

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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby Smiley » Sun Nov 10, 2013 9:15 pm

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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby Fasterthansome » Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:25 pm

Does a 4 link set up put more forward push on lower bars? Or the stick? I have pulled some decnt 60's and never did that to mine and all I have is large washers welded over holes.
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby Rickracer » Tue Nov 12, 2013 10:42 am

Here's mine:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Mine was just like yours before I started.....
Rickracer
ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby megavega » Tue Nov 12, 2013 6:20 pm

That metal there isnt thick enough to hold any power as you have found out. You can do like faster says and weld thick large washers to each side, or make a rear set up like I did, or, do exactly like Rick did and weld in metal plugs in the stampings. Any of the mods will work. You should try and get the rear mounting bolts where they were originally, unless your lower bars are adjustable your wheels could be not centered in the wheel well and make the rear axle not straight in the car. Measure each side from the center of the front spindle to the center of rear axle to get it even.

I would also weld the upper brackets to the floor around the outside as well, they are only spot welded from the factory and will be possibly the next failure to happen.
1972 hatchback, 28,000 orig miles, 427BBC/twin T4 turbo's/T56 six speed/big wheels, lowered down pro touring style-work in progress....

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Re: Keep stock 4 link or ladder bars?

Postby Rickracer » Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:26 pm

When I did the suspension on my old 427 Vega, not only did I weld in 1/4" metal plugs on top and bottom, I welded all the brackets, and I added gussets everywhere I could on the uppers, as well as on the axle brackets too. It was going high 9s on stock style suspension 25 years ago.... :th:
Rickracer
ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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1976 Chevrolet Vega


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