RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

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RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby 67shovel » Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:45 am

I had a v8 Vega back in the 70's and just loved it. Now I bought a 73 GT wagon with a rusty dash cowl area and trying to figure out what direction to go with it. I love the look of the tubbed race cars and would like to build my street car with that look. Question is can I get a decent ride with huge tires, tubs, and a 4 link? Do I use ladder bars instead? I've got a million questions to ask here but I'll try to keep each one to one subject. Thanks for a reply
79 Monza wagon Pro street, cage tubs narrowed 9
73 GT Vega wagon street car 355 700r4 a/c
68 RS Z/28 302
67 SS 396
Cobra replica
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby Rickracer » Thu Jul 21, 2011 2:27 pm

I would say 4 link, which is what I'm doing on mine right now. No plans ATM to put it back on the street, but one never knows...... :mrgreen:
The motor is relatively streetable, and would be even more so on E85, 8)
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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: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby spencerforhire » Fri Jul 22, 2011 6:35 am

Running a race suspension on the street is not for the faint of heart; those solid rod ends(both 4-link and ladder bar) creak, groan, squeak, rattle and transmit every little bump and movement right into the car. In a race car with open headers and wearing a helmet you don't hear it!
But it sure does look cool :) .......
The "fleet"-
72 Vega HB Drag Car -383/'Glide/9"(9.35@146.19)(5.94@117.28 1/8th)
77 Vega Estate wagon- project(someday)will have TPI305/T-5, S-10 spindles/axles
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and 4 more Saturn "parts cars"
Note- the very act of listing all of these has made me realize I have some kind of problem.....

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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby 67shovel » Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:19 am

Thanks for the replys. I still want the pro street look and will give up some ride quality to get it. I guess you can't use stock style suspension or leafs for some reason?
79 Monza wagon Pro street, cage tubs narrowed 9
73 GT Vega wagon street car 355 700r4 a/c
68 RS Z/28 302
67 SS 396
Cobra replica
65 Corvair Corsa midengine 301
http://pictures.sprintpcs.com/share.do? ... =RETRIEVED
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby robsta11111 » Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:58 am

67shovel wrote:Thanks for the replys. I still want the pro street look and will give up some ride quality to get it. I guess you can't use stock style suspension or leafs for some reason?

because you have to use a narrowed rear end and the leafs take up so much room front to rear.
a true hot rodder wouldn't be content until he had created a car so violent, so hairy, so totally sick, that the very act of pressing the throttle, would result in instant death
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby Kenova » Fri Jul 22, 2011 12:14 pm

There are four link drag style suspensions that can be had with rubber, urethane, or Del-Sphere type rod ends. Any one of them would be less bothersome on the street.
If you have to fabricate a rear suspension you could also consider a torque arm suspension. It isn't the first type of suspension you think of when you hear "drag race", but there are a crap load of 4th gen F-bodies carrying the front wheels a ridiculous distance with torque arm suspensions.

Ken
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby Fasterthansome » Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:25 pm

Torque arm would be easy and work well.
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby Fasterthansome » Fri Jul 22, 2011 5:27 pm

spencerforhire wrote:Running a race suspension on the street is not for the faint of heart; those solid rod ends(both 4-link and ladder bar) creak, groan, squeak, rattle and transmit every little bump and movement right into the car. In a race car with open headers and wearing a helmet you don't hear it!
But it sure does look cool :) .......

I have solid rod ends on my control arms torque arm etc and its not bad at all on the street. Not alot of extra noise from them.
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby rocketride » Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:29 pm

He who dies with the most toys.......is still dead.
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby chevy art » Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:47 am

supposedly the ladderar is too rigid for the street. 4 link would be better, definitely with ther uretheane bushings. you should be fine with that setup art
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby Rickracer » Sat Jul 23, 2011 3:55 pm

I've run ladder bars on the street, I wouldn't say they would be great for a daily driver, but for a weekend hotrod, not all that bad, definitely not a dealbreaker, :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: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby Wizeguyrc » Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:54 pm

The reason a four link or torque arm is more forgiving on the street than a ladder bar is because a four link, etc. will let the rearend "roll" in cornering. Ladder bars don't have that ability and the front rod ends see alot of side load forces. Which ever one you run, do not use a diagonal link that runs from front lower mount point to the rear lower mount point. These locators are designed to go in a straight line and will not totally stop the rearend from moving side to side while cornering in street driving. Use a panhard bar or some other type of track locator.
Alot of Pro Mods use torque arm suspension. Jerry Bickel done one years ago on Jim Yates Pro Stocker. Very good suspension.
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby 73astregt » Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:58 pm

i was just looking at art morrisons site the other day, they have some good looking setups and you can get them with the urathane bushings from them.im debating going with a four link set up,urathane bushings and an adjustable panhard bar for my astre. i dont want to do the back half thing or cut out the floors, just want to get rid of the damn wheel hop problem i have since installing the 5 speed standard. :cuss:
73 astre gt 355 small block 435 hp 435 torque edelbrock performer rpm power package
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby chevy art » Tue Oct 18, 2011 2:03 am

fred didnt you install the air bags in the rear. this supposedly helps get rid of the wheel hop. if you did what was the rear springs you used and who made the air bags ? art
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Re: RACE CHASSIS ON THE STREET?

Postby speedphreake » Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:46 am

I've got a stock type 4 link with hiem joints, no wheel hop what so ever. Best thing you can do is raise the rear mount of the upper control arms. I ran 1.49 60's at the track this weekend carrying the fronts a ways. No need to back half or get to crazy with the rear suspension.
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