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Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? #2771750
05/06/20 10:46 AM
05/06/20 10:46 AM
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Posts: 11,684
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline OP
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I'm planning to do a little work on my Dart, the new converter is here but not in yet. Also I'm considering adding adjustable strut rods and sliders to replace the shackles.

Are the adjustable strut rods worth the effort? Do they free up the front suspension much?

The car is a 69 Dart street/strip deal, small block, 727, 3350ish #, has ran 6.40 but should run pretty deep in the .30's if I can get the 60' down.

Thanks.

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: justinp61] #2771765
05/06/20 11:11 AM
05/06/20 11:11 AM
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West Coast, USA
jbc426 Offline
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If your front end can freely travel at least 5 inches (gleened from Caltrac tech), the adjustable strut rods will have little or no effect on that. They do benefit the suspensions ability to increase the positive caster by pulling the lower control arm farther forward in relation to the upper control arm. You must be careful not to bring the lower control arm into a bind as it moves through its travel however.

The old Mopar suspension manual has a lot of tried and tested information in it that is still applicable today.


1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's
1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: justinp61] #2771780
05/06/20 12:00 PM
05/06/20 12:00 PM
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State of confusion
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Thumperdart Offline
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Both mods helped me to a 1.33 foot-brakin 60 foot so far so yes on both imo....


72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: Thumperdart] #2771782
05/06/20 12:03 PM
05/06/20 12:03 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,684
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Thumperdart
Both mods helped me to a 1.33 foot-brakin 60 foot so far so yes on both imo....


Who's rods?

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: Thumperdart] #2771796
05/06/20 12:33 PM
05/06/20 12:33 PM
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Ct
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Wirenut Offline
mopar
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Originally Posted by Thumperdart
Both mods helped me to a 1.33 foot-brakin 60 foot so far so yes on both imo....


What was your 60’ before those mods ?

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: justinp61] #2771797
05/06/20 12:36 PM
05/06/20 12:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,553
Rittman Ohio
fourgearsavoy Offline
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Originally Posted by justinp61
Originally Posted by Thumperdart
Both mods helped me to a 1.33 foot-brakin 60 foot so far so yes on both imo....


Who's rods?


I bought these rods and I really like them. Braking feels much better as well up
https://www.reillymotorsports.com/Adjustable-Strut-Rod-62-72-B-body.html

Gus beer


64 Plymouth Savoy
493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow
5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box
Dana 60
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: fourgearsavoy] #2771808
05/06/20 12:57 PM
05/06/20 12:57 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,684
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline OP
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Thanks Gus. These are the ones I'm looking at.

https://www.amazon.com/QA1-52311-Dynamic-Strut-Bar/dp/B00COY5L4U

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: justinp61] #2771824
05/06/20 01:59 PM
05/06/20 01:59 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
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TN
1DGEMAN Offline
mopar
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TN
Caltracs now makes adjustable strut rods. A good friend put them on his Stock and Super/Stock Dusters.


Real Men shift for themselves
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: 1DGEMAN] #2771828
05/06/20 02:25 PM
05/06/20 02:25 PM
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Shelby mi.
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JAKE68 Offline
pro stock
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Shelby mi.
I HAVE A BRAND NEW SET OF THOSE QA1 STILL IN BOX I NEVER USED. SOLD MY CAR. I'LL SELL THEM FOR 200.00 SHIPPED.


JAKES AUTOMOTIVE
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: JAKE68] #2771831
05/06/20 02:36 PM
05/06/20 02:36 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,684
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline OP
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Originally Posted by JAKE68
I HAVE A BRAND NEW SET OF THOSE QA1 STILL IN BOX I NEVER USED. SOLD MY CAR. I'LL SELL THEM FOR 200.00 SHIPPED.


You have a PM.

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: justinp61] #2771857
05/06/20 04:57 PM
05/06/20 04:57 PM
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PA
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Ody1003 Offline
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Question. QA1 strut rods in B-body. Has anyone tried to install these without removing torsion bars etc. By cutting the OEM strut rod out and being able to install the after market QA1? I understand that it can be done? Input. Thanks.

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: Ody1003] #2771863
05/06/20 05:13 PM
05/06/20 05:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,553
Rittman Ohio
fourgearsavoy Offline
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Originally Posted by Ody1003
Question. QA1 strut rods in B-body. Has anyone tried to install these without removing torsion bars etc. By cutting the OEM strut rod out and being able to install the after market QA1? I understand that it can be done? Input. Thanks.


Cut my old ones out with a Sawzall and put the new ones in but mine are the RMS units. I didn't have to remove anything else for the install.

Gus beer


64 Plymouth Savoy
493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow
5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box
Dana 60
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: 1DGEMAN] #2771866
05/06/20 05:17 PM
05/06/20 05:17 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 98
Minnesota
TrackPack Offline
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Minnesota
Originally Posted by 1DGEMAN
Caltracs now makes adjustable strut rods. A good friend put them on his Stock and Super/Stock Dusters.



Do you have a link for them? I couldn't find them on the Calvert Racing site.

Last edited by TrackPack; 05/06/20 05:18 PM.
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: TrackPack] #2771874
05/06/20 06:17 PM
05/06/20 06:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,684
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline OP
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justinp61  Offline OP
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Originally Posted by TrackPack
Originally Posted by 1DGEMAN
Caltracs now makes adjustable strut rods. A good friend put them on his Stock and Super/Stock Dusters.



Do you have a link for them? I couldn't find them on the Calvert Racing site.


Mancini sells them.

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: TrackPack] #2771956
05/06/20 11:14 PM
05/06/20 11:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 608
TN
1DGEMAN Offline
mopar
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Originally Posted by TrackPack
Originally Posted by 1DGEMAN
Caltracs now makes adjustable strut rods. A good friend put them on his Stock and Super/Stock Dusters.



Do you have a link for them? I couldn't find them on the Calvert Racing site.


They are brand new give them a call.


Real Men shift for themselves
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: 1DGEMAN] #2771997
05/07/20 07:44 AM
05/07/20 07:44 AM
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Posts: 9,835
MI, usa
dvw Offline
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Look at 60's NASCAR front suspension. Where the strut rod cushions were there is an upper ball joint fastened in the K frame. Then a fabricated strut rod is threaded to to the ball joint stud.
Doug

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: justinp61] #2772013
05/07/20 08:54 AM
05/07/20 08:54 AM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 98
Minnesota
TrackPack Offline
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TrackPack  Offline
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Minnesota
Originally Posted by justinp61
Originally Posted by TrackPack
Originally Posted by 1DGEMAN
Caltracs now makes adjustable strut rods. A good friend put them on his Stock and Super/Stock Dusters.



Do you have a link for them? I couldn't find them on the Calvert Racing site.


Mancini sells them.




Thanks!

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: dvw] #2772690
05/09/20 02:04 AM
05/09/20 02:04 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 234
Brisvegas, Australia
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Alchemi Offline
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Brisvegas, Australia
Originally Posted by dvw
Look at 60's NASCAR front suspension. Where the strut rod cushions were there is an upper ball joint fastened in the K frame. Then a fabricated strut rod is threaded to to the ball joint stud.
Doug

Interesting idea, the factory mount is pretty much a caseless BJ, think i would be looking a a particularly chunky one though and frequent inspections..

As the "ideal" result is eliminating the travel arc, I think a replacement system that pivots on the the same centre line as the torsion bar pin is where developers need to be looking

Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: Alchemi] #2772724
05/09/20 07:52 AM
05/09/20 07:52 AM
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Posts: 8,026
Tulsa OK
Bad340fish Offline
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I have the RMS strut rods in my car and have for a long time. They work well. I run the RMS upper arms, RMS strut rods, and poly bushing in the lower arms. With the suspension unloaded you can cycle it through its full travel by hand very easily. When I had poly bushings in the stock upper it was more difficult to move the upper arm by itself than it is to move the whole assembly with the RMS parts. The setup probably has 15000 miles on it now.


68 Barracuda Formula S 340
Re: Thoughts on adjustable strut rods? [Re: Bad340fish] #2772747
05/09/20 09:19 AM
05/09/20 09:19 AM
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MI, usa
dvw Offline
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Why are we worried about freedom of movement when the shocks need to be tightened down to slow suspension travel speed?
Doug

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