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Ladder bar. Or caltrac #2953549
08/13/21 07:18 PM
08/13/21 07:18 PM
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florida dade
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cesar perez Offline OP
mopar
cesar perez  Offline OP
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florida dade
Ladderbar or caltrac

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: cesar perez] #2953555
08/13/21 07:49 PM
08/13/21 07:49 PM
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Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart Offline
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A ladderbar is dirt simple and light. Depending on your power level , hard to beat. They do need good shocks but so would caltracs I would assume.


8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: cesar perez] #2953562
08/13/21 08:35 PM
08/13/21 08:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,562
Brookeville, Md
Mr.Yuck Offline
Not enough dumb comments...yet
Mr.Yuck  Offline
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Brookeville, Md
CalTrac's are bolt in. Ladder bar is not. Can you do the welding and fab work?


[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/pui5j.jpg[/IMG]
Coming soon!!!!
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: Mr.Yuck] #2953572
08/13/21 09:04 PM
08/13/21 09:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,557
New Smyrna Beach FL
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scottb Offline
pro stock
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pro stock
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New Smyrna Beach FL
If your on a budget ladder bars Both work great

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: scottb] #2953591
08/13/21 10:08 PM
08/13/21 10:08 PM
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Wichita
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GY3 Offline
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Wichita
It really depends on how you use the car.

We do a lot of street driving and race some events where stock style suspension is required so we went with Cal-Tracs.

If your car is more geared towards being a drag car, I would recommend going with a ladder bar for simplicity and weight savings.


'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: GY3] #2953639
08/14/21 06:29 AM
08/14/21 06:29 AM
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Posts: 4,069
Mo.
racerx Offline
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Mo.
Wondering what's the weight difference between ladder bars and cal-trac's?

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: cesar perez] #2953644
08/14/21 07:07 AM
08/14/21 07:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,772
Keymar, MD
DusterKid Offline
top fuel
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Keymar, MD
I have used Super Stock springs with cars high 10s and slower with no issues. My current car is a backhalved ladderbar and runs mid 10s. It has a big tire and has no issues hooking in hot/cold or non perfect track prep. It really comes down to the intended purpose and ET of the car IMO.

Street/strip car - mid to high 10s and slower use Super Stock springs
Street/strip car mid 10s or faster or a drag car that you don't want to cut up use Caltracs
Strictly race car that you want to put a big tire on or or don't care to keep stock - Ladderbars

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: cesar perez] #2953702
08/14/21 12:57 PM
08/14/21 12:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,172
Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
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Bend,OR USA
Originally Posted by cesar perez
Ladderbar or caltrac

Do you want to be able to hook the car in a mud puddle in a rain storm?
If so use ladder bars with a good set of double adjustable coil over shocks twocents scope


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: Cab_Burge] #2953714
08/14/21 01:39 PM
08/14/21 01:39 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,220
West Plains, MO
DrCharles Offline
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West Plains, MO
Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
Originally Posted by cesar perez
Ladderbar or caltrac

Do you want to be able to hook the car in a mud puddle in a rain storm?
If so use ladder bars with a good set of double adjustable coil over shocks twocents scope

But with Caltracs, you can drive around corners (or mud puddles) without binding up your rear suspension and twisting the body... work

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: DrCharles] #2953740
08/14/21 02:42 PM
08/14/21 02:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,917
A shed in England
Tig Offline
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Tig  Offline
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A shed in England
Originally Posted by DrCharles
Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
Originally Posted by cesar perez
Ladderbar or caltrac

Do you want to be able to hook the car in a mud puddle in a rain storm?
If so use ladder bars with a good set of double adjustable coil over shocks twocents scope

But with Caltracs, you can drive around corners (or mud puddles) without binding up your rear suspension and twisting the body... work


Go with Ladder bars, Caltracs are just too good grin

[Linked Image]


'74 Challenger..9.46 @ 145.9 1/4, 6.001 @ 118 1/8 so far. 4023lb !!! # N/A, Marsh performance 655ci, Indy Maxx, T/R, Indy 600-13 X's, Street legal, pump gas, full interior, Cal-Tracs, mufflers, 3:73's and real 10.5 radials.
9.51 @ 142.4 1/4, 6.003 @ 114 1/8 with our old mule KB, 572-13, 580 wedge.
RHD '68 Barracuda Fastback 323ci street/strip. Best ET 13.88 @ 99.03
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: DrCharles] #2953778
08/14/21 04:37 PM
08/14/21 04:37 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,172
Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
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Bend,OR USA
Originally Posted by DrCharles
Originally Posted by Cab_Burge
Originally Posted by cesar perez
Ladderbar or caltrac

Do you want to be able to hook the car in a mud puddle in a rain storm?
If so use ladder bars with a good set of double adjustable coil over shocks twocents scope

But with Caltracs, you can drive around corners (or mud puddles) without binding up your rear suspension and twisting the body... work
????, mine didn't shruggy


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: cesar perez] #2953823
08/14/21 07:12 PM
08/14/21 07:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,029
Oregon
A
AndyF Offline
I Win
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Oregon
I had Caltracs and split mono leafs on my Duster with Caltrack shocks and that car would hook great on the street. I've never driven a car that would just hook and go like that. It never spun the tires, just took off. I gave a lot of guys rides in that car and had lots of people tell me that it left harder than their bracket cars. That was my first time working with that combination of parts but it really worked. For a dedicated drag race car I'd probably go with ladder bars but the Caltrac setup sure worked great for a street car. (The 60 lbs of ballast tucked inside the rear bumper probably helped with the launch)

DSC_4654 (Large).JPG
Last edited by AndyF; 08/14/21 07:13 PM.
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: AndyF] #2953931
08/15/21 08:05 AM
08/15/21 08:05 AM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,835
MI, usa
dvw Offline
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MI, usa
Street use, Cal tracks. No street use ladder bars. Ladder bars bind in cornering, Caltracks do not. Ladder bars are less prone to high wheel stands. Ladder bars will work with standard style wheelie bars if you need them. Ladder bars are cheaper when you add in the cost of springs. Ladder bars are lighter.
Doug

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: dvw] #2954064
08/15/21 05:22 PM
08/15/21 05:22 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,927
Seaford, Va
Kindafast Offline
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Seaford, Va
I have been using Ladder Bars with Strange single adjustable shocks for years on my car. Sees a lot of street time and has never been in a bind up situation. I never tried CalTracks before so I can't give a comparison . All I can say is My Ladder bar setup works and has worked well for years. Fairly Low 60' times with a lot of tire under the car. Like Cab Said it will hook in the mud.


6.50 @105.26
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: Kindafast] #2954074
08/15/21 06:24 PM
08/15/21 06:24 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,835
MI, usa
dvw Offline
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Originally Posted by Kindafast
I have been using Ladder Bars with Strange single adjustable shocks for years on my car. Sees a lot of street time and has never been in a bind up situation. I never tried CalTracks before so I can't give a comparison . All I can say is My Ladder bar setup works and has worked well for years. Fairly Low 60' times with a lot of tire under the car. Like Cab Said it will hook in the mud.


You may not have noticed. But the only way you will get any roll in the rear while cornering is if you have flex. Ladder bars act as a very large rear sway bar. So the front suspenion will have roll, not the rear. Not good in a quick corner. Put a heck of a load on front heims ans housing welds.
Doug

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: AndyF] #2954119
08/15/21 09:29 PM
08/15/21 09:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,672
Wichita
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GY3 Offline
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Wichita
Originally Posted by AndyF
I had Caltracs and split mono leafs on my Duster with Caltrack shocks and that car would hook great on the street. I've never driven a car that would just hook and go like that. It never spun the tires, just took off. I gave a lot of guys rides in that car and had lots of people tell me that it left harder than their bracket cars. That was my first time working with that combination of parts but it really worked. For a dedicated drag race car I'd probably go with ladder bars but the Caltrac setup sure worked great for a street car. (The 60 lbs of ballast tucked inside the rear bumper probably helped with the launch)


I'll admit, Ive never been able to launch from 1st on the street but can easily hook leaving in 2nd gear. Maybe with some more shock tuning...

A 20 mph roll from first and even hitting it.with a 250 shot makes it squirt ahead in a religious experience! No spinning, no sliding just straight ahead and no drama.

When you do the math, the car is going 0-60 mph in 2.0 seconds at the track! Crazy for a small tired street car.


'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: GY3] #2954128
08/15/21 10:15 PM
08/15/21 10:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,684
W. Kentucky
justinp61 Offline
I Live Here
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W. Kentucky
I have Cal-Tracs on my street/strip 69 Dart, pump gas 434" small block and have been 1.34 60'. It gets driven quiet a bit on the street. If I ever step up I'll go to a four link.

Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: cesar perez] #2954182
08/16/21 08:41 AM
08/16/21 08:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,363
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline
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Posts: 13,363
Marion, South Carolina [><]
The cost is about the same either way. If you don't have any issues (class rules, etc.) running non-stock style suspension, then go w/ ladder bars. For racing, they're just better.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: an8sec70cuda] #2954256
08/16/21 12:19 PM
08/16/21 12:19 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,676
On the parachute mount
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n20mstr Offline
master
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Posts: 4,676
On the parachute mount
j Just saying...... there are cars running mid to low 4's on Cal tracs

It really is a toss up. Both need "good" shocks . Both work well , the ladder bar may be limited in its IC adjustability, but there are complex ladder bars now that do offer a little more adjustability. It really matters if you get a weight break for the stock suspension. The Cal tracs are bolt on, but up to a certain point they do benefit from fabrication mounting. It really matters what your goals/needs are


....BAD A$$ STREET CAR.....
Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac [Re: n20mstr] #2954283
08/16/21 01:33 PM
08/16/21 01:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,363
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
I Live Here
an8sec70cuda  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,363
Marion, South Carolina [><]
For the average guy on an average track on any given weekend, the ladder bar has the advantage.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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