Re: Ladder bar. Or caltrac
[Re: scottb]
#2953591
08/13/21 10:08 PM
08/13/21 10:08 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,672 Wichita
GY3
master
|
master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,672
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: 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
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,917
A shed in England
|
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 But with Caltracs, you can drive around corners (or mud puddles) without binding up your rear suspension and twisting the body... Go with Ladder bars, Caltracs are just too good
'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
Cab_Burge
I Win
|
I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,172
Bend,OR USA
|
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 But with Caltracs, you can drive around corners (or mud puddles) without binding up your rear suspension and twisting the body... ????, mine didn't
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
AndyF
I Win
|
I Win
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 31,029
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)
Last edited by AndyF; 08/14/21 07:13 PM.
|
|
|
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
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,927
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
master
|
master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,835
MI, usa
|
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
GY3
master
|
master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,672
Wichita
|
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: 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
I Live Here
|
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
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
n20mstr
master
|
master
Joined: Aug 2003
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
I Live Here
|
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
|
|
|
|
|