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#1
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Traction bars
I’m idiot checking myself here. Local track called me yesterday and said they were opening up for private test n tune. (I was on a list). I added sticky tires and subframe connectors at the end of last year.
Long story short I ran out and ordered a set of Lakewood universal traction bars. Ordered from Advance because I could get them next day. It looks to me like these is no chance these fit. They hit the lower shock mounts. Am I looking at this wrong? I know I’ve seen slapped bars on first gen f bodies before. Do they take a different kind? I wanted to add them because I’m a little leery of my 1310 joint. I know wheel hop doesn’t help. I do have some leaf springs clamps laying around. I think I read on here before that you can add a clamp near the forward leaf mount or something like that and it will help? Any truth to that?
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#2
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I think they look cool
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Carburetor building & modification services Servicing the Pontiac community over 25 years |
#3
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They would look cool if I could bolt them on lol. Do I need a different type?
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#4
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Your lower shock mount in your bottom plate?
Usually get T-bars that take the place of lower plate & shock mounts to.
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Carburetor building & modification services Servicing the Pontiac community over 25 years |
#5
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Quote:
I guess I’ll buy some cal tracks or the like. While I agree that they look cool, I was only buying the slipper bar kind because I could get them in less than 24 hours for cheap.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#6
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There should still be Lakewoods that have the built in plate. available. Ideally the front snubber right under the front spring eye.
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Skip Fix 1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever! 1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand 1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project 2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4 1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project 1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs |
#7
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Quote:
Should done a little more research first, but I was in a hurry.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#8
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As Skip Fix mentioned, the good slapper bars are long enough to put the snubber right under the center of the spring eye, and have a built in plate to replace the factory spring plate. I don't think any other style is of much use as a traction aid. My son's 69 Bird is running a set of the CE slapper bars and they do a credible job.
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69 Bird w/1970 400 block(409 cubes), #64 heads, hyd. roller, Q-jet by Jeff E., original interior, ps, pdb, th350, and 3.73 gears. Pump gas, street driven muscle. 3800 lbs. race weight. Best, 11.39 @118, my son's car. 79 T/A w/463, Scat crank, Eagle rods, Icon pistons, Lunati solid roller, 262/270, KRE 325 heads, Northwind intake, QF950 carb, full interior, ps, pdb, th350, and 3.73 gears. Pump gas, 3650 lbs. race weight. 10.68 @ 126 so far... no tuning yet. |
#9
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Just saw your sig and if you are making 600 lb-ft of torque then you may need to go to Cal Tracs or equivalent.
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69 Bird w/1970 400 block(409 cubes), #64 heads, hyd. roller, Q-jet by Jeff E., original interior, ps, pdb, th350, and 3.73 gears. Pump gas, street driven muscle. 3800 lbs. race weight. Best, 11.39 @118, my son's car. 79 T/A w/463, Scat crank, Eagle rods, Icon pistons, Lunati solid roller, 262/270, KRE 325 heads, Northwind intake, QF950 carb, full interior, ps, pdb, th350, and 3.73 gears. Pump gas, 3650 lbs. race weight. 10.68 @ 126 so far... no tuning yet. |
#10
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You need CalTracs.
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1967 Firechicken, 499", Edl heads, 262/266@0.050" duration and 0.627"/0.643 lift SR cam, 3.90 gear, 28" tire, 3550#. 10.01@134.3 mph with a 1.45 60'. Still WAY under the rollbar rule. |
#11
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I think you need an electric pump. That's a stout engine to try and feed with a mechanical. Should be a low 11 120mph 1/4 or low 7 97/98 car
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466 Mike Voycey shortblock, 310cfm SD KRE heads, SD "OF 2.0 cam", torker 2 373 gears 3200 Continental Convertor best et 10.679/127.5/1.533 60ft 308 gears best et 10.76/125.64/1.5471 |
#12
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I think you need a fuel pressure gauge to see what is really happening. Dragstrips do funny things to cars g forces create issues not all fuel related.
What is your engine combo convertor gearing and exhaust? I tried to look but never found it. When you say you have a big Holley 950hp to try is it a 80496? They only flow 830cfm but work pretty good.
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466 Mike Voycey shortblock, 310cfm SD KRE heads, SD "OF 2.0 cam", torker 2 373 gears 3200 Continental Convertor best et 10.679/127.5/1.533 60ft 308 gears best et 10.76/125.64/1.5471 |
#13
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Yes, clamps help.
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'65 Tempest 467 3650# 11.30@120.31 |
#14
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Yeah. I also probably need adjustable shocks. New springs in the front, and the put a 1350 joint on the rear of the driveshaft. Oh and my rubber engine mount on the driver side is a ticking time bomb
I’ve had a gasser project that’s robbing resources from the Firebird. But I’ll put down a faster time tomorrow assuming I don’t torpedo something. Last year on hard street tires I ran an 8.6 at 88 mph. I hoping to match the MPH to a more respectable 1/8th ET.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
The Following User Says Thank You to RocktimusPryme For This Useful Post: | ||
#15
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Yes, clamping the front half of the leaves tends to make the front half of the spring act like a lever helping forward bite. Leaving the rear half unclamped allows the spring to still react to compression forces. Try to get 2 clamps on each spring if possible.
A turnbuckle on the LF of the engine going to the frame will stop destruction of the rubber mount and make the car safer. Those 2 bolt 45 degree mounts have a habit of breaking, ask me how I know...................LOL |
#16
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Quote:
__________________
1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#17
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Read the old Pontiac racers hand book.
If you take and shim them slapper bars that you have they work great. Those are the same ones I use. I shim the back and the front and try to make them level with the ground. When shimming the car must be on it's own weight. Hope this helps. GT. |
#18
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Quote:
__________________
1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#19
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Well I made one run. Ran good until about 400 feet and lost fuel. Good ol mechanical fuel system. I also only have a half tank. I stopped at the closest gas station and they only had 87. Didn’t want to put that in, but now I wish I had added a couple gallons so I knew i was keeping the sump covered on acceleration.
Last year I ran 88, this one I massively improved my 60’ but only 82. I’m going to cool down and try to make one more pass. If the fuel system doesn’t give up on me I really think it has a 7.9 in it.
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1967 Firebird 462 580hp/590ftlbs 1962 Pontiac Catalina Safari Swapped in Turd of an Olds 455 Owner/Creator Catfish Motorsports https://www.youtube.com/@CatfishMotorsports |
#20
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Quote:
60 foot isn't too bad for a street car, 1.78 is respectable. I thought you had an in tank pump on that thing with 1/2" lines....?? |
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