Ladder bar adjustment

Suspension Tuning, Troubleshooting, Design and Discussion

Moderators: David Lemmond, Dave Morgan

Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
dadnova
Posts: 296
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:57 am
Location: Nuevo, California

Ladder bar adjustment

#1 Post by dadnova » Thu May 31, 2007 8:53 pm

I keep reading how fast every ones 60 foot times are on small tires.
I have tried my ladder bars in different positions re- doing the pinion angle each time at 2 degrees and 60 foot is still 1.8 -2.
Slipping and sliding all the way down the track and running 7.5 @ 105 in the 1/8.
90-10s with trick springs in the front, coil overs in the rear with competition engineering 3 ways, I have been told these shocks are junk?

User avatar
John_Heard
Site Admin
Posts: 5734
Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 11:20 am
Location: Resume Speed, Kansas
Contact:

#2 Post by John_Heard » Thu May 31, 2007 9:26 pm

Do you have access to a video camera? If so can you post a launch video?

Starting with the basics, what tires do you have? How old are they? How much air pressure?

Goat Hearder
Posts: 81
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:45 pm
Location: Va Beach

#3 Post by Goat Hearder » Thu May 31, 2007 10:26 pm

We have coil sprung stock style rear. CE 3-Ways and airlift bags. Have just thougt car was not hooking well. Put on new 28x9 Hoosiers. Went to an all Pontiac event out here and found a photo the track photographer took. Had plenty of Hook! Murdering the tires! Will be going to an 1/8 that we run and try some shock changes and video. Some of the Pontiac guys were talking about Strange and QA1. Don't know what will end up with But after putting glass parts on and loosing 200 lbs we slowed! Will post and let know if CE 3 ways did anything.

User avatar
dadnova
Posts: 296
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:57 am
Location: Nuevo, California

#4 Post by dadnova » Thu May 31, 2007 10:56 pm

E.T. Streets 26x10.5 new 14 psi
3.70 rear with 2.45 first. Total gear ratio 9.06 a little tall I know.
4500 stall
Will up-date new times after Fridays racings to get the differance from top adjustment to bottom adjustment as the middle spot wasn't any better.
Tight string from bottom of rear tire through ladder bar front mount goes to rear of cam now.
Ladder bars, bottom bars are up 2 degres as car sits. I must cut and re-weld to lower more.
At top adjustment car fish tailed down the track.

User avatar
sc68z28
Posts: 189
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Riverside California

#5 Post by sc68z28 » Thu May 31, 2007 11:36 pm

I'll have a Vidio cam with me. We can't stay long, but hopefully we will both get some runs on vidio, and my daughter will help me post them later this week end :D
Also we can compare our ladderbar setups.

---Bill

User avatar
John_Heard
Site Admin
Posts: 5734
Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 11:20 am
Location: Resume Speed, Kansas
Contact:

#6 Post by John_Heard » Fri Jun 01, 2007 11:18 am

Ok, at least you have some fresh rubber on it. Get some video and let's see what the car is doing - also film your burnout procedure too if you can.
While you're at the track try dropping the rear pressure a little, 14 seems high.

Goat Hearder
Posts: 81
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:45 pm
Location: Va Beach

CE 3 way

#7 Post by Goat Hearder » Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:57 am

Tried out FRI. at locale test and tune. Accomplished more with tire press. than any shock adjustment. Car is to light in rear for stock springs and recent research puts us looking at coil over kits. Shock just seems to lack enough of an adjustment range. At least got back to an 1/8 @ 7.21!

User avatar
sc68z28
Posts: 189
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2006 8:28 pm
Location: Riverside California

#8 Post by sc68z28 » Mon Jun 04, 2007 2:01 pm

Dale, here is a link to some vidio of your car from Fri nite. It's not much but could help with your launch probs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szaz-ATJce4
Anything happen after I had to leave early, around 7:30 .
---Bill.

User avatar
dadnova
Posts: 296
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:57 am
Location: Nuevo, California

#9 Post by dadnova » Wed Jun 06, 2007 8:32 pm

The rear doesn't want to move. It looks like to me that the front starts coming up and then drops while the back drops very little only for a split second. As the back end pops right back up the front goes down and unloads the tires.

I turned the shocks upside down so the rod is at the bottom after Friday, now I can push the back down more and lift it as well.

User avatar
John_Heard
Site Admin
Posts: 5734
Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 11:20 am
Location: Resume Speed, Kansas
Contact:

#10 Post by John_Heard » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:16 pm

Looks like it might be able to use some more front end travel. What shocks do you have on the front?

User avatar
dadnova
Posts: 296
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:57 am
Location: Nuevo, California

#11 Post by dadnova » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:53 pm

I have 90-10s with trick springs up front. 3.70 rear gears on 26x10.5 tires rear. I can lift the front four inches by hand. Everyone is telling me shocks are 50% of the equation and that my Comp shocks are junk.
At 1.9 60 ft. I am just not hooking at all. Running 7.5 at 98 mph in the 1/8.
Last time out we were running 7.5 @ 105 mph with same 1.8 to 1.9 60 ft.??

I probably need to go to a 4.33 or 4.56 rear gear with 28x10.5 full slick.

User avatar
John_Heard
Site Admin
Posts: 5734
Joined: Thu May 12, 2005 11:20 am
Location: Resume Speed, Kansas
Contact:

#12 Post by John_Heard » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:58 pm

These are just suggestions - I think you could lower the front and pick up quite a bit of travel. You might also benefit from an adjustable shock in the front. You're using your limited travel all up pretty quickly from what I can tell, more travel and a slower rising shock might help.

I didn't see much movement on the rear, maybe your shock flip will let it plant the tire a bit more.

User avatar
dadnova
Posts: 296
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:57 am
Location: Nuevo, California

#13 Post by dadnova » Wed Jun 13, 2007 6:01 pm

Thanks for the Video Bill. Last weekend me and my son went shopping at a friends rich uncle's house. I bought a Fuel cell 20 gal. with foam fill and sending unit, as the car front end drops at about 45-60 feet and RPM goes down as well, thinking that with the stock tank upon take off the fuel goes to the back of the tank while the pick up is in the front. If the fuel pump is sucking any air this may lose pressure for a short time. Also bought a set of Art Morrison coil overs with springs with micro adjusters for the rear. A better trans cooler as well. Not bad for $260. With these shocks I can adjust them at the track with out removing them as before.

My son however bought a NEW, never started, Nascar stamped and sealed engine, MSD ignition system, MSD distributor, racing spark plugs, extra oil pan, $1200. dollar nascar worked carb, extra heads for:
ARE YOU SITTING DOWN $900.
As we were leaving he said why didn't the guy throw in the oil as well. :lol:
and that we should go to jail house and turn ourselves in for steeling.
:lol: :lol:

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests