http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?lang=-1&catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=13187


Anyone try these bars on a Gen I. I plan on installing ladder bars in my 69. The cars is mainly used on the street so I'm keeping the back seat, but with standard ladder bars the rear end doesn't pivot without binding. This isn't a big problem when running 5psi in drag slicks as the tires can compensate for some of the pivot, but with street tires there isn't much give. It seems like these would be the ticket for street and strip as they allow the rear axle to pivot yet you can bolt them solid for strip use.

Note: I'm running 3" exhaust 295, T/A with the factory leafs pulled in which means I have a 12 gallon tank. I want to go back to a full size factory tank without running smaller tires or exhaust so the Leafs have to go and the Ladder bars seem to be the best option. I've looked at custom gas tanks but at $900 it seems like improving the suspention would be cheaper and actually provide some preformace gains.

Thanks



http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?lang=-1&catalogId=10002&storeId=10001&categoryId=13187

I am not sure I understand your current setup...what year is the car? Does it have a fuel cell in it? Does it still have leaf springs, they have just been moved inboard?

I know ladder bars are no good for the street and there are plenty of leaf spring traction devices that are cheaper and work well on the street. Slapper bars from Competition Engineering, SSM lift bars, CalTracs....

To make a long story short I've had the 69 camaro for over 20 years, bought it when I was still going to school. I raced it back when it was nothing more than an old camaro (57 chevy's & 63 Impala's were the collectors). Got to the point were I needed a roll bar so I built a Vega. I have been slowly bring the camaro back from a 12 to 1 350/th350 to a FI 454 with a TKO Anyways it has a stock gas tank narrowed up 10 inches (a LOT of work and only hold about 12 gal.) The backs of the leaf springs moved in with a 9" Ford w/traction bars and 3" exhaust. In order to put a full size gas tank in I would have to move the leaf springs back, install a new rear end, run smaller tires and redo exhaust in 2". There is nothing wrong with current setup except I want to make it a daily driver. So far so good 80mph @ 2400 rpm is sweet, but filling up every 80 miles is getting old.

The Jegster Bars will allow me to install full size tank, keep current exhaust, rear end, tire size and not butcher up the floor or back seat. Plus they appear to work independant of each other unlike a traditional ladder bar setup, at least that how I read it and why I'm looking for first hand exsperience.

Thanks

Ok, so you are going back to leaf springs in the factory location with a factory dimension rear end? I sure would not do ladder bars.

If I were you I would buy a set of $139 Competition Engineering j-bolt slapper bars and be done with it.

That bar in your link is some sort of universal fit deal...i.e. not made specifically for a 69 Camaro. Who knows what modifications you might have to make to it to install it? weld in? I don't know....

In fact, I just took off a set of CE bars on my 69 as I went with Caltracs. I might be selling them if you are interested.

I was just gonna say that all this seems like a lotta money and work when good old "slappers" will reach deep into the tens..

pdq67

Hey guys - I use these bars in my 69. I did because I wanted to retain the rear seat, and not use a fuel cell.

Mini-tubbed the car for M/T 31-16.5-15 sportsmans or 30 x 13 slicks.

Used coil-overs in rear for more room.

Custom crossmember ends up about in the center of rear floors. Welded on the ends to the frame connectors. 2 pieces of 4" square tube welded into crossmember for exhaust to pass thru.

My old floorpans were shot anyway, so cutting in the new ones wasn't that much more work.

Stock fuel tank just fits, rear seat just fits, exhaust isn't visible, very little of the bars are visible.

The upper adjuster on the bars sets pinion angle without binding, although I made a beefier pair out of 1" hex stock.

Originally used a pair of M/T 29-15.5-15 sportsmans, then went up to the 31-16.5-15. With the 29's I could use the articulating function of the bars. The 31's , however require both sides locked tight, so it now handles like a ladder bar setup, because of space limitations.

Used a wishbone to locate rearend. Tried a diagonal, but exhaust interfered.

Car is kinda heavy( all iron 468/tko). 3600 lb without driver.

Went to the track in July, car wheelied first 3 passes on slicks.......nice hook.

Have a few pics of the installed bars + finished car.

Don't know how to post pics, but my e-mail is fishcandy@bex.net

Hope this helps........................DC

Thanks Don for the reply that's just the info I'm looking for. Do you have a roll bar/cage in your car?

For those who seem hell bond on talking me into slapper bars you may want to re-read my post ("with a 9" Ford w/traction bars"). I was looking to see if anyone ran these bars not if my current leaf/traction bar setup works, I already know it works. I've been drag racing for over twenty years and built two NHRA Chassis Certified cars from the ground up one ladder bar and one 4 link so installing a pair of universal ladder bars wasn't the issue either. Just wanted to know if anyone has used them. I know you all mean well but please read the post as written.

If anyone else has used these bars more input would be nice.

Thanks

OK.

Now, just how do these things work??

Are the front mounts made to pivot inboard of the leaf springs at the front leaf spring mounts?

Or are these used w/o leaf springs and just with coil-overs and a panhard-bar much like a HTH set-up, but with parallel drive struts vs the angled drive struts like the HTH set-up uses?? (I.e., ladder bar-style?)...

I have always wondered what would happen if the drive struts used in the HTH set-up were made to come directly straight back off the S/F ends instead of angled but I don't recall anybody ever telling me why this isn't done...

And sorry for bringing up the slappers..

pdq67

Chris - my car has a modified 4 point roll bar(4 pt + 2 legs coming down from seat belt bar that tie into the ladder bar crossmember.)

PDQ - I believe the front mounts are farther forward than where my leaf spring mounts were. Don't know how well they'd work with leafs. Yes, they're kinda like a straight HTH setup.

Chris - This was actually a bunch of work, just to stuff in the big tires, but I'm very happy with the end result. Most folks are suprised to see the rear seat, and no fuel cell.

I'll try to e-mail some pics friday.............................DC

Thanks Don.

I've never seen a set-up like this, but only ladder-bars!

I have always wondered what a rear suspension would be like that would be made by................

Lengthening our S/F's and then installing quarter elliptic leaf springs in the ends in STRONG MOUNTS and then using "ball" swivels at the housing on each side to hook the free ends of the quarter leaf's to and then running a Watts linkage to keep everything square. And of course, shocks as needed/wanted too..

pdq67

Chris - I e-mailed some pics, hope they're helpful.

PDQ - That rear suspension idea sounds like it should work.
On my suspension, a heim joint on the front of the bars instead of the
poly mount would make set up easier.

Rain was threatening today, but I took it out for a spin anyway. What a blast to drive now that it's cooler outside!............................DC