[jay bird 455]

I have a 70 firebird that needs alot of work.I want to make it more strip then street.The rear frame rails are rusty an should be replaced s+w makes a 2 by3 box frame rail that you can still use your leaf springs i want to mini tubb while im at it.Or should i just get a pre welded ladder bar frame kit.Thanks for any info thats shared

[ponjohn]

I guess the only reason at the point you are to keep leaf springs if the ladder bars disqualified you from a certain class.

Guys have gone very quick with leafs and caltracs.

I ran Caltracs but will be trying Assassin bars on this build.

[jay bird 455]

Im just goingvto bracket race it.

[Scott Stoneburg]

Cal-tracs work great and they are a simple install.

[ejw]

If going new frame rails why not 4 link for adjustabilite.

[ponyakr]

Depends on how much power you have and how quick you wanna go.

We won lots of bracket races, using slappers. I even made one set, out of square tubing. But, we only had about 400hp/500 torque, and running mid to high 12's.

A lot depends on how sticky your tires are, and how sticky the track is, where you'll be running.

In 2008 my 455 Ventura bracket car ran 7.30's on our local 1/8 mile track. About the same power level, but with 4.10 gears & a 10" converter. It had ladder bars & almost wore out 9" slicks. Hooked every pass. Our old slapper bar cars would not have hooked up at all, with those tires. So, ladder bars are much better.

And there are lots of cars running 9's, with Cal Tracs.

And then, there are those guys who can dial in the stock type leaf spring suspension enuff to run unbelievable ET's, on narrow, hard street tires.

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/11-se...e-stock-drags/

http://www.fastdrags.com/11.html

http://classracer.com/magazine/?p=5493

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hppp-...tiac-firebird/

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hppp-...orwalk-part-1/

http://www.hotrod.com/articles/facto...e-stock-drags/

[ejw]

I agree, I 60' 1.33 on 30x9 and leafs, but if he has to put new frame rails in anyway and minitub, going w s&w for drag car, not sure I'd stay w leafs.
I'd call s&w and a few other chassis shops and pick their brains.

[jay bird 455]

Thanks for all the info.I did call S+W.The tech guy said the most simplest thing to do is get there 2by3 boxed frame frame rails an keep my factory floor an use caltracks.I had a 74 GTO that ran 10.30s on caltracs.The motor i have will probably make around 630 hp with elderbrock round ports.But i have a set kaffum poreted tall ports for later down the road

[Johnny406]

If interested, I'm about to have a set of Smithcraft Racing Assassin bars for sale. They work great, my problem with running a short tire that I have some clearance issues.

[Probird]

Nothing wrong with mini tub, move the leaf springs in, and use ladder bars. If you do go that route you will need to use housing floaters so it won't try to wind up the leaf springs. My car is set up this way. It works pretty darn good.

[Skip Fix]

Originally Posted by Probird

Nothing wrong with mini tub, move the leaf springs in, and use ladder bars. If you do go that route you will need to use housing floaters so it won't try to wind up the leaf springs. My car is set up this way. It works pretty darn good.

What he said about floaters. That is how most of the Super Stockers set up in the 70s and early 80s having to keep some factory rear suspension(JB Cleggs SD Firebird was back then now a 4 link). the ladder bsrs and leaf springs often have slightly different lengths so the floater allow it not to bind.

[jay bird 455]

If i didnt have to put rear frame rails in.It will be a no brainer to go with caltracs an a 28x10 slick.But im with ejw if im going to do that much work i might as well just t back half it.A 315 would look killer under it an work well.I would go with ladder bars

[charlie66]

Originally Posted by Probird

Nothing wrong with mini tub, move the leaf springs in, and use ladder bars. If you do go that route you will need to use housing floaters so it won't try to wind up the leaf springs. My car is set up this way. It works pretty darn good.

Do you have any pictures? I would like to see what you're talking about..

[Probird]

Originally Posted by charlie66

Do you have any pictures? I would like to see what you're talking about..

Here is what mine looks like. It's hard to get a good pic with the wheels on. It sandwiches the leafspring and the axle tube goes through it. When the rear end rotates it doesn't try to wrap up the spring since it it floating it the mount.