torsion bars / drag racing
Yeah, it's still double speak to me.
It's like the OP says ; you got about 1600# to deal with. To achieve a certain ride height, You can use a thick bar with a little preload, or a thin bar with a lotta preload.
I'm not the brightest bulb in the closet, and I'm glad that the racing bug never bit me, cuz I'd be a loser for sure.
Oh wait! If the big bar lost it's preload before the front end got up, then it wouldn't be helping the motor any, now would it? Is that it? Did I learn sumpin today?