anyone running ladders & leafs?

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ssba

ssba

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Ended up with a narrowed b-body Dana with ladder bars I want to use in a 68 fastback
drag only car. Unsure of what kind of car it was built for but I believe it could have been
done a little nicer. Welds arn't the nicest or that professional looking & ect. So I'd
like to strip it down and start over to end up with a safe old school working
suspension.
Does anyone out there still have a ladder leaf suspension under their
car to post a picture or two?
Or did anyone have a car that was set up like this in the past they might like to talk about here to shed some light on the design?
I could use some help getting this working properly from a design point of view. Got the welding and fab skills down.
No offence meant to the guys who want to update this to 4-link, cal tracks or even coil
overs. That's not what I'm after.
I want this to be built like 1971 or so when NHRA rules mandated leaf springs on cars that came with them from the factory.
I realize it is a heavy design carrying the weight of two separate suspensions. I'm ok with that.
Here's a couple pictures of what I'm starting with.
I have already moved the wells to the rails and springs into the rails.
I also have stretched the wheel openings to hold a 31" tire.
Or should I just use the SS springs and hope it goes straight?
 
looks like it has mounts for coil over shocks behind the axle...looks like the competition engineering coil over shocks...

if you run ladder bars and leaf springs..you will need a floater for the leaf springs ..
 
Look at the leaf link design in the mopar chassis book. You may get some ideas there.
 
Yes it has coil spring mounts on it now. I want to cut everything off the tubes
and start clean. Trying to settle on a good plan first.
I have studied the missile car pretty well. It sets really low in the front.
My car has a very deep wet sump pan and cannot be that low.
The rear of the missile is fairly low also. The tire diameter raised it up a lot.
With the leaf link the axle is mounted quite a bit above the spring lowering the body.
Carlton's Cuda has always been one of my favorites.
I was thinking the ladders with sliders might get my car where I need to be to keep
the pan and headers off the concrete.
Anyone ever get a good look under kens SS 68? It likely has leafs and?
Thanks & keep the ideas coming.
 
1- you need to install an adjuster in the ladder bars or you will have to remove them every time you change the ladder bar mounting point or pinion angle. not a fun job to do.

2- use a slider with the big roller in it to get best performance.

3- you need to use the weakest leaf springs you can find.

4- use the longest adjustable shock you can find also or a pick-up truck shock.
 
leaf link- always keep plenty on extra main leaves on hand as they break often and use the diagram in the dc book to build them by like was already mentioned.
 
I know of a El Camino,harboring ,a 572 Rat.(project) ,all home built. Might take me a few days,I'll grab pictures. (just the basics...).
 
bOb shingler said:
1- you need to install an adjuster in the ladder bars or you will have to remove them every time you change the ladder bar mounting point or pinion angle. not a fun job to do.

2- use a slider with the big roller in it to get best performance.

3- you need to use the weakest leaf springs you can find.

4- use the longest adjustable shock you can find also or a pick-up truck shock.
Click to expand...

Thanks for these tips, Bob. Couple questions though.
1- With ya on the adjuster, didn't think of that.
2- On the slider, are you talking as the rear shackle substitute
or under the axle tube? Floater? If I'm using the correct term?
I believe I've seen both kinds used but could be wrong on this.
3- re-arching a stock main leaf (single leaf) to get the rear of
the body up off the tires? Or multiple leaves? (Spring pack)
I guess what I'm asking is it possible to go to soft?
4- competition engineering? I have heard of using a pair of
used (weak) truck shocks for the extended reach needed.
Sorry for the newbe questions. I have 0 experience with ladder bars.
 
I didn't mean the rear shackles. they have big brackets on both side welded to the housing to adjust height and roller brackets bolted to the springs so the housing moves back and forth so the two suspensions don't bind. you just need enough spring to hold the hotrod up and you adjust height as mentioned, no need to do anything to the springs. use the stock rear shackle as this set-up can get plenty of rear body raise. you will be trying to get 5"-6" to hook good. in the front use a 90-10 shock to get it up to it's fullest.

you may have to really search for the ones with the big roller on the net. I found several other type with the adjustable height brackets but not the one with big roller.
 
SSBA posted : Won't turn down a picture if ya got em.
I'll get them for you,be patient. (holiday weekend).
 
Abodybomber said:
SSBA posted : Won't turn down a picture if ya got em.
I'll get them for you,be patient. (holiday weekend).
Click to expand...

Cool, no hurry here. Still trying to figure out how to fab this together.
You have a great Thanksgiving
 
bOb shingler said:
I didn't mean the rear shackles. they have big brackets on both side welded to the housing to adjust height and roller brackets bolted to the springs so the housing moves back and forth so the two suspensions don't bind. you just need enough spring to hold the hotrod up and you adjust height as mentioned, no need to do anything to the springs. use the stock rear shackle as this set-up can get plenty of rear body raise. you will be trying to get 5"-6" to hook good. in the front use a 90-10 shock to get it up to it's fullest.

you may have to really search for the ones with the big roller on the net. I found several other type with the adjustable height brackets but not the one with big roller.
Click to expand...

Thanks for jumping in Bob, sounds like you really know your way around getting a car like this to hook up. Could you direct me to a site that could give me a visual even if the rollers are not as large. As they say " a picture is worth a thousand words"
Have a nice holiday tomorrow.
 
years ago I had a 68 cuda that had a 4 link,with leaf springs and housing floater,another car I wish I never sold
 
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