How much to install ladder bars???

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70Dart499

70Dart499

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Looking to ditch my super stock springs in favor of ladder bars and coil overs. What's a ballpark figure for parts and labor, not doing anything but removig all the leaf spring stuff and putting in all the ladder bar stuff, car has already been mini tubbed so that's not going to be necessary. Going to take the car to one of our local reputable shops Friday to get an estimate and I want to have a ballpark figure in mind. Thanks.
 
Look on Competion Engineering's website. You can at least know about what the parts will cost.
 
different shops have different prices.if you can weld i would do it myself.
 
Shocks alone can range from $300/pr to $1000/pr

I wouldn't be surprised if the quote was anywhere from 2500-4000
 
Wouldn't mind trying to do it myself, but I don't know how to weld as well enough to do that kind of work, Not to mention the lack of a lift in order to make things easier.
 
70Dart499 said:
Wouldn't mind trying to do it myself, but I don't know how to weld as well enough to do that kind of work, Not to mention the lack of a lift in order to make things easier.
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i dont know how to weld either..LOL....I had the car on 4 jack stands...LOL....it can be done...

tape meaure...carpenter square,..a couple of levels...couple of floor jacks...inclinometer...not alot of specail tools....
 

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chop saw....and metal ruler...

i used the old leaf spring to keep the rear center in the car....
 

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I didn't see a mention of frame connectors, but if you don't have them i would consider adding them also while your in there. I think crackedback is pretty close with his number. I do know that labor rates tended to be lower in fall and winter (off season) up north when i was there, but that may not be the case where you are.
 
Well im going to see what they say, I was thinking in the 2000 to 2500 range, anything more than that and I will look into other options.
 
OldmanRick said:
I didn't see a mention of frame connectors, but if you don't have them i would consider adding them also while your in there. I think crackedback is pretty close with his number. I do know that labor rates tended to be lower in fall and winter (off season) up north when i was there, but that may not be the case where you are.
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We are in off season now, I do have frame connectors just forgot to mention it.
 
70Dart499 said:
We are in off season now, I do have frame connectors just forgot to mention it.
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Hope you are on the lower end. The fact that you are going with coilovers instead of floating leafs may bring up a discussion of a 4-link instead. If that's the case i would listen to there reasoning and see what you think. I'm not recommending it, just a heads up that the shop may give you some options.
 
Have you thought about Cal tracs and mono leafs? They're a frigging ton cheaper and awesome.

Install is a ton easier too.
 
IMO, with the current SS springs, you have a shock control issue right now based on what I've read. A set of good shocks will help, not those CE tubes impersonating a shock... :)
 
LXguy said:
Have you thought about Cal tracs and mono leafs? They're a frigging ton cheaper and awesome.

Install is a ton easier too.
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Yes, I have, but are they really that much cheaper? I see chassis engineering has a ladder bar kit for $740 complete with everything, Cal Tracs aren't much less, but they are less to install I guess. Someone that had this car before me put frigging leaf spring sliders on the back so I would have to get rid of those and get shackles back on there. I don't know, but I'm going to do something, I'm sick of fighting with these super stock springs.
 
crackedback said:
IMO, with the current SS springs, you have a shock control issue right now based on what I've read. A set of good shocks will help, not those CE tubes impersonating a shock... :)
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I have tried everything and I've just had it, I don't know what shocks to buy, I mean what do I need $300 double adjustables?!
 
What's it actually 60'?

You haven't tried everything, maybe with the stuff that came bolted to the car. Junk shocks... Good shocks make a world of difference.

Read this for some ideas on what works. Joe doesn't like Cal Tracs.... His car only goes 1.47 60's with a bunch more left with nothing fancy.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=122763
 
I ran a few calculation formula's and the 11.18@120 that's in your signature looks like you getting a lot out of the package you have now. I sence a frustration, but not sure what the exact problem is?
 
crackedback said:
What's it actually 60'?

You haven't tried everything, maybe with the stuff that came bolted to the car. Junk shocks... Good shocks make a world of difference.

Read this for some ideas on what works. Joe doesn't like Cal Tracs.... His car only goes 1.47 60's with a bunch more left with nothing fancy.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=122763
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It 60' all over the place anywhere from 1.61 to 1.75, and it doesn't matter what it 60' it still has this horrible bounce about 60' out that last For about 30'. I have heard 100 different opinions on shocks from $10 truck shocks all the way up to $300 double adjustables. This car has spring sliders on it & I don't know if they are causing the problem or if it's the shocks? I'm just fed up with doing all of these things and none of it is working. I would hate to spend lots of cash on good shocks and that doesn't fix it, maybe my motor just makes too much power or torque for the SS springs.
 
Problem solved.....If your running sliders with nothing more then a snubber that's it. There's no control of the housing at all. Remove the sliding perches and get a reasonable cost pair of adjustable shocks.
 
70Dart499 said:
It 60' all over the place anywhere from 1.61 to 1.75, and it doesn't matter what it 60' it still has this horrible bounce about 60' out that last For about 30'. I have heard 100 different opinions on shocks from $10 truck shocks all the way up to $300 double adjustables. This car has spring sliders on it & I don't know if they are causing the problem or if it's the shocks? I'm just fed up with doing all of these things and none of it is working. I would hate to spend lots of cash on good shocks and that doesn't fix it, maybe my motor just makes too much power or torque for the SS springs.
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Making a car go takes WORK! Too much power, not when there are cars running mid 9's at 145 with SS springs. Based on the 1/8 mph, it should be in the high 1.4 and it not good currently in the first 60'. That's where the hard work to get a car to move is applied. Should be a 10.8x car in the 122-124 range.

If it's bouncing out 100 feet you have a restriction, or, more likely, a Shock control issue.

If it has a snubber on it take it off.

The front of the slider is where I'd pay attention to any restriction. The rear of the spring bows up pretty hard pulling the eye FORWARD. If the spring sitting in a static state is near the rear of the slider, hitting the front of it may not be an issue. Back to those crappy shocks. IMO, shocks are one of the most important pieces in the car from a drag race standpoint.

I'd find out why it's acting the way it is before throwing the baby out with the bathwater. You are planning on potentially spending 2k+ on a ladder bar kit when something much less might solve the issue. You don't know unless you try. I'd find someone with a set of Ranchos you can borrow to try.

Good luck with it.
 
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