Options for an A body ladder bar PT Car

[hmartin]

Hi all.:drive: Since this is my first post I'm going to make it a doosy. My idea has been to make my 67 Chevelle which has been back halved with a Chassis Engineering ladder bar frame rail kit into a more driveable machine. What are my options suspension wise besides swapping back to a an original type frame. Any thoughts welcome:hmm: .

[baz67]

Well, the ladder bar is the worse possible suspension you can put on a PT car. The design itself is causes incredible roll stiffness and bind. It works ok for a 1320 car, but if you have to turn hard forget about it. David Pozzi may pop in with an interesting story about a ladder bar car on a road coarse.

[David Pozzi]

Yes, it was an autocross that a drag prepped mid 60's pontiac ran. I saw the whole underside of the car in a turn, it almost flipped over! He had the old fashioned lift bars on it.

If the ladder bars were to converge at the front like truck arms, there is hope it would work.
David

[TLWiltman]

Hi all.:drive: Since this is my first post I'm going to make it a doosy. My idea has been to make my 67 Chevelle which has been back halved with a Chassis Engineering ladder bar frame rail kit into a more driveable machine. What are my options suspension wise besides swapping back to a an original type frame. Any thoughts welcome:hmm: .
I'm not really knowledgable enough to go too far but... Converting to a 3-link SEEMS easiest. The ladder bar x-member is at about the right spot (in terms of link length) IIRC. A third link x-member shouldn't be too hard to figure out (The angle of the framerail looks more advantageous for that than say... a four-link framerail). Coil-over x-member is already there (mounting points may have to be widened to give a decent spring base). The framerails may also need to be cut off and moved outboard somewhat. I'm sure I'm missing something...

[Tony@AirRideTech]

They are correct about a ladder bar set up..... If you are running 1320 ft at a time, they will suit your needs but I will not even recommend them for a normal street driven vehicle. The inherandt nature of a ladder bar is to essentially bind/ lock the rear axle in a fixed location and those designs do not allow for any axle articualtion.

[hmartin]

:screwy: So basically I'm screwed and need to hunt another 67 frame or bend over and price aftermarket frames? I am doing an LS1, hopefully in the 400-430hp. range. I want something I can get on the intestate and cruise at 70-80mph. in comfort and also toss a corner once in a while on the local backroads. Strictly drag racing is out! I don't have time for it. Thanks for listening to me whine.

[silver69camaro]

:screwy: So basically I'm screwed and need to hunt another 67 frame or bend over and price aftermarket frames? I am doing an LS1, hopefully in the 400-430hp. range. I want something I can get on the intestate and cruise at 70-80mph. in comfort and also toss a corner once in a while on the local backroads. Strictly drag racing is out! I don't have time for it. Thanks for listening to me whine.

Not necessarily. I'd put the car up on jackstands and start taking measurements. Like a previous post said, you could possibly use the existing X-member for a triangulated 4-bar or a 3-link. The frame rails (assuming 2x3?) are probably strong enough to weld brackets and such to. I'd say there is a good possibility you would build something that would work well.

[hmartin]

Got any links or pictures of triangulated four bar suspension. The frame rails 2x3 box tubing. What type of shock do the four bars setups use? I have Aldan Eagle coilovers. Just a little in the dark and looking for some guidance. I don't want to make an expensive mistake.:pat:

[baz67]

http://www.artmorrison.com/index.cfm

[Gordz32]

:cool: 3 LINK IT!! Your Cars already cut. There aren't many a-bodies that I can fine with a 3-link. Good Luck

[hmartin]

Any pictures of a 3 link? Also has anybody heard of using Alstons Street ladder bars with urethane bushings? Just a thought.

[Mean 69]

You could look here for some pictures on a three link system.:)

Mark

www.lateral-dynamics.com (http://www.lateral-dynamics.com)

[Elusive R]

You can check the link in my sig for a few bad pictures of an ugly 3-link in an A-body.

Ryan

[hmartin]

I was checking out the Year One 67 Chevelle tonight and noticed it had ladder bars with the same type of heim joints as mine. What gives? I thoght that car was built for handling?

[silver69camaro]

I was checking out the Year One 67 Chevelle tonight and noticed it had ladder bars with the same type of heim joints as mine. What gives? I thoght that car was built for handling?

I've seen cars like that too. The only way I can explain it is misinformation to the builder/owner. Or they are incorporating bind from the ladder bars into their spring rate...