Traction Bars Anyone?

Has anyone installed the Lakewood Lift Bars on their cars? I'm trying to get some feedback about how well they work.

Here is a link to the exact part... http://www.summitracing.com/parts/LAK-20188/

Dont have any real world expirence but I did alot of reading on them vs No Hop bars. I bought the no hop bars for my 69 442 because everyone that talked about them praised them where a few guys mentioned the traction bars didnt help all that much. I also went with the No Hop Bars because they are hidden and not nearly as ugly as the Traction bars.

Any one with real world expeirence chime in. Mine have been installed for a few years but Car hasnt been on the street or the track yet

I am also waiting for the answer to this question. JB

None on my car. I went with HD rear springs, rear sway bar, & a drag bag in the right spring for preload. Should be able to report how well it works out for me soon enough, but I gotta get some rear shocks & finish up a few mechanical things first.

How do traction bars even work with a 4 link suspension? Anyone have pics of the mounting position? Sounds like a set of boxed lowers would have the same effect.

They mount to the trailing arm location on the rear end and angle towards the frame. So in a leaf spring car with traction bars, the rubber nubbers hit agaist the front of the leafs, these press against the frame. Should work perfect to take the "Squat" out of my lauches at the track and load the tires twice as hard.

The previous owner of my 77 had put Hotchkis Boxed upper and lower contol arms on it. They went 11.50s with no traction problems. Tires are 11.5 wide ET Streets.

Prostreet,
What kind of times are your 60foot? and does it feel like its spinning? also could you throw out the specs on your car?

My 60' are crap!!! 1.7's. Definately spins the tires. Its kind of a harry launch. But even smoking the tires, I went 11.3. I'm hoping to drop my 60' and get into the high 10's.

Current Specs are:
468 cubes
10:1 Comp
Clay smith 304B (258 @ .050) .615 Lift
Crappy Stock Heads with 2.08 intakes but does have Stainless valves
Victor Jr. Intake with an 850 double pumper
MDS ignition
And Nitrous
Hooker Headers with 2" primaries, running through dual 3½" exhaust with dynomax bullets on them.

All runs through a B&M 400 tranny with a 3,500 stall, and a 12 bolt with 4.11s.
Track tires are Pheonix 28.5" x 14"wide Slicks. Stock suspension all the way around.

Personally I would invest in rear suspension, i think with as much power as you are putting to the tires traction bars will be a waste of time. Adjustable shocks and control arms would be first on my list. How much PSI in the slicks?

Already tried adjustable shocks and they didn't work. Tried air shocks, not so much either. I think these bars should do the trick! The rear wads up so bad at the lauch and this should eliminate that and the bars also put more pressure on the tires for added traction.

I tried all different air pressures from 9 -15. Running 10½ lbs, then heating them up and flashing the converter is working the best right now.

I went back & watched your video a couple of times. To me it looks like your rear is set up too soft & you don't get much weight transfer from the front. That's the main thing that keeps popping in my head. Sure these bars could work, but are they a band-aid fix to a potential problem elsewhere? Might double check with the company to make sure they will work without boxed lower control arms or you could end up bending them.

My suggestion is to get a set of drag bags or stiffer springs with boxed LCAs. The bags are cheap enough & you can adjust the psi to suit your needs. I'm not talking about the air shocks, but the bags that actually go inside the coil springs. Big difference! Some F40 springs, 9C1 Caprice springs, or possibly even the JCW springs like I have would firm up the rear for cheaper than these bars. JMHO

You have a video of it? where would i find it?

I already have the bars and am about to install them. I will definately keep your idea in mind. Sounds like another great solution and I might end up there. But since I have these, I might as well give them a shot.

And here is the video.

Ok let us know ur results! Jw when are you spraying the juice? is it right off the line?

Hell ya! I thought about the progressive controllers but I've setup a few cars this way and it works great. I set up a nova that ran consistant 10.0s with a 200 shot right off the line. I've also seen guys hit the NOS after the launch without a controller and thats just plain scary! I've seen to many go straight for the wall.

Progessive would probably make that thing hook up. 2 seconds out and heck with out spraying until after the 60 you could very well pick up in the 60. whats the car running in the 1/8th?