I did a search but didn't find what I needed. I know the torque tube acts as part of the suspension. I have read that when switching to an open drive line, a decent small block can wrap up the stock springs with even moderate abuse. Would traction bars on stock springs be considered correct for a early 60s street/strip car? Or did they switch to a beefier spring back in the day? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Technically, the torque tube has nothing to do with the suspension. It does control axle/spring 'wrap up' as you point out. Lots of cars from that era, that did NOT have torque tube driveline, had problems with leaf springs that could not control the axle under hard acceleration and that did give rise to the popularity of traction bars (Traction Master was a big name at the time). So, are you planning to moderately abuse, or worse ? Traction bars are period items and spring packs were also beefed up as you mention. The downside to that is, to be effective, the spring has to be really stiff and ride quality goes out the window. For dedicated race cars..no problem, but if your spend much of your time on the street, comfort probably deserves some consideration. Ray
I abused my stock spring V8 49 sedan pretty good and never experienced any problems. did a few good burnouts and never felt any wheel hop or axle wrap problems. your mileage may vary. all burnouts done by a professional driver on a closed course.
Yeah My 41 Chevy stock springs were pretty stout too, I would not worry about spring wrap-up to much, latter if you find You need them then make up some traction bars, mine were made from 2 59 Chevy panhard bars, with brackets that let them pivot at the front eye of the rear springs, very period and home grown, just do it and work it out as You go, and have fun. Von Doc
I doubt you will be putting a wide enough tire on a your '49 Chevy to have a problem with the springs wrapping up. If you would cut the wheel openings or pro-street it and get a wide tire on it then you may have problems, but the widest tire you will get under it is about 7". It will go up in smoke before the springs wrap up.
On the nephews 51 Bus Coupe, that I gave to him, we mounted a rebuilt, 56, 4.88 geared, Positraction, complete rear end; used 56 application, ******* type, traction bars; and coil wrapped, overload spring type shocks. Those shocks alone raised the car 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Pretty much took care of any body roll and spring wrap up. I think the aftermarket, rear spring "kits" are entirely over rated, and not needed for most applications, but that's JMO. But, if you really have money burning a hole in your pocket, they do look, and probably function, pretty good. The rear tires are P295/R15's and are TEN inches wide tread width, mounted on 15 X 7 Cragar S/S wheels; the fronts are 15 X 4 with skinny radials. The front suspension has been blocked up 2 inches for a "street g***er" look. Oh, I recently sold a ChevyTalk.Org member from the 49-54 forum a NOS pair of the same Monroe overload spring shocks, and Tri-Five shock mount plates, we used on the nephews 51 (not the plates), as he was swapping to an open driveline and questioned the rear spring, stock VS aftermarket issue. He's happy with what they did for his car also, with a hopped up 235/3-speed combo. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
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