[98 SNAKE EATER]

About to start the Frame off Resto on my 70 T/A and I'm trying to sort out a few things with the suspension....

When I first bought it, I had severe wheel hop when launching and going through the gears hard

I replaced all of the old bushings, links and shocks many years ago, but it still didn't help the wheel hop problem

Then I picked up a set of Traction Bars and all of the hop was gone

However, although they seem to be working very well, they look like dog$h!t

They hang down quite low and is downright scary to drive in a parking lot full of speed bumps

Is there a stealth way to stop the hop without making any hardcore visible changes?

I really don't want to go to the trouble of changing the rear to a 4-Link at this time, so is there anything I can add to the existing leaf spring suspension to help stop the hop?




Rick

[Hot Rod/SS]

Rick: I would try comp engineering's slide a link traction bars. They are adjustable and take up less room than a standard traction bar.

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Thanx man

I'm actually gunna attempt to make my own set of Slide A Links using the existing traction bars


Just gotta break out the sawzall, drill and Mig....






Rick

[jimfulco]

Some 1st-Generation Firebirds used a leaf spring with 3 full-length leaves, and 2 more half-leaves on the front to give more resistance to spring wrapup. They won't swap into yours, but maybe a spring place could make some that do.

[redcamaro4spd]

well I hate to bring back an old post, but how'd it go? I am finally starting to trust launching my car harder and I got wheel hop today for the first time, just with a little 305, 4 spd, 2.73 rear...Anyway its really annoying and Im sure not good for the car, so lets hear how it all went...

[poncho62]

Try clamping the front half of the leaf springs. This will stiffen them, which should help the wheelhop.

[redcamaro4spd]

sorry to sound stupid, but what do you mean by "clamping" the front part of the leaf springs. Like what materials would I use and stuff? Thanks man...P.S. I should mention the tires on the car are 205/70/14 so they arent soft at all, which prolly isn't helping, and the new 355 engine wont help other...

[poncho62]

Originally posted by redcamaro4spd
sorry to sound stupid, but what do you mean by "clamping" the front part of the leaf springs. Like what materials would I use and stuff? Thanks man...P.S. I should mention the tires on the car are 205/70/14 so they arent soft at all, which prolly isn't helping, and the new 355 engine wont help other...

By clamping, I mean, take 2 strips of steel, with 2 holes in each. One goes on top of the spring, one on the bottom, with 2 bolts clamping them together. Put a couple of these on each spring.
When springs wrap up from torque, they tend to separate from each other. These clamps help stop this, by holding them together. Hope I explained it OK.

By the way, is this car lifted in the rear? ....air shocks, shackles etc.

I found that raised cars have more problems with wheel hop.

[redcamaro4spd]

yeh i got what u mean now man, thanks u explained it very clearly. And yes, the car has Gabriel Hijackers (installed prior to me buying the car). They are only around 60 psi in each side, its just enough to keep the car level and the mufflers and such a few inches off the ground. I'm sure that this is at least part of the cause, but I am not really sure what else I could put back there?

[poncho62]

In 1972, I had a 70 SS454 Chevelle. Of course, I had the wide polyglass tires with reverse wheels. Had to use air shocks to lift it.....Well, talk about wheelhop city. Couldn't get rid of it until I lowered the car back to stock height. I think those GM engineers may know a little something that we don't.

[astroracer]

Check out the CalTrac bars here...
http://www.calvertracing.com/
They will work very well. I am in the process of making a pair for my astro van. I have about $100 bucks into all of the rod ends, bushings and tubing to make them. Holler if you want some part numbers.
Mark

[Altered Image]

The stiffer the springs the less wheel hop you will get . Wheel hop comes from when the spring curls up looking like a s almost then releases then wraps and releases and so on. I belive the early 2nd gens sat very low in the rear from the factory probbably to combat this problem. With a softer tire it will hapen more also since the tire will have more bite.

[redcamaro4spd]

yeh, thanks for the suggestions folks. I dunno what to try, I will prolly start by seeing what happens if I clamp the springs. When I get some more cash I may look into caltracs...

[98 SNAKE EATER]

There's a GP on Cal-Tracs going on right now at Performance Years.com


I'm getting in on it myself....