Don R.

I'm remotely looking at a car (non-Olds) that looks stock on the outside but has been completely back-halved to tuck giant rear tires underneath. The rear suspension is complete drag race style with adjustable ladder bars, coil-over shocks. and a panhard bar. I've never driven anything like this, is it capable of being driven on the street safely? I'm not talking about racing it, just normal cruising.

rustyroger

Someone I know over here was cruising in his tubbed out drag style Dodge Challenger when a tire came off its rim and he rolled it. He was on a straight road, just cruising - he didn't have his foot in it - at 40 mph when it happened.
I dare say it was a freak accident, he was very meticulous about keeping everything in tip top shape, but be warned.

Roger.

MDchanic

My Chevelle had ladder bars when I got it, back in high school

It handled just fine, so long as you didn't want to go around any corners.

I chucked 'em quick.

- Eric

Rallye469

I'm not sure the ladder bars specifically will be the problem.
Are you talking about a narrowed rear with huge steam rollers for tires?
Like a pro street would have?
Does it have a spool?

Can't imagine anything like that will be fun to drive around corners, but if it's well maintained and you know the vehicles limits...

-pete

TripDeuces

It's perfectly safe but the ride will be rougher.

Koda

I'd be careful going any which way but straight. And in the rain.

Oldsmaniac

If you are talking about the old style NMW or Lakewood ladder bars alone they will have no real effect on cornering or driveability.

Don R.

This is a full-on back half, tubs, roll cage, narrowed frame and rear, giant MT Sportsman tires. No stock suspension remains. Supposed to have a posi rear, no spool.

Lonestar

^agreed, have owned a ladder bar/panhard "street car" since the late '60's. To the OP, if it has a spool in it simply change to a extreme duty limited slip differential eg, a Moroso brute strength. If hp levels are fairly stock, a factory limited slip will suffice. Sounds like a fun ride


Edit: Sorry Don R., missed your post about the posi while I was replying...

Don R.

Thanks for the response but I have wimped out and will leave this for someone else. It's a 1964 Dodge Polara with a built 440, manual shift Torqueflite, and 4:56 gears:


https://www.facebook.com/HarwoodMoto...type=1&theater

oldcutlass

Nice car for the money, does not mention ladder bars and usually don't find them on cars with leaf springs.

chadman

Tons of cars were built with ladder bars and leaf springs. It was real popular years ago before the mass availability of aftermarket coil over shocks. Typically a slider is installed so the leaf spring is no longer used to locate the rear and only used to support the cars weight. FYI.

Lonestar

QFT^, and the OP's post stated it is a coil over setup.. pic is from seller's website.

oldcutlass

Went to the Harwood site, I love B bodies. Nice old school setup.
http://www.harwoodmotors.com/vehicle...ils.php?id=524

chadman

I just noticed something after looking at that picture. The ladder bars are installed upside down.