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Author Topic:   Slide-A-Link???
65_289
Gearhead

Posts: 701
From:
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 09-23-2001 08:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 65_289   Click Here to Email 65_289     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Last time at the track, I think I might have had a little wheel hop when I did my burnout. So, I have decided to get some traction bars. I have seen Cal-Tracs, and they look good, but expensive. I have also seen these "Slide-A-Link" bars from CE. They look easier to install than the Cal-Tracs. Are they any good? Anyone have any experince with them?

OR, should I just save my money (to buy some shocks) and buy some $100 Lakewood slappers or SSM lift bars?

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1965 Coupe, Tremec 3550, Steeda Tri-Ax, Cable Clutch conversion, 3.25 gears, Ford XB3 longblock, x303 heads, B-Cam, 9:1 comp., Ford Racing high-torque starter, Pertronix Ignitor & Flamethrower coil, Accel 8.8mm wires, 650 double pumper, Edelbrock RPM intake, K&N air, Holley electric fuel pump & AFPR, dual 2-chamber Flowmasters, KYB shocks, 5-leaf springs, Chrome Export Brace, Griffen Radiator, Comp. Eng. subs.

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chips67
Gearhead

Posts: 651
From: louisville, ky, usa
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 09-23-2001 08:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for chips67   Click Here to Email chips67     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
i dont know anybody running those slide-a-links, but they look like cal-tracs. imo, go with the ce slappers or the good ones from lakewood. shocks and drag spring later.

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67 coupe, 650dp and rpm intake on 5.0 with afr 165 heads, 4 speed, 4.11's.....best so far is [email protected] in 1/8 mile with 1.79 60ft. time.

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65_289
Gearhead

Posts: 701
From:
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 09-23-2001 08:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 65_289   Click Here to Email 65_289     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by chips67:
i dont know anybody running those slide-a-links, but they look like cal-tracs. imo, go with the ce slappers or the good ones from lakewood. shocks and drag spring later.


Cool. I was just curious if anyone knew anything.

When you say socks and drag springs later, do you mean that I might not need them and should hold off? Because I was considering buying the bars and sfront socks at the same time.


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capri man
Gearhead

Posts: 2689
From: doerun, ga.
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-23-2001 09:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for capri man   Click Here to Email capri man     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
i think the cheap traction bars will work fine. just remember, when you start to do a burnout dont baby it, go ahead and hit it hard and it probably wont hop. good luck

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mike r
racing is real
everything else is just a game.
81 capri-7.56 @88mph 1/8
1.56 60 ft.

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Moneymaker
Administrator

Posts: 18704
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 09-24-2001 03:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Cal-Tracs are great, Comp Engineering Slide-a Links are better and more expensive. John Calvert actually copied the Slide-a-Link concept. Either is a far better alternative to the slapper bar or SS/M units.

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Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator
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65_289
Gearhead

Posts: 701
From:
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 09-24-2001 04:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 65_289   Click Here to Email 65_289     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Moneymaker:
Cal-Tracs are great, Comp Engineering Slide-a Links are better and more expensive. John Calvert actually copied the Slide-a-Link concept. Either is a far better alternative to the slapper bar or SS/M units.


The cal-tacs are $319 on his page, and the Slide-a-Links are $318 at Jegs. So they are pretty close as far as price. But that is a lot of money to spend. But hey, if they are really that much better than a regular slapper....


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SundanceKid
Gearhead

Posts: 861
From: UT
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 09-24-2001 05:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SundanceKid   Click Here to Email SundanceKid     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have a question along this line....
I have some bright orange traction bars that I have no clue what they are or if they are any good. Like I said they are bright orange made of 3"x1/4" steel with three holes in the side they bolt directly to the spring just behind the spring front eye. They replace the spring retainer and are adjustable at the rear if you change the pinion angle. They look seventies or eightieish?
Anyone have a clue to who made em' or if they are any good?

Thanks

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Moneymaker
Administrator

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From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 09-24-2001 05:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You can buy the Cal-Tracks cheaper from John Calvert direct. Tell him you are an M&M member ande I sent you. Sundance the bars you have are indeed circa 70's Lakewood or Chapman, or Ansen or ???. Several companies made those types of bars back then.

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Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator
NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00 & '01
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US Class Nationals link

[This message has been edited by Moneymaker (edited 09-24-2001).]

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Rustang
Gearhead

Posts: 403
From: Clarion PA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-24-2001 06:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rustang   Click Here to Email Rustang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
John Calvert actually copied the Slide-a-Link concept.

Moneymaker, I was thinking Calvert had a patent on this design? CE's slide-a-link seems to be newer to the market.
I've also noticed that the slide-a-link doesn't have the extra holes to adjust the lower link up and down like the Cal Tracs. I would think having this ability would allow for adjustment of the IC.

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JAAZZY
Gearhead

Posts: 745
From: Bay Area, CA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 09-24-2001 07:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for JAAZZY     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I don't know if they are any good because I never used them but I had a set that sounds just like these and in the same color. They were Lakewood.

quote:
Originally posted by SundanceKid:
I have a question along this line....
I have some bright orange traction bars that I have no clue what they are or if they are any good. Like I said they are bright orange made of 3"x1/4" steel with three holes in the side they bolt directly to the spring just behind the spring front eye. They replace the spring retainer and are adjustable at the rear if you change the pinion angle. They look seventies or eightieish?
Anyone have a clue to who made em' or if they are any good?

Thanks


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Moneymaker
Administrator

Posts: 18704
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 09-24-2001 07:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Rustang, not to date myself too much, but long before Moroso bought out Competition Engineering and long before John Calvert was producing Cal-Tracs in his garage which he still does today, Slide-a-Links were produced and sold to record holding stockers and other types of racers by Competition Engineering. Like circa 1977-80ish. They only made them for GM "F" bodies (craparos, fireturds and nova loxes) as the Mustang market was just coming of age then. When Moroso bought them out in 1983ish the Slide-a-Links were discontinued due to poor sales and a limited market. The muscle car was all but dead by then. Bolt on ladder bars and wheelie bars were the rage as the Pro Street fad had become popular. John Calvert took a good idea and expounded on it. He copied the "basic" design and concept. As John's bars became popular and sold well to all types of racers wtih leaf spring cars C&E/Moroso thought it would be a good time to reintroduce the bar and capitalize on the Cal-Trac success. they now obviously manufacture them for most leaf spring applications. That's pretty much the story.

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Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator
NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00 & '01
Fleet of FoMoCo products
Moneymaker Bio
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chips67
Gearhead

Posts: 651
From: louisville, ky, usa
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 09-24-2001 08:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for chips67   Click Here to Email chips67     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
probably would have cal-tracs but they werent around when i got the slappers. the thing is i know there are 10 second cars with slappers and if i cant get mine to hook with them then its my own dang fault. i dont deserve cal-tracs. until the car runs mid 7's on the motor, i dont deserve 150 NOS plate kit either.

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67 coupe, 650dp and rpm intake on 5.0 with afr 165 heads, 4 speed, 4.11's.....best so far is [email protected] in 1/8 mile with 1.79 60ft. time.

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Moneymaker
Administrator

Posts: 18704
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 09-24-2001 09:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You don't need no steenking Nitrous Chip.

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Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator
NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00 & '01
Fleet of FoMoCo products
Moneymaker Bio
US Class Nationals link

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Rustang
Gearhead

Posts: 403
From: Clarion PA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 09-25-2001 10:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Rustang   Click Here to Email Rustang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Moneymaker, thanks for the info. That's pretty wild that CE's bar's been around that long and forgotten!

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68bbstang
Journeyman

Posts: 26
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Registered: Sep 2001

posted 09-26-2001 12:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 68bbstang   Click Here to Email 68bbstang     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have run the bars you are talking about on 2 FE mustangs (both toploader). There is a distinct advantage and disadvatage to running these. The advantage is you will smack the tires almost as hard as with ladders. The disadvantage is that they smack so hard they BREAK SPRINGS!
Another warning:wrap-up on a rear suspension helps smooth the ride on a street car. When you back off the throttle on the street, you will chirp the tires. These are not near as streetable as slappers, but you will hook up MUCH better.
They are powder coated gloss black now (as well as the 9" housing and every bracket on the car),but you can still see them peeking out from the front of the tire.
quote:
Originally posted by SundanceKid:
I have a question along this line....
I have some bright orange traction bars that I have no clue what they are or if they are any good. Like I said they are bright orange made of 3"x1/4" steel with three holes in the side they bolt directly to the spring just behind the spring front eye. They replace the spring retainer and are adjustable at the rear if you change the pinion angle. They look seventies or eightieish?
Anyone have a clue to who made em' or if they are any good?

Thanks


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tech
Journeyman

Posts: 8
From: Lodi Ca. U.S.A.
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 09-26-2001 12:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for tech   Click Here to Email tech     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
we run slapper bars on our drag car we turn 10.53 @ 128 mph no problem now we are going to a 660 lift 340 dur cam

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SundanceKid
Gearhead

Posts: 861
From: UT
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 10-01-2001 05:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SundanceKid   Click Here to Email SundanceKid     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks all! I haven't seen these ones before so had to ask.
Now adjust a link, weren't they from the seventies too? A sort of means to make a universal one size fits all slapper bar?

What about those new ones from C&E that are telescopeing? seems to make sense to me. They would add to anti squat and wouldn't cause problems while brakeing. They look fairly adjustable too. Anyone useing these at the track yet?

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Moneymaker
Administrator

Posts: 18704
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99

posted 10-01-2001 08:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Moneymaker   Click Here to Email Moneymaker     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
hey Tech and 68BBstang! Welcome to M&M ! Glad to have you join us.

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Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator
NHRA/IHRA/SRA member
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00 & '01
Fleet of FoMoCo products
Moneymaker Bio
US Class Nationals link

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