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By Oldmics - 13 Years Ago
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Any of you hard runnin T Bird folks want to let a newbie in on what your rear suspension mods are to get the car to launch. Lookin to break stuff  Oldmics
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By BIGREDTODD - 13 Years Ago
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Oldmics (10/27/2011)
Any of you hard runnin T Bird folks want to let a newbie in on what your rear suspension mods are to get the car to launch. Lookin to break stuff Oldmics What's the problem(s) your having? Wheelspin, axle hop, or?
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By Oldmics - 13 Years Ago
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Havent dropped the clutch with serious tires as of yet. Just already know the stock 9 inch leaf spring setup will need help. Just fishin to see what the fast guys are doing. Oldmics
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By speedpro56 - 13 Years Ago
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You will need traction locs of some sort to keep the rear springs from binding and causing wheel hop. I'm using traction masters on my bird and they seem to work well. Cal tracs are said to be better but need modifications off the frame to work, I believe Vic uses them on his 55 bird. Chime in Vic.
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By Vic Correnti - 13 Years Ago
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I do use the Cal Tracs as Gary said on my 55 bird. I had to make the spring pocket 1/4/ inch wider at the front of the leaf springs. I am thinking that the 56 &57 birds have the wider springs and spring pocket already. The Cal Tracks made one of my best improvements at the track.
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By charliemccraney - 13 Years Ago
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Just look at his picture. You don't need any more proof than that. Cal tracs work.
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By Oldmics - 13 Years Ago
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So what kinda (rear) tire size will fit under the Baby Birds. Vic looks like a 9X30 ??? Oldmics
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By speedpro56 - 13 Years Ago
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225/70/15s for street. 235/60/15s for street and strip no skirts( drag radials DOT ). 225/50/15s street and strip with the lower profiles 50 and 60 you get a bigger foot print ( drag radials DOT ). These drag radials are not ment for much highway use, only to drive to the track if it's not very far and after alittle fun....drive home These tires will pull the front tires off the groung with enough power. I can sell you the 225/50/15s if interested. Thet are 24" tall and made two passes to see if there was a difference between the others and there wasn't.
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By Vic Correnti - 13 Years Ago
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I replaced my stock housing with a 1958 Ford 9 inch so I had to narrow it 1 inch on each side then ordered the rim offset wheels that would center the tire and miss the leaf spring and the flange on the fender. I had G 60 x 15 street tires on it at that time. I am now using Hoosier Quick Time Pro's 26 x 9.5 x 14 that are DOT approved. I have heard that the drag radials don't perform as well on a stick car as they do on an automatic car. Gary, what have you heard?
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By speedpro56 - 13 Years Ago
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Not much Vic, I'm listening???? to hear what you have to say. How are your DOTs doing at this time compaired to the slicks ?
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By Oldmics - 13 Years Ago
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I"m also curious as to a comparison to slicks. I gotta admit that I been outta serious racing for a lotta years BUT in the day I always used tall,gummy tires.Usually Firestone #9 compound and the largest that I could get under the car was a 28.5X 10.5 wrinkle wall. Those are some mighty short tires you guys are using on the Birds.Nothing taller will fit? Are these DOT style tires whats happening now? Oldmics
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By speedpro56 - 13 Years Ago
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Mics, we drive these birds on the street as everyday cruisers. With taller tires means alot steeper gears so there goes gas miliage down the tube. I'm running 3.9 gears out back so the 26 tall tires do great at the track sorta like a gear change and the shorter 24s give a little more gear without sacrificing gas miliage with 27 and 28 tall street tires.
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By Oldmics - 13 Years Ago
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Gary I do understand the gearing aspect by using a smaller tire. The down side of using a smaller diameter tire (gas mileage and driveability be thrown out the window) is the top MPH is not as strong in a quarter mile run. Thats why I am curious to know how big a tire I can stuph under a Bird without any surgery. I sincerly appreciate all the suggestions and replys from all of you pro Bird guys  Oldmics
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By slumlord444 - 13 Years Ago
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I am watching this post for tire info myself. As far as traction control I used a set of home made taction masters back in the late '60's and had no wheel hop problems and car hooked up well with recap 6" cheater slicks and a 3.89 gear. '57 Bird, 3 speed, 312, crane cam and factory dual quads. Ran bolt on slapper bars in the '90s and no probles with them either. Plan to go with the real Tracton Masters this time out.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 13 Years Ago
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Oldmics: Summit has in their catalog a fixture that bolts to the brake drum and mocks up wheel offset and tire size. You rotate this around your wheel opening to determine what you can use. Be sure to check both sides of the car, sometimes there is more clearance on one side than the other.
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By pegleg - 13 Years Ago
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Old, The other reasons for the shorter tires that Gary mentioned are they're easier to fit under the car, more widely available, and have less mass. Helps acceleration and is easier on the drive line.
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By Oldmics - 13 Years Ago
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Hoosier Thanks for the wheel tool tip from Summit. I ordered one today. Oldmics
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By slumlord444 - 13 Years Ago
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My home made version worked fine as I stated earlier. They are available directly from Traction Master to fit the T-Birds as well as most other '50's tp 60's Fords.
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By Vic Correnti - 13 Years Ago
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Here is a thought about Caltrac's. As the differential torks up and transfers weight lifting the front of the car it also applies a down force to the leaf spring thus planting the tire harder. The Traction Masters only do the weight transfer. If wheel hop is your only concern the Traction Masters will do that and be cheaper. I also feel the Caltrac's ride better. As for slapper bars I have bent up two pairs of them and unless they are cranked tight to the frame they have to cover that gap before they work and then the car ride is bad too.
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