60-66 suspension to dragrace

[LUNATICS]

looking for some help on setting my 65 up for drag, trying to do on a budget so plz be reasonable, and can it be done with the stock rear suspension?thanx

[awbrown]

My buddy raced a 65 for quite some time with the stock suspension, just use a good shock.. in effect truck arms are just long ladder bars ....

[LUNATICS]

ive been reading and several are using the stock rear which looking at i thought it should work fine, what about the front?...ive been doing math on the suspension parts and their weight and geez its heavy, anyway to convert to tubular a arms and coilovers and replace crossmember?..kinda like mustang 2 front ends? without having to pay 1200 for a bolt on kit?

[vin63]

Originally Posted by LUNATICS

ive been reading and several are using the stock rear which looking at i thought it should work fine, what about the front?...ive been doing math on the suspension parts and their weight and geez its heavy, anyway to convert to tubular a arms and coilovers and replace crossmember?..kinda like mustang 2 front ends? without having to pay 1200 for a bolt on kit?

The tubular arms are not that much lighter, if at all...primarily stronger. I would avoid the Mustang II suspension as our factory type of suspension has a lot more travel to help with weight transfer - more critical in a pickup truck application. I would focus on the shocks and alignment first to get a baseline. If your goal is weight savings, I would look to replacing some of the sheetmetal with fiberglass (hood, fenders, bumper, etc.). Keep us posted on your progress.

[Rich 5150 69]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/f...splay.php?f=60

Follow along with super 73, he don`t give out all his secrets, but he is quick...

[LUNATICS]

thanks guys, and i have been reading super 73 posts. i guess my concern is weight since it cost less than the average horsepower..lol..i had seen a few trucks set up with mustang 2 type set up but never seen em at the track..i did some research on ever component on our front ends and got each piece specs far as weights, its amazing how much the entire front weighs, i was guess hoping that by swapping front ends i could save 100-150 lbs rather than buying fiberglass. ive already gutted the truck, no inner fenderwells, nor heater or much interior, the bed is basically just the exterior for now. i will keep reading and researching, once again THANKS!!!

[Rich 5150 69]

Ya even the shortbed weighs in at 3,840 lbs, its a matter of where you trim the weight off and replace with alum/fiberglass, trim everybolt down to three threads showing, using loctite, and tubular a-arms, but how far do you go and keep it streetable, been there done that.

[LUNATICS]

Lol..streetable for me here just means lights and exhaust...wont be a daily driver by no means..i got 2 of these trucks, one i drive occasionally all original and the other is the one im gutting out, ill have to post some pics sometime..its ugly but i could care less as long as it hooks, goes straight, and decent times! It would be nice to get it down to 3or 3200 lbs?..reasonable?

[Rich 5150 69]

Thats doable, an agreed race truck. go for it.

[Dinos63]

Originally Posted by vin63

the tubular arms are not that much lighter, if at all...primarily stronger. I would avoid the mustang ii suspension as our factory type of suspension has a lot more travel to help with weight transfer - more critical in a pickup truck application. I would focus on the shocks and alignment first to get a baseline. If your goal is weight savings, i would look to replacing some of the sheetmetal with fiberglass (hood, fenders, bumper, etc.). Keep us posted on your progress.

very good info!!!