opinions on my suspension

[drwizrd]

the car weighs 3125 w/driver,fuel,nitrous. scaled at 55/45%'s. front susp is chrome moly k, 90/10's, cc plates. rear is southside lift bars, 50/50's and an anti roll bar. engine is 408 with nitrous works 2 stage plate. trans is roller C-4 w/ brake and 5k stall. rear is 4:10 31 spline spool w/28/10.5's.
I have heard great things about southsides and horror stories as well. Could anyone give an educated opinion on my suspension. I am only running bracket classes and just want a car that goes straight and safe. I am looking to run 8.9-9.1 on the gas. Any suggestions on suspension will be greatly apperciated.
Thanks
Drwizrd

[jspeed]

While I don't have the exact same suspension on my car as you do, one of my buddies runs something very similar. QA1 k-member, w/QA1 struts and Steeda CC Adjustment plates up front with Southsides, Comp. Engineering Anti Roll Bar and CE 3 way adj shocks out back. The car runs 9.5x's all day long with a 175 shot with no problems and drives straight. The southside bars have been on the car at least 8 years.

The torque boxes have been reinforced with Wild Rides Battle boxes and a couple of the Main Hoop supports come down off the main hoop and attach to the upper and lower torque boxes for extra rigidity.

I think as long as you keep an eye on your Anti-roll bar adjustments you should be alright.

Just my .02

Good luck with the car!

[drwizrd]

thanks, my boxes have the wild ride kits and are tied into the cage as well. I ran the x bar to the upper supports. lowers are tied in mid way up main hoop. I also run a Kenny Brown extreme matrix along with a 14 pt. the subs are left overs from street car days, never wanted to cut it all out. car still is full metal except the hood.
Ever heard of anyone runnin 8.8-8.9's with southsides?
Thanks
drwizrd

[jspeed]

I know it's been done, but I can't give you a name. Those bars have been around for long time. I'm thinking just about everyone that raced had a set of those bars on their car at one time.

[drwizrd]

yeah, I got these bars along with a set of twisted wedge heads, an 8.8 w/4:10's, a manual rack, an F cam, and some other bs for trade on a 77 F150 camper special/super cab. UGLIEST truck I have ever owned, but it would pull a house, just not past a gas station! I will give them a try, I have NO money in them. They worked well when I was going 11.0's, just wondering if they are good for more!
Thanks
Drwizrd

[Ryan]

Southsides will work just fine.
Randy Haywood ran his 86LX coupe to a 8.77 @ 150 mph at Rockingham a few years ago (before his modular fame) and he had the following combination -
8.8 rearend with 4.10 gears
Stock GT rear springs
Southside lower arms
Double adjustable upper arms
Stock GT rear shocks
-2 degrees pinion angle
Had a 398 inch windsor with 2 stages of nitrous and a powerglide transmission.
Car would go consistent 1.28 to 1.32 60 foot times on a 28-10.5 M/T drag slick.
Weight of car was 2950 with driver.

[drwizrd]

Thanks Ryan, sounds like my ride almost to the T, less 10 cubes, the glide and a little weight. I may have a bit more cage in the car than I need but there's 2 little girls at home who depend on me. I appreciate the info! Man, the fastest I have ever gone is 10.8's....this is going to be exciting! I am glad there are people out there who are letting me know what I have is going to work also!
Drwizrd

[Ryan]

No problem man, glad to help!
:D

[lxgoes10s]

there is a car up here in canada that has gone 8.19 @ 167 with south sides

[LEFT U]

Don't mean to jump your thread but I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of a mod to southsides where you have to drill a hole in the bar for stabilization?

[drwizrd]

what kind of stabilization, like side load? no one has said anything yet. we'll let it ride and see what kind of response pops up on that question. Anything on this issue out there?
Thanks
Drwizrd

[jspeed]

I think you are reffering to laying the bars back on the dowels, drilling and pinning; or welding them in. This changes the Instant Center the Bars act on.
This is a pretty common mod, I think it was in the instructions that came with the bars.

[drwizrd]

yeah, I have welded mine.it was in the directions.
Thanks again guys
Drwizrd

[LEFT U]

I also appreciate the response. I bought my bars used and the seller breifly explained this needed to be done. I was not sure on the process or if it really needed to be done.

[smallblock]

1.30 sixty foots on m/t radials with southsides work great for me alittle to good at times with a killer track.. hooking isn't a problem with southsides keeping the nose down is

[drwizrd]

1.3's are awsome. Thanks smallblock!

[smallblock]

I also appreciate the response. I bought my bars used and the seller breifly explained this needed to be done. I was not sure on the process or if it really needed to be done.

umi sells a rebuild kit for them with solid bushings and new plates for like 50 bucks it doesn't hurt since there apart already.. drwizrd thats low 1.30's with a best of 1.30 flat on the rears.. :D they may be outdated but look under alot of radial cars you'll see them in there

[drwizrd]

do you have contact info for UMI?

[smallblock]

here's the link it not bad stuff at all they actually are making a repo southside bar which i've used on other car as well
http://www.umiperformance.com/

[drwizrd]

Thanks...I checked it out...I have to call them!
Drwizrd

[LEFT U]

yeah, I have welded mine.it was in the directions.
Thanks again guys
Drwizrd


Do you have any pictures you could forward of how you welded your lift bars? If you can't post them here please email to emac616@aol.com.

[drwizrd]

car is in storage right now man, I tried to get pics over the weekend, life just absorbs all my time anymore. I will be getting it out in a few weeks though. I will see if I can stir up my directions, and scan/send them to you....sound cool? In a nut shell.....install the lower brackets, rock the rear until the pins are sitting up against the lower mounts and bolt/weld.
Drwizrd

[LEFT U]

car is in storage right now man, I tried to get pics over the weekend, life just absorbs all my time anymore. I will be getting it out in a few weeks though. I will see if I can stir up my directions, and scan/send them to you....sound cool? In a nut shell.....install the lower brackets, rock the rear until the pins are sitting up against the lower mounts and bolt/weld.
Drwizrd


Thanks, I'll stay in touch. I'd like to see those pics.

[jmmaya01]

As was stated in the previous post, Southsides hook good, but keeping the front down is the problem. I have ran a best of 1.29 60 ft. once but I am not allowed wheelie bars and I couldn't keep the front end down. Where they are dropped on the rear end mounting point changes the instant center.

[drwizrd]

yeah, I rocked mine back on the pins and welded them. I have a buddy whose car was pulling some wicked wheelies (he is not running southsides) and once he limited his front end travel car got very nice to drive. I now have mine limited as well. Does limiting the front end cure some of the southside bar wheelie problem?

[smallblock]

limting hurts my car.. mostly due to i have 90/10 up front you need an adjustable strut to slow the rise down they help alot. its a learning curve. my s.s. car will hook in dirt and helps me on so-so tracks where others have problems.. i just went 1.33 in a row in bradenton nose down and smooth as silk i'm not changing mine anytime soon

[drwizrd]

good to know, I have Lakewood 90/10's on mine. I may loosen them up some and let it come up a bit more and play around with it once the car is back out. C'mon spring!
Thanks

[smallblock]

what happens is the car rises to quick with 90/10's and slams the limiters it shocks the nose and unloads the car.. on a customers car i found adjustable struts up front with the limiters worked as i could slow the raise rate. and it didn't shock the nose to much

[drwizrd]

that is good to know. I appreciate all of the info, I am trying to make sure I keep the front end in check, not so much for my sake, but for the headers and oil pans sake. I have never had anything with so little ground clearance! I could crank up the front springs, but then it looks like a truck! just how bad of wheelies do the southsides produce?:)

[smallblock]

http://www.tdspeedshotz.com/9-24-05-MD-Sat/images/9-24-05-MD-Sat%20136.jpg

i have about a dozen of these pics i can pretty much ride it to the 1/8th before i get nervous now :D but wheelies don't win races. its pretty much under control now

[drwizrd]

that's b4 you tied it down, right? cause that is exactly what I dont want to do!:D I would like to have it ride ab out 18-20" high and still be able to see the freaking track! LOL

[smallblock]

believe it or not i'm still not tied down i just do all those radial tricks for leaving

[drwizrd]

damn....sounds like I have my work cut out. LOTS of learning to do. Would you have a phone number I could get ahold of you at?
Like I said, I really appreciate all of the help!
Drwizrd

[bmoore]

I have went 1.274 60 ft on southsides with a 9" M/T Slick. I cut the plates off b/c the wheels weren't centered in the wheelwell. And without the plates lowering the attachment point, it helped the car . By not hitting the tires so hard. Recently changed to a 9'' rear and wolfe suspension. Hopefully will be a improvement.

[drwizrd]

you cut the drop plates? where did you attach the bars on the rear? I take it you lowered the spring pad as well?