Do you think that excuse will fly with the wife? :D

Just scored these NOS JR's traction bars, they are for 2nd gen Fbody. They still have paint runs in the bolt holes. No hardware but I have plenty of that.

Restored a set of vintage Lakewood traction bars that have been on my car since 1971 (date code on the snubbers is '71). Had the original hardware all re-plated yellow zinc per original. I have a couple of questions on the mounting to the axle tube. The outside J-bolt goes where the factory U-bolt is located and slips under the bend in the brake line. What about the inside J-bolt - I suppose you have to bend a another opening in the brake line to install? The forward two bolts that were on mine were carriage bolts with an "L" cast into the head. I assumed it was for "Lakewood" but maybe a coincidence. Why wouldn't a person just use the factory T-bolts? Anyone have a good photo showing my style bar mounted up?

Bars look great If you really want to be correct the original nuts were black phosphate. I've had plenty of NOS over the years. Also seen in this ad.

If you really want to be correct the original nuts were black phosphate.

There is always a chance the nuts were changed when the prior owner sold off the BE rear and the bars got re-mounted (2004-2006 timeframe), but some of the nuts I removed were "smashed" on one face due to lots of hard launches. The inside of all the nuts were clearly gold cad. These bars are rectangular tube 1971 versions so maybe they changed the nut finish when they went to the rectangular style?
Anyone have input on the mounting?

I bought 5 sets of NOS bars from the guy who bought out the huge stash of vintage speed parts from the old S&S Speed in Falls Church VA that was featured in the magazines 15 years ago. Rectangular bars. I estimate the bars were 71-75 era -long tails with rear spring clamp. All had black phosphate nuts and u bolts were gold cad. (J bolts never came with the bars-they were optional)

I looked this morning at the j bolt and u bolt NOS packs I have from early 70's all have gold nuts.

These are NOS

Was that the original design for the strap? And then later they went to the U-shaped strap?

The first design was the twist, then they went to the U type
1. Square tube twist strap
2. Square tube u strap
3. Rectangle tube u strap

Does anyone know the approximate years they made the square tube, u strap bars? And were any of those available with u-bolt AND j-bolt holes, or only 4 fastener holes in the mounting plate?

When did they eliminate the ~6" of bar that stuck out the back, and does anyone know what that was for?