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Re: Traction bars
In the PNW I have been able to find cores at swap meets for around $35.00 & partials for $25 (missing parts). They are a misunderstood brand, as in hard to ID or folks just do not seem to recognize them. Spokane had a set on Epay for $300 that went unsold. Here is a cleaned up pair of 57 chev- first gen Camaro bars before I had them plated.
Anyone with the Foil oval decals out there (Even a clear picture?) I think the Ansen ground grabbers had a few decals over the years. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...8/100_3027.JPG https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4...8/100_3025.JPG https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-x...8/100_4447.JPG I did not use the flat strap "clamping" piece at the front spring eye hold down, I went to a local spring shop & had them bend up some custom "U" bolts. -vs- as built https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r...8/100_3209.JPG Ads: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Y...7Qg~~60_12.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a...8/100_4445.JPG I made some bogus white stickers until I can source something more accurate. I bought a set & 1/2 (Monroe Swap meet Seattle 2013Fall) and used paint stripper and found, plaiting, then white, then red, then black,,,,thick user-owner paints, bet they look good in ANY color or finish selected, I prefer, Zinc and yellow dichromate per ASTM B633,Type II, Fe/Zn 12 I have found a local plater (industrial) who will accept (hobbyist - restorers) batches. Very affordable Production Plating in Mukelteo. Jim |
Re: Traction bars
If you find the stickers or image let me know. I'm using Harrell clamps I fabbed up for the front top clamp to strengthen the top leaf spring.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...7897-clamp.jpg |
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Here is a Pic of:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-z...Grabbers_1.jpg This Foil one is the one I am VERY interested in and have been search for years. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J...ges%5B4%5D.jpg my pics come out a bit small-Sorry I like the clamp pc, but I ran into interference with the Ansen clamp. Jim |
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I decided to go with Black. Hopefully install them on Thursday.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...977-ansen4.jpg |
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Here is a picture of Ansens (from Scuncio)after sand blasting and painting them orange. I matched the color on the NOS ground grabbers that I have (thanks PXTX). I think these bars look cool in any color you pick! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...8017-photo.jpg
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Thats a nice collection of bars you have there chevyandpontiac! I just finished my installation.
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...novaansen1.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...novaansen2.jpg |
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They look fantastic.
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks like DD made sime for Mr. GASKET
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...szvv9gxvp.jpeg </div></div> Wow. First time to see those. When Thrush bought out Drag dimensions. I believe it was for mostly the header line. Not sure what happened to all the other products. I need to find me a pair of those. |
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Very cool. Did not know that about DD and Mr Gasket.
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...psalu7fp5k.jpg
These are off a 50's Vette. Probably the shortest set made at 25" long. They are the later style, cause the wider spring pad and lack of a tail. They are also equal in length. What do those other ones measure without the tail? I can only guess that the unequal set-up was an early thing, before slapper bars were properly sorted. </div></div> Paul is the orange color correct for the later bars? I thought all lakewoods were yellow? |
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zman1969</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Paul is the orange color correct for the later bars? I thought all lakewoods were yellow? </div></div> They were all yellow..you can sorta see the yellow paint under the orange. The lakewood traction action decals were sometimes put on at the factory and sometimes not. I had 5-6 boxes of NOS ones over the years and about 1/2 of the decals were installed...the rest were loose decals inside the box I suspect the original owner of these bars painted them orange to match something on his car. |
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I don't recall seeing any signs of yellow on these bars. The color is more red in person. If I placed them next to an old lakewood bell housing, it would seem to be the same color to me.
Either they came red or someone blasted the yellow off, painted them red and installed the decals on them before they were ever installed. I'll try to post some better pics tonight. Looking back, there seems to be some yellow on the back of the one pic. Let me dig them out and confirm. |
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I ask because my bars are ready to be sand blasted and coated
https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...ewood_bars.jpg https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...od_bars_ii.jpg |
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Another way Lakewoods came was with Painted on Tampos.
Similar to the Traction Action decals you see here on restored bars. These were : TRACTION ...ACTION !!! mostly seen on the Competition long bars with J Bolts and front / rear spring clamps in both the 2 1/2" Square (early sets) & rectangular tubing. The Lakewood Decal fore & aft the Tempo Script was random as was the Trade Mark Yellow or Red color paint on the bars. Those Red bars above are TAMPO'd in PAINT.. w/ Original Decal. . I'm Going to express this::::: I HAVE SEEN MANY. RED & YELLOW BARS in Original Paint & TAMPO. Seems the early Competition bars circa '67-68-69 -70 came Tampo painted and the later ones with decals on or in the box.....This too was random.. If you had a Real Race car you had long square or rectangle bars with J bolts for preload chassis adjustment & deceleration clamps. Most Hot street n strip cars had similar setups..... and most street cars used the short bars which were mostly rectangle. The Square Bars were heavy therefore, revised/retooled as time went on ....and the advent of "Ladder bars with floater leaf springs" along with Narrowed rears had Lakewood marketing suitable, sellable bars for the masses....with Stock type set-ups. Just some input to help clear up what Era Bar is best suitable for your application..... Keep in mind Lakewood was the Premiere Traction Device Manufactor in the Late 60's - Mid 70's .... Mr Gasket marketed "other brands" under there name...(they never had there own R&D or Device) Motion used a competitive , compareable device as "price & profit" allowed.....Most speed shops carried various brands for Useage and Cost structure. Not everybody could afford LAKEWOOD Money back then ...therefore many Vendors offered up copies, knock offs and functional yet, cheesey Substitutes for the "Look" of with "Low" Cost ! Most of these were JUNK Ricky Racer type none of us would use today on our VINTAGE DAY 2 Cars. |
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't recall seeing any signs of yellow on these bars. The color is more red in person. If I placed them next to an old lakewood bell housing, it would seem to be the same color to me.
Either they came red or someone blasted the yellow off, painted them red and installed the decals on them before they were ever installed. I'll try to post some better pics tonight. Looking back, there seems to be some yellow on the back of the one pic. Let me dig them out and confirm. </div></div> Look Red with Tamp Paint to me... also Notice the Original Lakewood Decal with no "R" on it ....;-). Real baby! Restore those in Red with new Decals in TRACTION ...ACTION! Nice , Rare bars.... |
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OK looking at PXTX bars on page 22 his and mine above are different my bars have 2 holes for the J-bolts and PXTX has just on one side?
and BillD's 2 sets are different lengths of early style so thats 4 different types of square tube bars that I see here - weird |
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Dupli Color makes a near perfect match for Lakewood Yellow.
Dupli-Color Engine Enamel with Ceramic. DE 1642 DAYTONA YELLOW its just enough "pale yellow" that matched my original paint Yellow bars You can "Bake them in Mama's oven" when she's not home for that Genuine Baked Enamel factory finish. chemicals & tire rubber won't effect them. |
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zman1969</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OK looking at PXTX bars on page 22 his and mine above are different my bars have 2 holes for the J-bolts and PXTX has just on one side?
and BillD's 2 sets are different lengths of early style so thats 4 different types of square tube bars that I see here - weird </div></div> The red bars were on an early Vette and I think there were some clearance issues. The outer pad was trimmed for clearance. They were like yours Rich. More pics tonight. |
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My unequal length bars do not use the horse shoe style bracket, they use this: https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...1738_20550.jpg
When I get home from work I will post a photo of the mounting bracket on the bottom of the bar. Also, looking at ChevyandPontiacs pictures of his bars it looks like his similar style bars are also different length. One last note, somewhere at home I have a 1969? Lakewood Catalog which shows the bars with the straight bracket shown in the photo here. If I can find the catalog I will post it |
Re: Traction bars
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: pxtx</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Zman1969</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OK looking at PXTX bars on page 22 his and mine above are different my bars have 2 holes for the J-bolts and PXTX has just on one side?
and BillD's 2 sets are different lengths of early style so thats 4 different types of square tube bars that I see here - weird </div></div> The red bars were on an early Vette and I think there were some clearance issues. The outer pad was trimmed for clearance. They were like yours Rich. More pics tonight. </div></div> Ahh I see that in the pic- wondered why the rough edge I need all the hardware for mine- J-bolts snubbers and front U-bolts and the U-straps I just ordered-Glad you had one set left Paul thanks! |
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Well Rich the set I had left was originally gonna be for my Dad, but he was leaning another direction so you got lucky
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There seems to be 2 opinions on these straps vs stirrups.. ...
from my understanding the straps were early standard issue then later replacements in lieu of the stirrups. The stirrups were designed by Bill "Grumpy" Jenkins in the Late 60's & R&D'ed in through 1970-1971 for all out Competition Use...noting the shorter stem length on the J bolts them selves and a more snug, up tight fit for the bracket allowed a tighter pre-load when the nuts were tightened down aiding in a few degrees of pinion angle change with out the addition of wedges as needed. Using the straps allowed the J bolts to bend as the car launched or were over tightened forcing the pinion /per load. Look for a Lakewood ad with Grumpy ,from 69-70-71....you'll see the bars pictured, set up as his on track research proved positive results. Can't wait to see the 69 Catalog too for details,info, pics and applications. This is an enjoyable topic for all traction device info ...and comparison to many optional applications for various 'Series' designs per vehichle and manufactor |
Re: Traction bars
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Day2_69Z</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Another way Lakewoods came was with Painted on Tampos.
</div></div> Yep, the tampos were usually the earlier version then Lakewood went to the clear decal. The red ones that PXTX showed looks like yellow paint on the front leaf spring u-bolt area but I could be wrong...maybe the early bars they tried to paint red at one time. Yep I have a bunch of the early decals w/o the "R" and a bunch of early NOS hardware when it was sorta anodized gold with black nuts. |
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Hopefully these pictures post. There are a couple of the Lakewood catalog and one of the bar. Please note the bars in the catalog are black. I think the earliest bars were black with the yellow added later? The catalog is labeled 1969.
OK the files are too big to post and I don't have time to fool around tonight and resize another time. I can try again tomorrow, when I hopefully have more time. |
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[img:center]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...psf970eeec.jpg[/img]
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After further inspection, I am certain there is no Yellow paint on these bars. The lighter color here is just lighter rust.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps64b0e34c.jpg http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...psf52bbc5c.jpg I personally think these were originally red bars from Lakewood. I have no way to say they a person couldn't have blasted these totally clean, painted and reassembled. Even inside the square tube there is no yellow, and only some red overspray. Much like "What Color Should My Tow Tabs Be?" I subscribe to the philosophy that traction bars can be any color you want- though the classic Lakewood Yellow is very universal and looks great on many cars. http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...psf77aefa7.jpg I did compare these to another set of square tubes which were originally Yellow. They are similar, but not identical. http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps45236191.jpg http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps6ba13ea7.jpg http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps4322d900.jpg http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps585b10da.jpg http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...psbbbf8441.jpg |
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RED SQUARE with Decals ??? NICE.
let's research these more,, I'm curious as why the triangle for the stirrup strap is boxed (stronger) ..... Maybe earlier than we know ???? These may be cut for figment but the finish is original...... |
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I'm kind of torn between the red
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...psf77aefa7.jpg and the yellow http://image.superchevy.com/f/909651...suspension.jpg I plan on this for my 69 Nova SS that will be fathom green Man Paul thats some rust! I really dont miss living up north |
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with a green car go with yellow unless your bars were red... jmo.
Red bars on a white,black,red,silver or blue car would be bitch'n contrast. I have an Orange car with a Red Loop...kinda clashes... lmao.. but my Bars are Yellow,,shocks are Red Lakewood's as is the scattershield and drive shaft loop. what color do I paint the tow tabs....red, yellow, orange or ugggg..black ??? |
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I really don't think you can go wrong whatever you choose. Just make it your choice, and don't go with anything because we all say so.
I do prefer a car with a bit of a theme. Whether I build one today, or 20 years ago- I try to stick with a complementing color scheme- which sometimes requires me to paint speed parts to keep within that theme. Heck, My teal Malibu had a pink stripe on it and I even painted some pink accents on a set of mag wheels. It was 1991 and I'm not saying to paint your bars pink- just whatever you want. It wouldn't take much imagination to picture Fathom Green with red OR yellow accents and either way looks good to me. http://paintref.com/graphics/sample/nova1969WA3886.jpg http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps036c7e08.jpg |
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Hummmmm? Redlines...Red Bars ?
Paul , thanks for the enlightenment by posting those pics....That Nova with RL's is.....well. Sweeeet. Pink ??? I hope, not any more...lol.. |
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WOW....they look Rode Hard and Put away Wet.
The bends in the middle with a super long body and bracketry suggest Fabricated ... Home made for ease of understanding. The upright bend and length suggest an attempt to get the snubbers up tight to the spring eye. And VERY DANGEROUS With NO DECELERATION clamps up front. When you let off or unload the bars when slowing down or stopping the front wants to nose dive into the pavement ! Hence the term, deceleration clamps. I have only seen stuff like this custom fabbed for a one off set up. Any other ideas guys ??? |
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What year car & model were they off of
F body's and Mopars don't have springs that long, I don't think. Fords??? Tri-5 Chevy ? Were these possibly swap meet or garage finds ? |
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If the Traction Bars are LOADED,all the time {like the way I like them},you won't need the clamps up front{so called deceleration clamps}. Also I can't see the ends but the long boxed bars have rounded corners so its thick not thin tin bar's. The bend in the bars is so they fit the car. A custom fabricated piece.
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There's an NOS BOXED SET of. MR GASKET TRACTION BARS FOR TRI-5 CHEVY'S on EBay for. . . .$300. ..!!!
look fantastic......sorry, no link. there's. also 2 different sets of LAKEWOOD LONG BARS for 1rst Gen Camaros. for around $100. One set has all the Hdwre. |
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