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How effective is a drag bar???

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Old 09-04-2010, 04:37 PM
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Default How effective is a drag bar???

Hey guys, I am pretty torn between getting a drag bar or getting some slicks. A little about the car is in the sig. Its a cam only car with a 3600 stall and a 150 shot. I have a MWC Fab9" with 3:90 gears, adj lca's, adj phb, adj tunnel mount tq arm, welded sfc's, front DA strange coilovers w/ a hypercoil 300lb spring, comp eng 3 way adj shocks out back, big and littles with a 275/60/15 M/T drag radial. I have to move my lca's down a hole in the relocation brackets, but other than that I have not been able to hook up at all on two different tracks. My best time is a 6.82 1/8th with a 1.58 60'. I know all the advantages of a drag radial and I dont want this to become a pissing contest between a slick and a drag radial. But I am getting tired of messing around on a radial and blowing runs, thats why I am considering a slick. But I have heard that a drag bar helps out a whole lot and is one of the best suspension mods to get. What do you guys think and suggest as a next mod. I'm really trying to get down to a 10.60 this fall, if my gears will allow me to. Thanks for all the help!
Old 09-04-2010, 05:06 PM
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Get a MWC drag bar, it's one of the lightest and nicest out there. My next mod as well. I run a 275/50/15 MT DR on a 6sp. It takes a lil more work, but when they do....it's right! Stick with them...you can get them to work...just takes more time and practice.
Old 09-04-2010, 06:24 PM
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I just put on a UMI drag bar and I went from 1.8's 60' to 1.48 60' by just putting on a drag bar and relocation brackets. I have a six speed on stock shocks and springs. This was on a Hoosier 28x10.5x15 slick. Drag bar help me pick up over a sec. in the 1/4 mile.
Old 09-04-2010, 08:13 PM
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I have a UMI bar and like said, it will make a difference plus it is streetable.
Old 09-04-2010, 08:27 PM
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You're running all that hardware and DON'T have a drag bar?
Old 09-04-2010, 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by SScam68
You're running all that hardware and DON'T have a drag bar?
ummm yeah, yeah I guess so. Feel free to buy it for me, help out, or stop criticizing. That crap cost a lot of money and I cant do it all at once like some people can.
Old 09-04-2010, 10:54 PM
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I put the BMR drag bar on mine but I haven't used it at the track yet.

The drag bar was the last thing I bought too.
Old 09-04-2010, 11:13 PM
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Drag bar will be the last thing I buy as well. They arn't cheap.
Old 09-05-2010, 07:37 AM
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Originally Posted by blu byu EH
I just put on a UMI drag bar and I went from 1.8's 60' to 1.48 60' by just putting on a drag bar and relocation brackets. I have a six speed on stock shocks and springs. This was on a Hoosier 28x10.5x15 slick. Drag bar help me pick up over a sec. in the 1/4 mile.
Damn! Thats a big jump in the 60 and 1/4!

I was cutting 1.58-1.64 on the stock tq arm, stock sway bar, non adj lca, relo brackets, airbag in RR, hal adj. shocks up front and CE drag shocks in the rear.

I just purchased a quick performance 9", UMI drag bar, adj. lca's, and adj panhard bar. I hope this can help me get into the 1.4x range n/a.

I'm gonna try it on the stock tq arm though..haha
Old 09-05-2010, 08:03 AM
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Stock tq. arm will bend at that point...if the car makes any power.
Old 09-05-2010, 08:20 AM
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No personal experiences but it will be the last item I purchase as well. I cut pretty consistent mid 1.4s on the juice and I have to compensate for the right rear twist with extra clicks on my shocks on right rear which the DB would correct. I thin when you start getting in the low 1.4s and 1.3s it becomes a safety piece as well to get from jumping left or right on the hit. Worth the money yes, at what point is it needed well that's another story. I too can't afford to go out and buy it all at once either and it is on my list, just last for me.
Old 09-05-2010, 10:04 AM
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I have the b.m.r rear drag bar. I was doing 1.55 ish 60's on my m6 car. I added the bar and with only that mod went to a 1.42 60's N/A. I already had the lca's with relocate brackets,ect before the bar. BUT,slicks got me 5 tenths faster then drag radials. Both are great mods for the track. I can daily drive my car,i have no front sway but the bmr bar makes the car feel like i still have a front sway on.
Old 09-05-2010, 10:31 AM
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I don't have one as well yet on motor passes its not too bad and I compensated with more clicks on the shock but after last nights testing and going 1.32 60's (https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-raci...l#post13825323) it started moving right so the car will be at MWC next week for the much needed drag bar.
Old 09-05-2010, 10:44 AM
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drag bar helped my car night and day difference...from this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx8JxA1N86Y

to this after heads too, notice the mph increase

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYq4bOPDoaU

time stamp 2:00

best suspension mod i have done yet...

Last edited by chrs1313; 09-05-2010 at 11:02 AM.
Old 09-05-2010, 11:35 AM
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Thanks guys, looks like the dragbar helped out a lot of people in a big way. I'll be ordering the MWC piece soon then, hopefully thats the missing piece for me to hook on my drag radials!
Old 09-05-2010, 11:48 AM
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Originally Posted by second_2_none
ummm yeah, yeah I guess so. Feel free to buy it for me, help out, or stop criticizing. That crap cost a lot of money and I cant do it all at once like some people can.
I wasn't criticizing at all, just surprised you didn't have one yet.

I was cutting 1.59 with a bone stock suspension and bolt-ons, but the car was twisting pretty good. I can't imagine what your looks like coming off the line.

Personally, I would buy it from MADMAN. He'll get help get your car setup with the purchase. Based on what you've posted so far a drag bar alone isn't going to solve all your problems.

Trust me, that alone is worth the price tag.
Old 09-05-2010, 05:03 PM
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chrs1313 Nice launch on the second vid!

You running a Radial or slick? I would really like to run a slick but that means no trips to town on my drag setup.
Old 09-05-2010, 05:32 PM
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I agree with SSCam I was also cutting 1.58 60' with stock sway bar. you need to look at everything. How are your rear control arms pitched?
Old 09-05-2010, 06:33 PM
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I cut consistant 1.50 with a stock rear sway bar, and a 275/50/15 MT DR 26' tall. In a 6SP. I need a drag bar like crazy. I'm sure there is more left with the OP's set up....but it's still needed.
Old 09-06-2010, 12:30 AM
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Originally Posted by SScam68
I wasn't criticizing at all, just surprised you didn't have one yet.

I was cutting 1.59 with a bone stock suspension and bolt-ons, but the car was twisting pretty good. I can't imagine what your looks like coming off the line.

Personally, I would buy it from MADMAN. He'll get help get your car setup with the purchase. Based on what you've posted so far a drag bar alone isn't going to solve all your problems.

Trust me, that alone is worth the price tag.
It just all depends, I've had the front left come off a good foot or so, both come up about 4-5in, or just blow the run. I'm not sure if a drag bar would get it to dead hook either man, thats why I'm thinking about the slicks. All of my suspension is from MWC so I would like to get the drag bar from them as well, plus I've heard it is the lightest unit. But yeah MADMAN has awesome suspension and knows his stuff, thats for sure.

Originally Posted by 01SS99red
I agree with SSCam I was also cutting 1.58 60' with stock sway bar. you need to look at everything. How are your rear control arms pitched?
Thats the one thing I need to adjust. When I put in the comp eng. rear shocks I did the heater hose mod and didnt think to change the angle of the control arms when I lowered the rear. So as of right now they are parallel with the ground. But before I changed the rear shocks and lowered it, I couldnt hook for crap either. I'm pretty sure they need to have a slight angle right? I have one more hole to go down. I dont think that adjustment will get it to dead hook but will deff help.


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