Thread: 4 link or Ladder bars with a short wheel base?

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I would prefer a 4 link just because of the more adjustment points. BUT I was reading that a 4 link will not achieve optimum performance with such a short wheel base, is this true? Which will work better for a vega ladder bars or a 4 link system? The car is a 75 vega.

i think thats bs customer had a anglia with a 4link and it hook very good .well to good

Originally Posted by BigTruckDriver

I would prefer a 4 link just because of the more adjustment points. BUT I was reading that a 4 link will not achieve optimum performance with such a short wheel base, is this true? Which will work better for a vega ladder bars or a 4 link system? The car is a 75 vega.

A 4-link is harder to adjust.
I have had BBC with a glide that ran 5.20's all day in the 1/8 with a ladder bar setup.
I don't know where the magic number is to go to the 4-link.

The adjustability of a 4 link is both good and bad....You've got to really stay on top of the adjustments as track, traction, and weather conditions change... Good deal if you're running a Pro class and want the absolute max every round.... However a ladder bar is not near as sensitive to changing conditions and therefore way more consistent.... Length of your car has nothing to do with which will be better. For your car, I would go with the ladder bar set up. Consistency is going to be far more important then putting down the fast et every time....

the 4 bar lets you do more adjustment. you can preload the chassis with it and actually push the front end down with it. unless your going to be building some serious hp the ladder bars are fine.

Little brother runs a short wheelbase Henry J.
Ladder bars work great.
166 mph in 8.13.

The car handles quite well and if I was doing the drag race bit I'd set the car up to accept either one and start with ladder bar's.


Fwiw - the ladder bars worked great when the car ran high 10's with HJ frame, wide rear axle, solid axle front end as well as now with Pinto front end, Alston tube frame and 1040 HP DRCE engine.

Attitude with a short wheel base is a bit more sensitive because of the short wheel base. Instant centers and centerlines are quicker to act and react with less longitudes as compared to a longer wheel base. If you wish to have a good amount of tuneability with your Vega, run the four links. Ladders work well also, just not as tunable. If you just wanna go have to fun and the 1/8th mile is all you plan to do, either way is an option to have success. Every car is different and it's always a learning curve for every racer with his/her project.

Earlier, we had some very good four link discusion concerning a street rod set up. Do a bit of back search for the postings here on CHR. I thought I would add to some of the postings so as if all the previous stuff was put together, some of it might be more understandable.