Well I didn't even get one pass in this past weekend, all it took was a little wheel hop to destroy my stock torque arm where it's mounted on the rear. This was with my Moser 12-bolt on BFG drag radials. The stock pos had already broken once this summer but at the tranny end, causing the arm to bang against the floor, so I guess I should have seen this coming.

The shop where the car is at currently suggested I install a Edelbrock adjustable torque arm, but I have heard some bad things about it on this board. Should I avoid it? What if I just have the shop modify the place where it typically breaks (near the adjustable nut) to stengthen it?

Also I wanted to know, while the car is ther, are there any other suspension parts that I could install that would help me at the track (my suspension is all stock)? What do you recommend. This is for a street and strip car, and I have a set of ET Drags on weld draglites I would like to use next time out.

 

People have broke BMR and Spohn torque arms before too. I'm thinking of getting an Edelbrock TA for my car soon.

 

Here's a Spohn TA on a 1,350HP, 3,550# 30th SS convertible, that ran 8.60@160MPH, 1.30 60-ft time. The "broken" Spohn TA's were the original "slider" design that he made more than 4 years ago, and were never intended for 500+HP setups. I run the Spohn TA as well.

http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/injun.../DCP03870a.jpg

 

I will be one to say the edelbrock TA is junk.

And you may want to look into LCA's and relocation brackets.

 

Yeah I would like the spohn since it is not tranny mounted like the edelbrock, but it's alot more expensive, would take alot longer to ship, and the shop told me it would not bolt directly in because of the spohn crossmember and my exhaust?? I asked them to see if they could find a BMR or SLP fast, but otherwise I will probably have to take my chances with the edelbrock.

Just wondering will I need relocation brackets for the LCA's if I am stock ride height? I heard you only need them for lowered cars. Thanks.

 

You don't need the relo brackets but they will help with traction. I don't want to explain it wrong and sound dumb but here it goes. It alters the angle so under launch it forces the rear to the ground. Once again my explanation could be wrong but that's my understanding.

I ran into the exhaust problem with my loudmouth. It hangs a little lower and it's bigger so it would hit the trans crossmember. I believe that's how the sphoon one mounts so the crossmember would have to hang a tad lower where the exhaust goes over it.

 

What kind of exhaust are your running? Spohn makes two different crossmember mounted torque arms, one for long tube headers and one for a standard exhaust. Also, they make a trans. mounted adjustable torque arm that mounts like your factory arm.

 

Thanks for the info. I've got hooker long tubes and mufflex exhaust. I'll ask tomorrow about the different versions of the spohn TA, and if he can get them.

He said for the LCA's he can get me edelbrock or Lakewoods, which ones would you guys recommend? People here don't seem to be too crazy about edelbrock's suspension parts for our car

 

Have you taken a look at BMR's, Spohn's and UMI's websites? Between them they offer many different torque arm options. BMR also has a trans mount/torque arm mount that lets you run a trans mount arm without actually attaching it on the transmission case.
I would go with any of these companies before Edelbrock or Lakewood.
Relocation brackets lower the point where the LCAs attach to the rear axle so they angle upward to the chassis. When you accelerate the axle tries to push forward which makes the LCAs try to raise the car which pushes the axle toward the pavement which improves grip. Lowering the LCAs too much will not be good for the car's handling characteristics, though.

 

I don't like the looks of the Edelboke either, I think it is more of an inexpensive set-up for cars in the 11-12's. Also look into the UMI set ups, they have a few different ones they are now offering. But I would suggest spending the extra few dollars and skipping the Edelbroke

 

I have hooker long tubes and mufflex and have the spohn ta with a crossmember specificly made for this setup.

 

Another vote for Spohn for everything..TA, LCAs, SFCs, PHB, too...They can ship them to the shop of your choice...Whichever TA you get I would definitely go with a cross member mounted one with the driveshaft loop(s). Putting an aftermarket and way more rigid TA in the stock location puts way more stress on the tailshaft of your transmission. I split my tailshaft in half on the dyno using a Spohn trans mounted TA on a 400rwhp pull. I replaced it with a cross member mounted TA from Spohn and its great.

--Alan