Does anyone have a set of Traction Masters on a C1

[Clare Carpenter]

This is not an NCRS question but I'm wondering if any '60-'62 owners have or had a set of Traction Master traction bars installed and whether the swaybar was left in place.

My '62 came with a set of Traction Master traction bars installed. I'm trying to determine whether the installation was as recommended by TM, or whether these bars are for an earlier C1, with the installation user-modified to clear the rear sway bar brackets.

In the rear bracket there is a set of 4 tubular spacers between the spring plate and the rear traction bar bracket to allow for the sway bar bracket to clear. The u-bolts are longer than stock and pass thru the spacers before bolting up in the normal fashion.

I don't know whether TM made a special rear bracket for the '62 to allow for sway bar clearance, or if they recommended removing the swaybar prior to installation. The installation I described above may be a "factory" recommendation or user modified, either way they worked well eliminating any wheel hop and improving braking too. I plan to reinstall them on my car as a "period correct" piece. I am sending my components out to TMC for new bushings and associated hardware. It will be interesting to see what they have to say, as the TM bars for C1's have been out of production for many years.

Here's a link showing pictures of John Hinckley's '57 with Traction Masters installed. Of course, the '57's didn't have a swaybar.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=171385

[James F.]

Re: Does anyone have a set of Traction Masters on

Clare,
Yes, I have Traction Masters on my '56. Been there for 45+ uears. Back then, I also installed the later style rear sway bar as well. As you describe your'62 traction bars are exactly as TRACTION MASTER delivered to fit the later Corvettes with rear sway bar, longer "U" bolts, tubular spacers, etc. Does make adjusting the rear brakes a mite tricky, but worth it. Regards,

[Dave Suesz]

You COULD, but...

The Traction Masters are an "under ride" link, directly below the spring leaf. I this location, they should not interfere in any way with the factory sway bar. BUT- Your car (as were all 59-62) was originally equipped with factory "over ride" links, from the top of the axle housing to the frame. These are superior to the TM's, which would then also be redundant on your car. If yours are missing, replace them. The TM's were popular on manual trans C1's, because they cure wheel hop and axle wind-up. Chevy probably took the hint when so many owners put them on.

[James F.]

Re: You COULD, but... Dave

Dave,
I respectfully disagree with the statement that the Corvette "over ride" links were superior to the TRACTION MASTERS. Experience and diagraming the forces involved on the rear axle tell they are not. After installing the "over ride" (Corvette) link on my '56 I went to the drag strip and promptly "wrapped up" the rear springs on my 225 HP on the first pass. Now I had a squat in the rear looking '56! After that, I installed TRACTION MASTERS. From then on all launches were straight and smooth (and no loud noises of stuff banging around behind me). If on paper you diagram the forces of the rear axle, you will realize that the rear spring shackles (at the rear crossmember) will allow the front half of the spring to wrap UNLESS the axle swing is contained from underneath. The Corvette "over ride" links design do help on severe rear wheel braking situations. Regards,

[Curt S.]

Re: Does anyone have a set of Traction Masters on

Clare, I called TMC ( http://members.aol.com/tmcgroup ) last year looking for a set of their C1 Traction Masters and they told me they stopped production of them many, many moons ago. They also stated they would be happy to make up another set for me, but oddly enough they had somehow "lost" the original blueprints for them through the years. They said if someone could send them a set of originals, they would use them as a template and be able to offer them again. Assuming yours are in decent original condition and you're sending them into TMC anyway, perhaps TMC could use your set as the template ? I for one would be interested.

[Clare Carpenter]

I agree, the TM bars work great!

Jim, The information you supplied was exactly what I was looking for. I have a couple of additional questions regarding the rear brackets. Are yours cast and do they have the numbers "53-54" in the casting? Also do they have three corners? If so, how are they installed?; with the notched corner to the front or the rear?

It's been awhile since I disassembled my chassis. I should have, but didn't, take any pictures prior to removing the bars. I mocked up the assembly last night but wasn't sure which side faced forward. The bar brackets are centered in the casting so I guess it could go either way but it seems to make sense that the notched corner would go towards the front. That way two u-bolts go thru the bracket at the backside, leaving one to go thru the bracket on the front corner and the other with the nut just cinching up against the spacer.

I shipped one bar, one rear bracket and the front spring hangers with the shackle assembly welded to the outside, to Traction Master. They're going to set me up with new bushings, bolts, washers and nuts. I'm also going to have them fab me a new set of shackles for reassembly. One thing I didn't like about the way mine were installed was a sloppy weld job to install the shackles. They were probably welded up with the spring hangers on the car instead of on the bench. The thickness of the shackle bracket also prevents the eye pin nut and washer from being able to completely torque up against the threads with some bolt left over to spare. This could be easily remedied a couple of different ways to make for a cleaner installation.

The reason I'm reinstalling these bars is that they work so great. The car launches straight and true with no hint of axle wrap. It feels like the car's weight is actually thrust upward and away from the rear end, instead of squatting down on acceleration. I think they have extended the life of my springs too. The "period correct" design is a plus!

Dave, I might be wrong but I think the over ride links that Chevy installed were more to prevent axle wrap during sudden deceleration than to prevent wheel hop under hard acceleration. Traction Master's under leaf design also improves braking, preventing axle wrap up on hard deceleration.

Gentlemen, Thanks to both for your replies.

[Clare Carpenter]

Re: Does anyone have a set of Traction Masters on

Charles, Mine are in great shape. It wouldn't be a big deal for them to make up a set of the bars or front brackets. The rear bracket is a heavy cast piece that would require new tooling, which I'm not sure they'd be willing to do. It could be duplicated from plate steel and welded or possibly cut from a piece of high strength billet aluminum, (expensive!) if someone had the proper machine tools. I can let you know what I find out.

[Dave Suesz]

OK OK I surrender, plus advice...

Look, you should know I have worked on way more Shelbys and Mustangs than 'Vettes. The #1 first thing to do to a 64-73 'Stang is put TM's on it. Carrol Shelby did it at the factory in '66, and I'll tell you, they ELIMINATE wheel hop, and oddly, make the rear end ride smoother by damping the rotation of the axle as it moves up and down. The '65 Shelby had the 'Vette style over-ride, but they were a pain to install and were changed as I said.

Now, the original Mustang TM brackets on the spring plate were cast steel, but these were changed to welded steel a long, long time ago. If TM wants to make these available again, then do what you can to make it happen.

[Dick W.]

Re: You COULD, but... Dave

I agreee with Jim. My '61, when sidestepping the clutch at 5,000 rpm's would hop, snubbers bump, etc. Traction masters would have been a welcome addition, but I did not have the money. It all went up in smoke, rear tires every 1,500 miles or so. Oh to be 17 again

[Loren L.]

17 was the Stutz Bearcat........ *NM*

[Verle R.]

Re: You COULD, but... Dave

When I installed the "over ride" links I also installed two or three clamps on the front half of the spring. I had no wheel hop even with drag slicks.

Of course the clamps made the back springs stiffer but at that age who cared?, it went fast and straight.

Verle

[Terry D.]

Traction Bars for a C1

Traction bars for C1's can be purchased from Case's Chevy Parts, www.angelfire.com/sc/chevy, they come with the shock mount plate so you don't need longer u-bolts. They are not quite an inch longer then ideal, don't know if this will be a problem or not, hopefully the engineers on this site can advise.

Terry

[James F.]

Re: I agree, the TM bars work great!-Clare

Clare,
Mine are cast. I couldn't completely read the cast in mumbers but very likely I saw a "3" and a "6". The cast numbers are hidden under the bar. Another way of saying the numbers go towards the front of the car. The cast plate have radiused corners on the rear where the "U" bolt goes through (if thats any help can't see the front part). Somewhere around the house I have the original mounting instructions that TRACTION MASTER included with the kit. No big help as I recall, the sketch war pretty crude. I looked but cannot locate it (no suprise here). Regards,