Ken Keir wheelie bars

1320racer · 02-20-2012, 03:57 PM

sure looks and sounds like your entension was too soft.

all I can tell you is that with DA Afco's at all four corners and adjustable travel limiters you CAN tune the wheelie to whatever you're comfortable with.

I can also tell you that the shock and travel limiter settings that work in average air will have you going straight up in good air.

Once you get the rear shocks set right so it dead hooks in good air on a colder track, all you need to do is stiffen/tighten the extension on the front shocks on good air days.

Find your usable range on the extension and stay within it.

On good air days, I start with the front shocks at full stiff on extension and go no more than 1/8 turn from there.

FYI, you can also tame the wheelie by swapping out your front springs to a stiffer spring.

40Coupe · 02-20-2012, 04:08 PM

I've often wondered if I need to go to a stiffer front spring. The front of the car can easily be topped out by hand lifting it. Front weight is 1900 lbs if memory serves me correctly. I have shimmed 180's in there now, it may be time to go to 200's.

1320racer · 02-20-2012, 04:15 PM

are these shocks coil over?

SSGN · 02-20-2012, 05:09 PM

How many runs on the slicks?? Tire press.We chased a hook/shock settings and then put new tires on and it would hook in a car wash again,with shocks set tight

Kevin

40Coupe · 02-20-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1320racer

are these shocks coil over?

I think the shock body is threaded. Honestly I can't recall.

1320racer · 02-20-2012, 05:50 PM

it is so they can also be run as a coil over shock. So you're running coil springs in the stock pockets and not coil over shocks?

40Coupe · 02-20-2012, 06:02 PM

I'm running a factory type 5" OD spring (Santhuff 180 lb) which goes into the factory pockets. No coilovers.

I don't doubt what you are saying that everything can be controlled with shocks, springs, travel settings. Ultimately, none of those things offer the margin of safety of having a wheelie bar back there if I happen to miss the suspension tuneup. If the track is marginal and I happen to be fighting traction, I'd like to be able to set things up full loose and let it eat and not worry about how high the wheelie is going to be. This car is nose heavy with little/no trunk overhang and I don't run ballast. I would imagine most first gen Camaro stockers run at least some amount of ballast in the trunk.

Is there a problem with letting the front end rise and ride the bar a few feet if necessary? What are the drawbacks to a single wheelie bar? Am I still in for problems in good air if I miss the suspension tuneup and it hits the bars?

race watcher · 02-20-2012, 06:11 PM

I have not come across any drawbacks or disadvantages with the single wheel. However the bar is tunable. That is where the ET is.

02-20-2012, 03:57 PM	#1
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: Ken Keir wheelie bars sure looks and sounds like your entension was too soft. all I can tell you is that with DA Afco's at all four corners and adjustable travel limiters you CAN tune the wheelie to whatever you're comfortable with. I can also tell you that the shock and travel limiter settings that work in average air will have you going straight up in good air. Once you get the rear shocks set right so it dead hooks in good air on a colder track, all you need to do is stiffen/tighten the extension on the front shocks on good air days. Find your usable range on the extension and stay within it. On good air days, I start with the front shocks at full stiff on extension and go no more than 1/8 turn from there. FYI, you can also tame the wheelie by swapping out your front springs to a stiffer spring. Last edited by 1320racer; 02-20-2012 at 04:01 PM.

02-20-2012, 04:08 PM	#2
40Coupe Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 91 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ken Keir wheelie bars I've often wondered if I need to go to a stiffer front spring. The front of the car can easily be topped out by hand lifting it. Front weight is 1900 lbs if memory serves me correctly. I have shimmed 180's in there now, it may be time to go to 200's. __________________ '67 Camaro 1.25 5.77 @ 118

02-20-2012, 04:15 PM	#3
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: Ken Keir wheelie bars are these shocks coil over?

02-20-2012, 05:09 PM	#4
SSGN Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 648 Likes: 134 Liked 195 Times in 52 Posts	Re: Ken Keir wheelie bars How many runs on the slicks?? Tire press.We chased a hook/shock settings and then put new tires on and it would hook in a car wash again,with shocks set tight Kevin Last edited by SSGN; 02-26-2012 at 09:25 PM.

02-20-2012, 05:50 PM	#6
1320racer VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,628 Likes: 160 Liked 759 Times in 379 Posts	Re: Ken Keir wheelie bars it is so they can also be run as a coil over shock. So you're running coil springs in the stock pockets and not coil over shocks?

02-20-2012, 06:02 PM	#7
40Coupe Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 91 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Ken Keir wheelie bars I'm running a factory type 5" OD spring (Santhuff 180 lb) which goes into the factory pockets. No coilovers. I don't doubt what you are saying that everything can be controlled with shocks, springs, travel settings. Ultimately, none of those things offer the margin of safety of having a wheelie bar back there if I happen to miss the suspension tuneup. If the track is marginal and I happen to be fighting traction, I'd like to be able to set things up full loose and let it eat and not worry about how high the wheelie is going to be. This car is nose heavy with little/no trunk overhang and I don't run ballast. I would imagine most first gen Camaro stockers run at least some amount of ballast in the trunk. Is there a problem with letting the front end rise and ride the bar a few feet if necessary? What are the drawbacks to a single wheelie bar? Am I still in for problems in good air if I miss the suspension tuneup and it hits the bars? __________________ '67 Camaro 1.25 5.77 @ 118

02-20-2012, 06:11 PM	#8
race watcher Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 50 Likes: 5 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Ken Keir wheelie bars I have not come across any drawbacks or disadvantages with the single wheel. However the bar is tunable. That is where the ET is.