Single wheelie bar
 

Saw a picture of an A/SA Nova stocker at Maple Grove last weekend that had a single wheelie bar on it (car was built by Ken Keir). What's the advantage of that vs. a pair?
Thanks ahead of time,

Doug

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Now, this is my opinion only .

Safety...Have you ever seen a double wheel wheelie bar break or bend just one tube? It gets ugly real fast. At the Memphis Nat. in 2007 A. Bertozzi "lost" one side of his wheelie bars, and crossed the centerline between the tree and the 60' cone. He almost landed on the car in the other lane.

Now, when a single wheel wheelie bar is designed correctly and a tube breaks you just come up higher (depending on the car it could be significantly higher). When the integrity of one of the three tubes is compromised the other tubes just fold up (if you are using heim joints).

There are some other minor benifits, but safety is the biggest on for me. I love my wife, and want to keep her around as long as I can.

Bill

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

The note from Bill seems reasonable to me. I also have begun to see a few of the single bars. My question, with a 12 bolt rear or other rear with cover, how is the bar attached/centered on the housing? Who is building or selling as a kit?

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

I have seen this one but there must be more.

https://www.appliedracing.net/produc...9c2e240fb0e74a

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

The bottom mount on our wheelie bars is for the single tube. It was designed this way since it is in tension, the two upper bars are in compression which for a single bar would be a significant failure point.
The lower bar is mounted to a 4130 tube bent in a half moon, attached to the housing at either end of the center section, and then also in the middle to the center section. It almost looks as if it forms a cradle for the centersection.

Like I said before This is only my opinion, but it is the reason and way it is done on our car.

Bill

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Bill can you post a few pics of your setup?

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

This is the wheeliebar set-up I was talking about.
Doug

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

That's a nice looking set up.

To carry what Bill said further, regular two wheel bars will try to steer the car unless it leaves perfectly flat.

Anthony was in a huge wheelstand at Memphis, and the bars steered him right into the other lane, even though he had the orange wheels that are not supposed to steer the car. At a certain point, the car will no longer be flat and square when it gets really high, and all it takes is a little bias to unload one rear tire or the other slightly. Once it starts, it only gets worse, and fast.

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Thanks for posting the photo. That is a really nice set up. In fact the entire rear is well done. Anyone know who sells this kit?

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Shouldn't the spring/s be on the top bars (as they are under compression, not being pulled/compression)??

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

it "may" be that the spring is captured on each end so that the spring is stretched or expanded as the lower bar increases in length. Looks to me like the upper bars would swing up and the lower bar has a telescoping section that stretches the spring. More details would be a good thing. I also would like to know the builder.

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Here is the car it's installed on. So, if I understand, the only advantage to the single bar is in case of breakage?

Doug

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

where can i order one of these wheelie bars? that is pictured on the nova tied into rear end call me 585-507-0825 joe fiano

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Ken Keir Race Cars Components. 7605 Ginger Ln Owings, MD 20736-3104 301-855-4988

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Have seen the car and the wheelie bar. It is an aluminum plate that uses cover mounting studs. It is sandwiched between the housing and cover presumably with longer studs. No additional mounting or attachment. Very cool.

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Troy Henderson a/s also has built a single wheelie bar as mentioned in a previous post here.

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

I'm seeing more singles all the time. I put a set of regular bars on mine, and about the second time I tested with them it got up on them too hard at Tulsa, and I about took out the tree. I took them back off, until I can figure out how to use them. Been looking hard at going to a single bar. Slate Cummings has a single bar on his LS1 stocker. Looks like a good deal to me.

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

I see them used on small tire stockers mostly but, will they work as well on a big tire car like a super stock or a bracket car?

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

With the single wheelie bar, there is less roll resistance. Also, I would imagine that it takes possible unnecessary adjustments out of the equation, making it easier to tune the suspension and probably adding to consistency.

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

The one that Ken Keir makes is probly the neatest set up for a 12 bolt. If i remember right it sandwhiches a plate between the housing and rear cover so when working on the gear its completely out of the way. He was advertising it at the MIR race this fall but cant remember how much it was. Hell of a nice guy to talk to as well. Been building comp cars longer then ive been alive, very good name. Dave F posted his info a page back.

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Bob Bales invented this back in the 80's. Go to Autoimagery.com and look at the massive bar he uses.

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Lighter.. How much does unsprung weight hurt your shock/spring setup?

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

Here's mine in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeuurqL5mYE

Ken's is simplier in that it bolts directly to the housing. Mine has the lower bar going to brackets on the housing and the top is tied into my bolt on anti-roll. You can easily bolt to the top or the frame rails if you don't wan't to mess with an anitroll. The advantage with mine is it doesn't pivot with the axle, it stays stationary when the car launches. This keeps the rear tires from unloading. If you watch the wheel in my video it barely moves when I drop the clutch. I have been wanting to build a bunch of them but I just haven't had the time so if any wants to learn more shoot me an email and I'd be happy to fill you in.

Would you believe I had to use a 560lb-in spring to make it work the was I liked it :cool:

Re: Single wheelie bar
 

I have one of Troys wheelie bars on my car. No brainer to install and made the car way more consistant. Pretty easy to set up as well. Heres a pic of it in action...cant even tell its there when im driving its so smooth.