Tow Hubs - Page 3

henrys57wagon · 05-01-2012, 12:49 PM

Also sold my home made hubs a few years ago. Don't like to sell stuff but have to whittle down so the kids don't have to throw JUNK out when??.

Rich Biebel · 05-01-2012, 01:58 PM

Got stopped by a policeman as I pulled out of a gas station heading to the track. The slope of the driveway and the sharp turn we made flopped the towed cars wheels opposite of the direction we were heading in....A common problem with flat towing....I dragged the car across the highway and told the cop this happened sometimes. He didn't write me a ticket but was convinced something was wrong and I needed to fix it. I assured him I would and thanked him and off we went.

Flat towing was not a good way to get to the track......Many stories and adventures occured during that era from flat towing mishaps....

We built a ramp truck for our next car and that was a lot better but still far from what everyone enjoys today.

Basically being on the road, period, can be an adventure......

Ed Wright · 05-01-2012, 02:14 PM

Rich, a long tow bar and ten degrees or more positive caster will fix that.

Rich Biebel · 05-01-2012, 02:53 PM

Ed....Tow bar mounting point heights on the 2 cars was an issue as I recall.
Getting 10 degrees positve caster in most cars would require some serious metal working......Mostly cutting the uppper control arms and welding them back together to get that positive caster.

Stopping was another issue when flat towing......We sometimes had someone ride in the racecar and work the brakes when issues popped up with the tow car brakes......

Ed Wright · 05-01-2012, 05:18 PM

Rich, the tow bar needs to be level. The way I got that much caster was the off-set upper-inner shafts Moog sold for the old Chevys to correct camber when the frames started to sag. Gave a lot more adjustment. (Had to start eating more salad to make up for all the new shins. LOL) I have cut & welded upper control arms too. Not usually needed on the '55-'57 Chevys. Those upper shaft kits normally were all that was needed.

Bob Don · 05-01-2012, 07:42 PM

We sold a bunch of tow hubs and kits when I worked at a speed shop in the 70s. The kit also came with a sticker that said "Race Car in Tow". It was WAY cool to have one of those stickers on the back window of your hopped up street car!

05-01-2012, 12:49 PM	#21
henrys57wagon Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Carleton Place, On. Canada Posts: 107 Likes: 5 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Tow Hubs Also sold my home made hubs a few years ago. Don't like to sell stuff but have to whittle down so the kids don't have to throw JUNK out when??. __________________ old 1608 stock racer

05-01-2012, 01:58 PM	#22
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Tow Hubs Got stopped by a policeman as I pulled out of a gas station heading to the track. The slope of the driveway and the sharp turn we made flopped the towed cars wheels opposite of the direction we were heading in....A common problem with flat towing....I dragged the car across the highway and told the cop this happened sometimes. He didn't write me a ticket but was convinced something was wrong and I needed to fix it. I assured him I would and thanked him and off we went. Flat towing was not a good way to get to the track......Many stories and adventures occured during that era from flat towing mishaps.... We built a ramp truck for our next car and that was a lot better but still far from what everyone enjoys today. Basically being on the road, period, can be an adventure...... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

05-01-2012, 02:14 PM	#23
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Tow Hubs Rich, a long tow bar and ten degrees or more positive caster will fix that. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

05-01-2012, 02:53 PM	#24
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,314 Likes: 25 Liked 544 Times in 213 Posts	Re: Tow Hubs Ed....Tow bar mounting point heights on the 2 cars was an issue as I recall. Getting 10 degrees positve caster in most cars would require some serious metal working......Mostly cutting the uppper control arms and welding them back together to get that positive caster. Stopping was another issue when flat towing......We sometimes had someone ride in the racecar and work the brakes when issues popped up with the tow car brakes...... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Stock 147R

05-01-2012, 05:18 PM	#25
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Tow Hubs Rich, the tow bar needs to be level. The way I got that much caster was the off-set upper-inner shafts Moog sold for the old Chevys to correct camber when the frames started to sag. Gave a lot more adjustment. (Had to start eating more salad to make up for all the new shins. LOL) I have cut & welded upper control arms too. Not usually needed on the '55-'57 Chevys. Those upper shaft kits normally were all that was needed. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

05-01-2012, 07:42 PM	#26
Bob Don VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Greater Boston Posts: 1,495 Likes: 1,116 Liked 900 Times in 191 Posts	Re: Tow Hubs We sold a bunch of tow hubs and kits when I worked at a speed shop in the 70s. The kit also came with a sticker that said "Race Car in Tow". It was WAY cool to have one of those stickers on the back window of your hopped up street car! __________________ Bob Don 128 SS