I am planning on using my brand new slicks and I thought it would be a good idea to run it by you guys. My 396 is making near 299HP at the rear wheels per my latest dyno and I have the original rear suspension. It all looks good and has held up fine in the latest drag races. I just have too much of a traction problem with my stock SS wheels and tires and got some 28x10 slicks.

I have a brand new clutch, and rebuilt most of my original M20. I have had my drive shaft rebalanced and replaced the U-joints with extra-heavy duty ones. I have 3.90:1 gears and as far as I know the stock axles. So i'm thinking the rear end may be the weak link. Not that my engine is a torque monster, but what do you guys think about the stock axles and traction arms? Thanks.........

i think the stock control arms have gotten a bad rap- all the loading on them is along the length of the arm with no torsional loads, so i can's see why they would break or anything.
has anyone tried a set of spendy aftermarket control arms with stock rubber bushings and see how they compare to the stockers under different kinds of stresses?
stock axles, tho, are a weak link- and once you beef them up, the differential becomes the weak link...

With the modest amount of power your car is producing, you will be fine. If you get any kind of serious traction with no spin at all the Muncie will likely be your weakest point. But I'm going to guess the tires will spin just a bit and that's not entirely a bad thing (it's easier on the drivetrain).

If your rear suspension has old worn out bushings the extra traction will likely cause some wheel hop. Unless it was seriously abused or rebuilt poorly, the differential, axles and stock control arms should be more than enough to handle some drag strip use.

Boxed rear lower arms and a stock style 7/8" rear sway bar (F41 set up) would help both at the track and everyday driving pleasure. If you install the F41 rear sway bar, be sure to also install the F41 front sway bar to keep things balanced. If I recall correctly, the F41 used a slightly larger front bar than the F40 package did.

Thanks guys, I feel better. One day I will probably get the boxed arms and sway bars.

box the arms you have now, and when you upgrade the sway bar, get one that doesn't bolt to the lower arms. that's just a crappy design that GM used so they could save a few bucks on each car on the line.

Where else would you bolt on the sway bar? The frame?

Where else would you bolt on the sway bar? The frame?
go look under any Camaro to see the second best way to do it- the bar is mounted to the bottom of the rear end housing with links going up to the frame. someone just came out with a sway bay that mounts just that way within the last couple of years.
but the best way to do it would be to mount the bar above the axle on the frame, and run links down to the axle. this would give the least amount of unsprung weight, but packaging exhaust and what not might be hard.

Interesting Dale. I will look at some Camaros next time I get a chance.

Sergio,as Derrick mentioned you can box your current control arms and add a swaybar.
The inserts to box the arms is $30 or so and they will need to be welded.
GM still sells the factory swaybar too.
Part # 394926 www.gmpartsdirect.com

Interesting Dale. I will look at some Camaros next time I get a chance.

who's Dale?

Sorry Derrick, I looked at your quote by Dale Gribble and misread it as your name. Ha, sorry.

Where else would you bolt on the sway bar? The frame?

Checkout

www.HRPartsnstuff.com

Look at their rear swaybar. Nice piece but a little spendy at $500!!
John