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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: sshemi]
#1246726
06/07/12 08:04 AM
06/07/12 08:04 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277
West Coast, USA
jbc426
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277
West Coast, USA
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I've never tried slide-a-links, but I do have my Caltracs adjusted with them backed off all the way, as far as they can go for the street.
They still work incredibly well and ride smooth except on the harshest bumbs.
When they are adjusted for the track, they are too harsh for normal street use on anything but the smoothest streets.
I am running AFCO Double adjustable shocks and they help tremendously, for what it's worth.
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's
1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: sshemi]
#1246727
06/07/12 12:03 PM
06/07/12 12:03 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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You can also back the Cal-Tracs off to loosen them up for the street. The Cal-Tracs are definitely a superior setup. 
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: an8sec70cuda]
#1246728
06/07/12 02:41 PM
06/07/12 02:41 PM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,128
sweden
sshemi
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,128
sweden
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Quote:
You can also back the Cal-Tracs off to loosen them up for the street.
The Cal-Tracs are definitely a superior setup.
can you help me understand that? to me they look almost identical.
And how can you make the caltracs all loose? its still a solid rod right?
If you loosen the slide-a-links all the way it does nothing, its like its not there.
Help me understand 
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: sshemi]
#1246729
06/07/12 03:07 PM
06/07/12 03:07 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
StealthWedge67
master
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master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
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Cal tracs are NOT just a solid rod. The rod is threaded at both ends, reverse of each other, so they are completely adjustable. My buddy has slide-A-links on his Nova, and I have Cal-Tracs.... There is no comparison materials quality wise. The slide-A-links seem to be a light-weight tube that is threaded on the inside, while the caltracs feature heavy guage materials, and the ends of the adjustable bar have a large nut welded into the ends. Cal-Tracs have a beautiful powder-coated finish, while the Slide-A-Links, I believe, are anodized. Also, Calvert offers a complete system designed to work together. I don't think Competition Engineering even makes a reccomendation on spring rates to use with their bars (???).
Buy the Calvert stuff!
LemonWedge - Street heavy / Strip ready - 11.07 @ 120
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: sshemi]
#1246731
06/07/12 04:38 PM
06/07/12 04:38 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
StealthWedge67
master
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master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,319
Puyallup, WA
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Quote:
I dont understand how the caltracs can let the spring work as the bars cant get any longer or shorter as the leaf spring does?
And i dont hink you need calvert springs to make it work, they are just single leafs witch help unsprung weight.
I'll preface by saying that I,ve never worked with Slide-A-Links. I've just watched a buddy work with them. (Edit: Ive taken a good look at the Slide-A-Link install instructions)
You'll have to explain to me how leaf springs change length.... They arch, but they do not change length. All the moving parts in the bar section of the slide's would make me a little nervous. I like the fact that the Cal-tracs adjustability is at the spring, not in a slidable section of the bar.
As far as the Split Mono's, I think you're over simplifying things a bit. They are a (2) part spring with different spring rates front and rear to optimize the way they work with the bars. They're not absolutely necessary, but they are a combo proven to have the ability to plant some pretty fast cars.
I'm not saying the Competition Engineering stuff doesn't work, I'm sure it works just fine. I'm just saying that I'm very happy with my choice to go with Calvert, and I'd go this direction again without hesitation. I do adjust mine to have zero preload on the street where they ride very nice, and quickly adjust preload into them for the track where my car flat sticks on 255 drag radials.
Last edited by GEnsrud; 06/07/12 10:14 PM.
LemonWedge - Street heavy / Strip ready - 11.07 @ 120
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: sshemi]
#1246733
06/07/12 10:53 PM
06/07/12 10:53 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 553
Kentucky
clovis
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 553
Kentucky
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And i dont hink you need calvert springs to make it work, they are just single leafs witch help unsprung weight.
Aldough i believe you need a "weak" spring with alot of wrap up to make it work good.
I just traded out my "weak" original 6 cylinder springs for the Cal-Trac mono's and I have to say that the car 60fts slightly better but it is far more consistent at this point (1.397/1.385/1.396). When I weighed the mono's against the stock springs it was just a few pounds lighter per side. As much as I hated shelling out the $400, I will have to say that the monos were a good investment. With the whole set-up together Cal-trac, mono, ranchos and 90/10's I feel confident in making adjustments and the car is working better now than ever. I see a consistent 1.35 60ft in my future.
Last edited by clovis; 06/07/12 10:56 PM.
'75 Plymouth Duster
Phase I 451 906/590/2-660 10.75/126
Phase II 451 Stage VI/590/1050 9.82/135
Phase III 383 906/Victor-Pump gas 11.30/119
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,"
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: alice]
#1246737
06/08/12 08:08 AM
06/08/12 08:08 AM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Quote:
I'm not saying the Competition Engineering stuff doesn't work, I'm sure it works just fine. 
Alice why do you cut and paste on all of your post...
looked at a few of your post and each was just a
cut and paste statement from someone else 
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#1246738
06/08/12 09:01 AM
06/08/12 09:01 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,050
Bowling Green, KY
cudaboy
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,050
Bowling Green, KY
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Quote:
Quote:
I'm not saying the Competition Engineering stuff doesn't work, I'm sure it works just fine.
Alice why do you cut and paste on all of your post...
looked at a few of your post and each was just a
cut and paste statement from someone else
Look at "her" profile. Spammer.
Dennis
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: cudaboy]
#1246739
06/08/12 09:31 AM
06/08/12 09:31 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,552
Michigan
Kiddart
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,552
Michigan
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I am having a hard time following this thread. If not mistaken the original question was to ask what the differences and reation of each to the suspension from the slide a links to the calverts??? I think. My brother has the slid a links on his dart he likes them but complains alot of the rear end feels as if it kind of floats or walks. hard to explaine its a feel thing. he did change from a ss spring to a HD spring it feels better to him, the spring rates are the same. thats all i know about that. I would like to see two guys that run each system explain why and what they like about each system. on a side note I told my brother to swap out the rubber on the slide a links to a billit spacer then see how it reacts?? Kiddart 
Thank you
Kiddart
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: sshemi]
#1246741
06/08/12 10:48 AM
06/08/12 10:48 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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Quote:
Quote:
You can also back the Cal-Tracs off to loosen them up for the street.
The Cal-Tracs are definitely a superior setup.
can you help me understand that? to me they look almost identical.
And how can you make the caltracs all loose? its still a solid rod right?
If you loosen the slide-a-links all the way it does nothing, its like its not there.
Help me understand
If you look at the front pivot point of the Cal-Tracs setup, you'll see that if you shorten the bar, it will take all the preload off of the spring. You can back it way off where there is an air gap and the bar will never put pressure on the spring even if you run over a railroad track. There is a lot of adjustment on the bar...heim joints on both ends.
The Cal-Tracs don't have the goofy bushing and they are made of much thicker/stronger material. A friend of mine and headsup racer switched from Slide-a-links to Cal-Tracs and was very happy after doing so.
The Cal-Trac setup is just a better system, period.
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link?
[Re: sshemi]
#1246743
06/08/12 12:58 PM
06/08/12 12:58 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,365
Marion, South Carolina [><]
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Quote:
My consern was if the caltracs (when loosened) lets the spring work.
And it seems that it does (aldough im not 100% convinsed) so i guess the caltracs are a better design.
Have you even looked at a Cal-Trac setup before?
http://calvertracing.com/caltracs.php
It's pretty simple.
CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
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