Ok guy's i am going to enter the car into a street class to do some 1/4 mile races next year. the car was never used for that in the past and when i built it i left the stock iso style leafs in with the oval front bushing although i removed the rubber mounts on the spring perch and used the older solid setup. the car is a smallblock car with 727 and at the time had a mancini hemi style converter that flashes to 3k the gears were 3.23 with 28 inch tall street radials.engine was a mild 360 with manifolds. i was getting a 2.30 60 foot with just a tiny amount of spin on a prepped track, the car ws slow but super consistant ran 14.82 to 14.87 5 passes in a row. now that i want to race i am going to up the ante a bit. i am almost done a much hotter la 360 that has flat tops at zero deck with some ported magnum rt heads and rpm air gap some 1-5/8 headers that i had in stock. i have a few carbs to test out but for the track i am thinking i will run a nice 750 dp i have and i called dynamic and ordered a 9-1/2 converter form them that will match my set up. i have changed the rear end to a 3.91 with a sure grip and i found a set of 26-10.50-15 et streets that are new to start off with. so! with all this info and stuff going on i am thinking i will need to do somthing to get the rear end hooked so i can stay as consistent as possible i figure i need to dump the springs as i had trouble with those oval bushings before on a hot aspen rt i used to run. so should i go xhd? or super stock? i am willing to make some changes to get the car to launch but i know it is a heavy car with a small engine so i am not looking for any miracles! let me know what you think i am sticking with the smaller stock stroke 360 mostly due to budget and lots of stock!

james,

Caltracs would be my route, you could get away with an adjustable pinion snubber and slicks with what you have now which will improve your short times.

can't use caltracs with these springs as they have oval front bushings so i was thinking if i have to change springs anyways.....i have the snubber and some good tires to use. i like the idea of the caltracs as they are adjustable i have never used them but have heard nothing but good so far

If you are considering new springs Caltracs are the way to go. If you are dead set on keeping your current springs talk to a machine shop and have them make up some aluminum bushings for what you have....

i have no issue at all changing the springs. not sure how the car would launch with super stocks on there as they are cheaper than going mono springs and caltracs. it wont be a really high hp car so i am not sure what will be most cost effective but still give me what i need. this is not a dedicated strip car just doing a season or two with it for fun.

First thing on the list should be a drive shaft loop and frame connectors. US car tool has a nice bolt on one. http://www.manciniracing.com/bofrdrlo.html

i have a loop and i am getting a new shaft made as i have the small u bolt set up right now. not sure which route i am going to take with the frame connectors but there will be some in case i add more power down the road

My F-body has gone 1.53 with the stock main leaf and the spring pack from a 68 GTX mounted backwards (so the pack is thick up front). Still has the stock mushy front spring bushing as well. Front spring hanger is turned upside down to raise the front spring location. Car would hook in mud. It has 9 way single adjustable rear shocks. Front suspension and shocks are all stock with the sway bar removed.

nice car. the last ride i had before the charger was a 78 rt. it hooked much better once i put super stock springs on. you seem to be running more tire than i have right now and by the looks of it more engine too! do you feel it was worth building your own springs over getting a new set up? hard to argue with your 60 foot.

I'm cheap and the parts were free. For a street/strip car in my opinion the order of importance; #1 tires, #2 rear shocks, #3 stiff enough leaf spring or better yet a soft leaf spring and Cal Tracks, #4 front shocks. In my experience until you get past the mid 12's tires will usually handle most issues. The rest is generally power more than anything.
Doug

i think i agree with your order of importance. the feeling i get is my car is kind of binding up on launch. it does not feel free for lack of a better term.so as i have never used caltracs why a soft spring with them?

The spring only holds the car up with a Cal-Track. The only reason to use a stiff spring is without a lever (Cal-Track) is to keep the rear axle from winding up.
Doug