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leaf springs for street strip car

Posted By: 73cuda340

leaf springs for street strip car - 04/19/18 04:57 PM

I'm looking at replacing the original springs on my 73 cuda. The car squats noticeably in the rear. What seems to be the opinion on the best setup for a street strip car? The car is a 528 hemi with a 4 speed, so I want something that will help it hook. I don't want any of the springs that lower the rear that I see everywhere, but at the same time I don't want the back of the car to have a huge amount rake to it either. I don't mind if the car has a rough ride to it. I've read mixed reviews on the super stocks and caltracs. I understand the caltracs will give a slight E.T. improvement, but I don't really want to have the bars hanging doen low and causing any ground clearance issues.
Posted By: Porter67

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/19/18 05:08 PM

Look further into caltracks and there mono springs, I think they have there +1 ones that settle nice, the caltracks themselves ive never had an issue with them being too low and have never heard anyone else unless your pothole shooting and ditch jumping.

With your 528 the calvert parts will take it all and make it work.
Posted By: GY3

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/19/18 07:02 PM

The Cal-Trac bars don't hang down and cause any ground clearance on my car. I did the super stock spring thing and they wear out after about a year and completely lose their arch.

I run mine all over on the street with Cal-tracs and love them!
Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/19/18 07:09 PM

Originally Posted By GY3
The Cal-Trac bars don't hang down and cause any ground clearance on my car. I did the super stock spring thing and they wear out after about a year and completely lose their arch.

I run mine all over on the street with Cal-tracs and love them!

iagree Same here. Cal-Tracs or Assassin Bars (very similar to Cal-Tracs) are as good as it gets for leaf spring traction. Both are about the same as far as ground clearance. I've never had a clearance issue w/ mine.

Attached picture launch 2.jpg
Posted By: 73cuda340

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 12:51 AM

Do the caltrac mono leafs bolt right up, or are different hangers required? How is the handling?
Posted By: forphorty

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 01:13 AM

Maybe I shouldn't say this. I think if your 528 hemi with 4 speed hooks well that you will quickly destroy your 8.75 .
Posted By: Cab_Burge

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 03:25 AM

Originally Posted By forphorty
Maybe I shouldn't say this. I think if your 528 hemi with 4 speed hooks well that you will quickly destroy your 8.75 .
iagree shruggy wrench
Stick shift cars drivetrain are cannibal, you must feed them parts twocents work
It can be tires, clutches, drive shafts, U joints, axles, rear end parts or what ever parts you choose shruggy
Of course you must remember also that your right foot controls how much power the engine feeds to the drivetrain work shruggy
Good luck either way thumbs
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 03:55 AM

I just did all this with my 71 Demon (stroker small block stick car which will soon be in the 600HP range). I went with a new Strange Dana 60, Caltracs bars with thier Mono leaf and 9 way adjustable shocks, etc. I also added a new Passon OD trans, drive shaft, new clutch, and a Lakewood bell housing. So far I'm happy

*The worst part of the swap? Installing the POS Lakewood Scatter shield.

Attached picture Cal 1.jpg
Attached picture Cal 2.jpg
Posted By: calrobb2000

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 03:58 AM

hi
i have a 73 cuda not the fastest car ever 12.31 @ 110 .

i installed 460 & 461 ss springs in 1986 and they work perfect and have never saged !

type in, mason dixon mopar 2017 cuda and you can see me make a few runs.
Posted By: GY3

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 05:16 AM

Originally Posted By Cab_Burge
Originally Posted By forphorty
Maybe I shouldn't say this. I think if your 528 hemi with 4 speed hooks well that you will quickly destroy your 8.75 .
iagree shruggy wrench
Stick shift cars drivetrain are cannibal, you must feed them parts twocents work
It can be tires, clutches, drive shafts, U joints, axles, rear end parts or what ever parts you choose shruggy
Of course you must remember also that your right foot controls how much power the engine feeds to the drivetrain work shruggy
Good luck either way thumbs



Yep, I had to step up to a Dana 60 and 1350 u-joints. My car kept finding the weak points in the drivetrain last summer. Get a rear yoke that uses u-bolts while you are at it.

Sticky tires and power find the weak links. 4 speeds make it worse.
Posted By: GY3

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 05:18 AM

Originally Posted By calrobb2000
hi
i have a 73 cuda not the fastest car ever 12.31 @ 110 .

i installed 460 & 461 ss springs in 1986 and they work perfect and have never saged !

type in, mason dixon mopar 2017 cuda and you can see me make a few runs.


The early Made In America ones were great. The current ones are made in Mexico. They lose arch quickly. It is well documented.
Posted By: topside

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 05:36 AM

I'd say go directly to the Caltracs setup, with a Dana 60, or at the very least a backbrace on - and serious parts in - the 8.75, if sticky tires are planned.
Back in the '60s the SS Hemi cars were bending the 8.75s hooking what they had back then; Missile VI went into Famoso's return road sideways, and it got captured on film.
Posted By: GY3

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 06:00 AM

Originally Posted By 73cuda340
Do the caltrac mono leafs bolt right up, or are different hangers required? How is the handling?


Yes, they bolt in.

I live out here in the Kansas flatlands so about all the "handling" I see is highway on ramps. That said, I have no complaints. They will make some "clicking" noises as they articulate. Nothing too annyoying, though.
Posted By: Wailin D

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 06:53 AM

What about Tri City Competition springs?
Posted By: 73cuda340

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 03:14 PM

I plan on putting a dana 60 in as well, just haven't gotten to it yet.
Posted By: 340Cuda

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/20/18 03:28 PM

I agree with the many that recommend Cal-Trac springs and bars.

Give them a call, they have great customer service and can help you pick the right spring and ride hight you want.

Good luck,
Bill
Posted By: 73cuda340

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/21/18 03:05 AM

How do the mono leafs handle on the street in corners?
Posted By: 73cuda340

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/23/18 04:16 AM

Does anybody run these on the street?
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/23/18 05:59 AM

Quote:
How do the mono leafs handle on the street in corners?



Just fine
Posted By: Evil Spirit

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/23/18 07:32 AM

Originally Posted By Cab_Burge

Of course you must remember also that your right foot controls how much power the engine feeds to the drivetrain work shruggy
Good luck either way thumbs


When you have pets, you have to let them eat LOL
Posted By: OhioMopar

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/23/18 09:28 AM

Originally Posted By an8sec70cuda

iagree Same here. Cal-Tracs or Assassin Bars (very similar to Cal-Tracs) are as good as it gets for leaf spring traction. Both are about the same as far as ground clearance. I've never had a clearance issue w/ mine.

What springs did you run with your Assassin Bars?
Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/23/18 04:41 PM

Originally Posted By OhioMopar
Originally Posted By an8sec70cuda

iagree Same here. Cal-Tracs or Assassin Bars (very similar to Cal-Tracs) are as good as it gets for leaf spring traction. Both are about the same as far as ground clearance. I've never had a clearance issue w/ mine.

What springs did you run with your Assassin Bars?

I have Cal-Tracs.

The Calvert mono springs handle just fine on the street. I've out a bunch of miles on mine.

Don't bother putting "good parts" in the 8.75. There's nothing you can do to fix what's weak. After you twist the axles, you'll break the diff, then you'll break the gear, then the main caps. Somewhere in there the housing will get bent. Save your money for a Dana if you ever plan on getting the thing to hook.
Keep in on the street spinning the tires and the 8.75 will probably live a long time.
Posted By: OhioMopar

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/23/18 08:32 PM

Originally Posted By an8sec70cuda
Originally Posted By OhioMopar
Originally Posted By an8sec70cuda

iagree Same here. Cal-Tracs or Assassin Bars (very similar to Cal-Tracs) are as good as it gets for leaf spring traction. Both are about the same as far as ground clearance. I've never had a clearance issue w/ mine.

What springs did you run with your Assassin Bars?

I have Cal-Tracs.

The Calvert mono springs handle just fine on the street. I've out a bunch of miles on mine.

I'm sorry, I misread. I would like to run Assassin bars, but I have Super Stock springs now. I'm not sure if it would be wise to run those with the Assassins or not. I know you "can", the question is "should I"! I haven't decided against Caltracs, I just would like to run Assassin Bars. (I already have the Dana)
Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/23/18 08:40 PM

Originally Posted By OhioMopar
Originally Posted By an8sec70cuda
Originally Posted By OhioMopar
Originally Posted By an8sec70cuda

iagree Same here. Cal-Tracs or Assassin Bars (very similar to Cal-Tracs) are as good as it gets for leaf spring traction. Both are about the same as far as ground clearance. I've never had a clearance issue w/ mine.

What springs did you run with your Assassin Bars?

I have Cal-Tracs.

The Calvert mono springs handle just fine on the street. I've out a bunch of miles on mine.

I'm sorry, I misread. I would like to run Assassin bars, but I have Super Stock springs now. I'm not sure if it would be wise to run those with the Assassins or not. I know you "can", the question is "should I"! I haven't decided against Caltracs, I just would like to run Assassin Bars. (I already have the Dana)

The Assassin bars work on the same principle as Cal-Tracs, just have a slightly different design and more adjustments. I would not run them w/ SS springs...get the Calvert mono springs.
Posted By: 383man

Re: leaf springs for street strip car - 04/28/18 12:21 AM

Myself I just run Super Stock springs on my 63 and I have been very happy with them. I bought my SS springs around 2008 from Mancini as they are the ones rated at 3400 lbs. They have been on my car a good 10 years and have not sagged at all as the car still sits as it did when I put them on. I like them because the car drives nice and is not noisey and they work ok at the track. I do agree the Cal Tracs when tuned it will give you the best 60 ft but I don't think I would get more then about a tenth pick-up in my 60 if I changed to Cal Tracs so I just stay with the SS springs for now since they work fine for me. Ron

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