Moparts
Caltracs with Stock leafs
Posted By: mshred
Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 12:33 AM
Hey guys,
Im working on the suspension of my 71 scamp as some of you guys on here already know...Ive had a few leads of what direction to go in, and have been offerred a set of SS springs, but not sure how long its going to be before i see them, and id like to fix the suspension and get the car out again this year for a few passes to see if it will hook.
That being said, I called calvert awhile back and talked with them about their bars. I know they flat out work for 95% of the guys out there, so im thinking of picking up a set with the rancho shocks and their 90/10's. However, i know that the monoleafs arent exactly the most street friendly and my car is 90% street car (contradictory to the tech guy at calvert who said the monos should last at the very least a couple years on the street). Id like a decent ride, and from what i hear the monos dont have that (could be that guys are running them on the street the way they have em adjusted for the track, not sure though)
Im wondering how well the caltracs work with factory leaf springs. I have 6cyl leafs with a leaf added to each to stiffen them up and bring up the height some. When calvert first came out with the caltracs as far as i know they had no monoleafs and their stuff stil worked...or did it not? im looking for your guys opinions on running them with the stock leafs on my car...how well would they work? would i have to remove that extra leaf i added for stiffness as it may work against the caltracs? ive never really seen this question asked before, so i figure it would be good to see whos running them like this
any input is appreciated!
thanks guys!
Matthew
Posted By: Eric
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 12:43 AM
I ran them on my Duster with great results..1.40 60ft's with a pump gas .509 cammed 440. I disassembled the old springs and put them together using the stiffer springs in the right side. 1/2 turn of preload in the right and the left just touching the spring..
Posted By: DaveRS23
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 01:44 AM
I run my stock 40 year old 318 springs with Cal-Tracs. 1.5 60s for a street car is not too bad. I like this combo and I doubt that changing to their monos would pick up the 60 enough to offset the expense, trouble, and questionable reliability. Besides, the car doesn't ride too bad like this.
Posted By: Runner
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 01:46 AM
how noisy are they on the street?
Posted By: Quicksilver440
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 01:50 AM
Quote:
... However, i know that the monoleafs arent exactly the most street friendly and my car is 90% street car (contradictory to the tech guy at calvert who said the monos should last at the very least a couple years on the street). Id like a decent ride, and from what i hear the monos dont have that (could be that guys are running them on the street the way they have em adjusted for the track, not sure though)
I have ran my calvert monos for 5 years on the street...they are just fine.
And they ride better than SS springs.....Especially if you replaced the front aluminum bushing with a poly or rubber one (I ran a rubber one for a few years and it rode great with the bars backed off).
Posted By: theclutcher
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 02:49 AM
?????
Have had Caltracs and 1/2" mono leafs on street cuda since '98. no problem, ride is fine, .090 gap between spring and stop.
just some rattles, had my springs made at local spring shop per Calverts specs before he sold leafs.
Multi leaf acceptable as long as they are symetrical, no bias.
Posted By: Thumperdart
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 03:15 AM
I have no problems w/the cal-trac system on the street at all. Loosen the shocks, take out pre-load and it`s a nice ride and when you race just tighten up the shocks and add the desired pre-load and you`re good to go. You hear all kinds of different opinions and you just have to make your own based on those I guess.
Posted By: MoparDonny
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 08:46 AM
Any pictures of your ride height at rest with the mono's? Do they sag after a while. I was gonna just put their bars on my XHD springs but they aren't a symetrical spring so I was a bit worried about that.
Posted By: theclutcher
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 02:37 PM
the leaf only has to hold the car at the desired hgt.
Once caltracs are installed they controll axle windup.
Do you have local access to a spring manufacturer?
someone make truck springs/repair?
I think I still have print laying around.
or just use a set of good 4 leaf slant six dart springs. think they are symetrical.
If you have a spring pile you could take the leafs apart and make you own set as long as they are the same dimensions.
Use a heavy main leaf and a few smaller ones to suite your ride hgt desires.
Posted By: Thumperdart
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/14/10 04:29 PM
Quote:
Any pictures of your ride height at rest with the mono's? Do they sag after a while. I was gonna just put their bars on my XHD springs but they aren't a symetrical spring so I was a bit worried about that.
Don`t have any photos but mine are at least 7 years old and can`t really tell if they`ve sagged or not. They are symetrical and I love em WAY more than ss springs.
Posted By: mshred
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 03:52 PM
hey guys,
i appreciate all the responses! Part of the reason why im wondering if the caltracs will work with stock springs is the cost of the mono's...im surprised that so many have had good results with the monos, both on the street, and on the track...when i talked to calvert he said the most they get out of their monos is about 4 years, and thats on race only cars...question though, if i back off the preload and shocks for the street, will the car not hook at all for the odd stoplight blast?
Also, if i do end up using my stock springs, i was going to remove the added leaf, but im not sure what you guys mean by the whole symetrical spring thing and making sure the springs i use are...the springs i have are stock 6cyl leafs, so i was thinking of removing the leaf and getting them both arched the same and using them...make sense, or are you guys talking about something different?
thanks for all the replies thus far btw! im even considering the monos now if money permits!
Posted By: theclutcher
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 04:00 PM
equal length and same thickness of segments.
side by side they are identical.
no preload on street is fine, you shouldnt be worried about max et on street anyway... save it for the track, enjoy cruisin for what it is.
Posted By: mshred
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 05:58 PM
Quote:
equal length and same thickness of segments.
side by side they are identical.
no preload on street is fine, you shouldnt be worried about max et on street anyway... save it for the track, enjoy cruisin for what it is.
so would factory 6cyl springs be the same length and equal thickness as well? if i read your other post correctly, you mentioned a diagram or dimensions or something, were they of symetrical springs? also, im not worried about street racing, but its nice to have a little fun sometimes...just wondering if the car will hook at all with no preload
Posted By: Randy..
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 06:21 PM
stock s6 springs on my sig pic, just moved in.
for ride hight ref tire is a 29.5x10.5.
Posted By: Triple Threat
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 08:42 PM
As other have already stated, mono's are no problem on the street. The big pain, literally, is if you run the bars with preload in them. I have everything Calvert offers; bars, monos, 90/10's and ranchos. I drive the car the same way I race it. Stop and go traffic, to and from work, always the same. I do have preload in the bars, so it rides about like a 1 ton truck.
Posted By: mshred
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 09:40 PM
Quote:
As other have already stated, mono's are no problem on the street. The big pain, literally, is if you run the bars with preload in them. I have everything Calvert offers; bars, monos, 90/10's and ranchos. I drive the car the same way I race it. Stop and go traffic, to and from work, always the same. I do have preload in the bars, so it rides about like a 1 ton truck.
its good to hear that both with stock leafs and the monos the setup works, and its also good to know that the mono's without preload drive fine..triple threat, do you ever drive on the street without preload? would having preload on the street wear out the monos faster you think? i like my car to be ready for action wherever i am lol
also, another question for everyone, what pinion angle do the caltracs like? i have mine currently set somewhere around 5 deg. nose down, but im wondering if im going to have to shim it at all for caltracs
thanks!
Posted By: Thumperdart
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 09:44 PM
My pinion angle is bet. 4 1/2-5 degrees nose down and I drive w/about a 1/4" gap on the street w/shocks on 1 or 2 settings and race w/a flat or two preload on the pass and just touching on dr. side w/the shocks on 4 or 5 w/rancho 5-ways.
Posted By: Triple Threat
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 09:48 PM
Mine always have preload, I'm too lazy to adjust the bars twice a week. Considering I race the car nearly every weekend and drive it around M-F I just leave it alone and deal with a little stiffer of a ride.
As for wearing out the monos I'm not sure, and I haven't given it too much thought. Theoretically every time the spring compresses and rebounds it wears out a little bit. As for if the bars compound that action I would guess no, but I've been wrong before.
-Dustin
Posted By: mshred
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 10:28 PM
Quote:
Mine always have preload, I'm too lazy to adjust the bars twice a week. Considering I race the car nearly every weekend and drive it around M-F I just leave it alone and deal with a little stiffer of a ride.
As for wearing out the monos I'm not sure, and I haven't given it too much thought. Theoretically every time the spring compresses and rebounds it wears out a little bit. As for if the bars compound that action I would guess no, but I've been wrong before.
-Dustin
how long have you been running the setup like this for? do you know what your pinion angle is roughly or what calvert recommends?
Thumper, thanks for your specs, i appreciate the info!
Posted By: Thumperdart
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 10:36 PM
No problem..............I`d go w/the complete cal-tracs system instead of just the bars but, that`s just me.
Posted By: Triple Threat
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/15/10 11:17 PM
Not very long, only about half the season. Maybe 50 passes and 500 street miles.
Pinion angle should be a couple degrees nose down, about 2 I think. Always best to call them and ask. Their customer service is top notch.
Posted By: an8sec70cuda
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/16/10 12:42 PM
The same mono springs have been on mine for about 8 years.
Posted By: fishy340
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/16/10 12:50 PM
IT SAYS DO NOT USE W SS LEAF SPRINGS...NOT RECOMENDED! spend the $ and get the split leafs u wont be sorry.
Posted By: 6PKRTSE
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/16/10 05:25 PM
I have Cal-Tracs & 1" lower that stock height split momo's with a 1" relocation Doctor Diff kit to get 315 Drag Radials on the back of my 70 Challenger. I was told if you are going to run Caltrac's with any serious power then also add the split mono's. I have yet to test them out.
Posted By: mshred
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/16/10 11:33 PM
Quote:
IT SAYS DO NOT USE W SS LEAF SPRINGS...NOT RECOMENDED! spend the $ and get the split leafs u wont be sorry.
I dont have SS springs, just stock 6cyl leafs...before the monos came out from calvert, thats what people were using i believe
thanks for all the opinions thus far...im surprised that you all have put so many years on your monos when calvert told me they will wear out very quickly...guess it depends on how many miles you drive?
ill have to look into the pinion angle thing when i call them i guess, as it might make a difference being that my car is a stick
thanks all for the suggestions and replies! has made my choice much easier thats for sure
Posted By: theclutcher
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/17/10 04:24 PM
I had a local manufacturer make a couple pair of 1/2" one pc mono-leafs for me to my specs.
John Calvert advised me what to look for as far as measurements relating to ride hgt car wght and spring arch. This was 10 years ago.
Back then we were discussing the feasability of fiberglass leafs, dont know if it ever came to fruition.
If I recall the six banger springs are identical left and right, you have to look at what you have.
Posted By: tex013
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/17/10 11:09 PM
i just fitted caltracs to my 68 satellite
i have mopar XHD leaf springs,extra on right
it smoothed out the launch a bunch,no change to sixty.this is with equal ,1/4 turn,preload both sides.
car is a lot more square on launch
still have to see how tight rear shocks need for the strip.
this pic without caltracs
Tex
Posted By: tex013
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/17/10 11:11 PM
this pic with caltracs,i think this was early and had too soft rear shock setting
Tex
Posted By: MoparDonny
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/19/10 03:00 AM
Tex, that first pic is the same way my car launches. Really squats like a chevy. Looks like the Caltracs really helped level out the launch. Probably feels better out of the hole too.
Don.
Posted By: tex013
Re: Caltracs with Stock leafs - 08/24/10 11:09 PM
Don,
gees i'm late on the reply.
this is the only shot i have seen so far with caltracs fitted.
Yes the car does launch squarer.
Yes the car does launch a LOT smoother.It used to launch very violently,flip the mirror etc.Feels like an elevater now
Does not,so far,seemed to have shortened 60' just made it more consistant.that night went 1.599,1.606,1.593,1.593.
Tex