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76 duster traction with caltracks questions

Posted By: dmking

76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/04/11 09:28 PM

i have a 76 duster 440 indy heads (old torquers i think) lupo dynamic converter 5400 to 5600rpm flash. 29x30x10 d5 hoosiers at 12psi to 13.5psi
i am getting sick of it having margional traction unless a well prepped track when others are hooking well.
i have caltracks with the by leaf springs rancho adjustible shocks set on the soft side (3 i think) and QA1 fronts at 3.
the links are in the upper hole at 1/4 turn of preload.
the 60ft at maplegrove and cecil is usually 1.46 to 1.47 when it bites.
i am looking to get it to work better on the margional tracks like everyone else can do.
does preload on the links effect how hard it hits the tires?
Posted By: Dodgem

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/04/11 10:22 PM

I would give it another 3/4 to full turn of preload and set the shocks on 8.
Posted By: Guitar Jones

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/04/11 10:26 PM

I had identical problems with mine, I could get it too hook good but as the night went on it could be hit and miss. I solved it by going to a four link and 14.5/32's. A lot of guys think and will tell you that CalTracs are just the best and their 8 second cars always hook. Well either they are being less than truthful or they run on some very nice well prepped tracks all the time or they use progressive nitrous or boost controllers and/or traction control equipment.

Don't get me wrong, CalTracs are probably the best thing out there for a leaf spring car but if you don't have to keep a leaf spring a four link is much better.

I'm sure others will disagree with me but that's my

Flame on.
Posted By: 604 Hemi GTX

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/04/11 10:50 PM

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=288916&highlight=caltrac
Try this link lots of good info on caltracs
Kevin
Posted By: dmking

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/04/11 10:57 PM

with more preload and the shocks real stiff i would think that make it hit the tires less hard. 8 is for a track with good bite and 2 on the rear shocks would be for a track with poor bite to let the read extend farther.
am i thinking correctly?
Posted By: 6bblRoadrunner

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/04/11 11:26 PM

How much travel do you have on your front suspension?
Posted By: Thumperdart

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/04/11 11:37 PM

Have you tried the bottom hole yet? My car did funny things in the upper hole.
Posted By: Bob_Coomer

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/04/11 11:55 PM

Those Drag radials or something? If they are regular byes ply slick, its way too much pressure. Id start about 10 PSI and re-try it.
I have had Caltraks on about everything. They worked and worked well on a 87 Dakota Short Bed with a Big block. If they work on this they can work on most anything, due to the horrible weight ratio from front to back.
The front shocks should be as loose as you an get the extension and on the hard side on the compression. This will let the car pitch roll and help hold the front end up, and letting it settle back down slower. This is what makes racing fun for me. Once you figure it out, you will be happy. Its better than blowing a bunch of money with ladder bars, and 4 links while not addressing the issue, or taking the time to figure it out. IMO
Posted By: Dodgem

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 12:07 AM

With shocks on 3 the body rises to fast (separates) then it pulls the wheels off traction behind it so it hooks and spins. the higher numbers stop the fast separation! more pre load helps plant the tires.

Now if the track has major bite less pre load and lower shock numbers.
Posted By: dmking

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 05:07 AM

i read the caltrack link and i am only at 1/4 turn of preload. so i will go to 1 full turn of preload and try that there.
dogem what shocks are you talking about on 3 (my fronts?)
the front i have either 2 or 3 clicks from full soft because i have less than 5" of travil in the front so i have the QA1 shocks 18 position to limit the front lift to try and controle the spring rate.
it use to lift the front then drop and then porpus spinning. was explained to me and makes sence that the car was not transfering the weight the springs were. so 5 to 6" was less spring to make the car lift the front. so i got the QA1 to limit the front.
i remember the rear rancho was suspose to be start at 5 and go lower for a less traction track and higher than 5 for a track with good traction. it worked that way cause around 8 it just blew the tires off with out lifting the front at all not even trying to grab the track.
Posted By: redruM

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 09:16 AM

Had the same problem, put the bars in the lower hole and its much more consistant now. It doesn't hit the tires as hard in the lower hole, but you can put more pressure back on it by adding preload and tightening the shock if you feel its too soft after the bar change.
Posted By: ROSSIO

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 01:50 PM

my 70 dart-runs 8.90s@151-----top hole-ranchos set on 6--11 lbs in slicks-frtQA1 set on soft-lift/10 clicks rebound--4 1/2 in of travel
i have never set my bars with preload-i always set them just touching the spring and have good results---------------here in ohio-are tracks are ALWAY marginal-so i've had to set my car up with these track conditions----ive had the caltracs setup for 3 years and love it
to me----my opinion only-----3 link and 14x32s----thats easy,i liked challenge of making my set up work--it was hard at first--it took a month--but i got it,now i go up -look at the starting line --then adjust the shocks,for what it see----and go play
Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 02:08 PM

Its going to make a difference what you do based on what
is happening... if its a bounce then spin or spinning
from the get go.... look at the front end to get it
loose and lots of travel... a video does wonders
Posted By: dmking

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 02:48 PM

if it spins it usually shakes but pulls loosing about .1 in the 60ft but pulls out. here of late sometimes it just blows the tires off the line.
saturday i think i am going to cecil md and i hope i have someone to video.

Attached picture 6811535-dustergettenair.JPG
Posted By: Dabee

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 03:37 PM

I would recommend turning the preload up no more than ¼ turn at a time until you hit the sweet spot for your car. I adjust mine one flat at a time. Make small adjustments and only one at a time and you will get there. Do it on a test and tune night when the track is crappy.
Posted By: VernMotor

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 03:55 PM

Quote:

i have a 76 duster 440 indy heads (old torquers i think) lupo dynamic converter 5400 to 5600rpm flash. 29x30x10 d5 hoosiers at 12psi to 13.5psi
i am getting sick of it having margional traction unless a well prepped track when others are hooking well.
i have caltracks with the by leaf springs rancho adjustible shocks set on the soft side (3 i think) and QA1 fronts at 3.
the links are in the upper hole at 1/4 turn of preload.
the 60ft at maplegrove and cecil is usually 1.46 to 1.47 when it bites.
i am looking to get it to work better on the margional tracks like everyone else can do.
does preload on the links effect how hard it hits the tires?



wow I would change alot in this combo..I read what everyone else is saying also..But I don't agree with all of it. you got good HP and and a very high stall converter with the cal-trac set up on a hard hit. first thing I do is put the bars in the bottom hole and take the pre load out.. top hole preload = hard hit. I think you are close on air pressure. I am abit confused about what tire size you are running ? 29x30x10 ? they are 29x10 or 30x10 ? what springs ? mono ? rancho shocks 9 for good tracks and 7 for bad tracks less than that they are not doing anything..Front end is got to be loose and have travel..THIS is a must! most of the cars I have work on the problem is in the front.What gear is in this thing ? and do you have a low gear set in the trans ? I think you got too much converter in to start with..is this a trans brake ? what rpm do you leave at ?
Posted By: dmking

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 06:48 PM

my bad on tire size. it is 30x10 d5 slicks.
the springs are the calvert bi leaf.
gears are 4.30 stock 727 with transgo kit in valvebody
i always make sure i am in low for atleast 1 foot when rolling into the first light.
non transbrake i am foot brakeing this car
i usually leave around 1700 to 2200rpms.
mopar weekent at maplegrove it worked great. first pass 1.46 60ft and a 10.250 i dialed a 10.250 and it went 10.252 and the third run was a 10.258. it runs the number when it hooks.
so you think i am hitting the tires too hard?
i can have it not bite at all with the shocks on 8 in the rear.
when i got the rear ranchos it said to be at 5 and go lower for a poor track and above 5 for a great track.
Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 08:26 PM

Quote:

my bad on tire size. it is 30x10 d5 slicks.
the springs are the calvert bi leaf.
gears are 4.30 stock 727 with transgo kit in valvebody
i always make sure i am in low for atleast 1 foot when rolling into the first light.
non transbrake i am foot brakeing this car
i usually leave around 1700 to 2200rpms.
mopar weekent at maplegrove it worked great. first pass 1.46 60ft and a 10.250 i dialed a 10.250 and it went 10.252 and the third run was a 10.258. it runs the number when it hooks.
so you think i am hitting the tires too hard?
i can have it not bite at all with the shocks on 8 in the rear.
when i got the rear ranchos it said to be at 5 and go lower for a poor track and above 5 for a great track.



I would lower it and start about 6 on a bad track,
get as much front end travel as possible... if needed
cut the upper bump stop way down
Posted By: VernMotor

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/05/11 08:57 PM

Well you got more motor than I got in the coronet but not as much as the M/W car..I have these cars set up way diff..I can not run what you got set up in the M/W car or it hits the tires way to hard. we run the same tire as you on both cars..I run 15 psi in the coronet and 14 psi in the M/W car. Yes you are hitting the tires too hard..I am telling you the shock adjustment with them shocks is not a cure-all for what you got going on. if you can't run the shocks that tight that tells me the front end is not working and you are helping that with the soft shock setting..
Posted By: dmking

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/06/11 02:26 AM

i am going to cecil this saturday if i do not work.
i am going in low hole at 1/4 turn preload with the front shocks on all soft and the rear ranchows on 5 or 6 and starting over. this week when i get my truck done with shocks and radio i will take the links apart and make sure the triangles move and may drop the front bushings and regrease them also.
and staying with 13 or 13.5 psi with slicks.
Posted By: Thumperdart

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/06/11 04:00 AM

My personal settings are; bottom hole, one flat pass. side, just touching on dr. side(without me in the seat)and my 5-ways on 3 or 4 accordingly but I will try the upper hole again since I didn`t have the 5+ inches of travel at that time. Good luck.
Posted By: fishy340

Re: 76 duster traction with caltracks questions - 09/06/11 01:50 PM

simple call up calvert!!! they will walk u through and tell u how to adjust them!
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