I know there used to be a lot of info on here from threads that I started but that was probably 3 years ago now. I'm once again getting back to my 78 d100 step side drag pick up project and am going to get it this weekend and hopefully have her running the strip next spring.
Here's my info on it. It's gonna run a .020 over 440 727 with a narrowed Dana with 4.88 rear gears. She's pretty much gutted. Homemade dash racing seat no inner fenders no box floor ect. I know I'm gonna be way nose heavy probably looking for less than 4k lbs in race suit. Only gonna run 10.5 slicks because I have them. Any way to put caltracks on the rear with the stock front hanger? It will be a homemade venture since I'm doing it cheap to get her running. Any pics and info would be a big help
Thanks
Brad

I am doing much the same with my Ramcharger. I have a narrowed Dana 60 with a spool and 4.10s. I have already mounted the axle above the springs. In the pictures it shows the little booster springs still attached to the spring pack, I will pull those out. I plan to take the stock spring plates and mount some brackets to them that will serve as the rear point of the "KalTrak" knock offs I am building. I will reverse the plates left for right so that I can mount the shocks in front of the axle. I need to box the rear frame rails for strength and move the shock cross member forward of the axle. I have found that Cal Trac does make a large front pivot for trucks that I can buy separately, but I really need to discuss the project with them, because it might be more cost effective to have them engineer and build the pieces.

I finally have a place and the time to do all this, but I am having issues with hip joint and knee joint replacements that has been holding me back. I should be ready to go full speed in the spring

Why do you want the shocks in front of the axle? I'd box at least the back side of the spring perch on the axle.

Yea that's what I was looking at doing. I have my fuel cell mounted behind and bolted to the shock cross member already. Why would you want the shocks in front?

I used a set of SSM lift bars for A-body on my 88 440 truck.

I also used the A-body 8 3/4 with shackle flip flopping the axle on top of springs.

I have the SSM lift bars on my stepside with NV4500 5 speed as well.

old skool traction bars with the shock plate welded to them, clamps at front of leaf spring.(no rubber snubber) has shims to preload chassis.

got my truck down to 3840 with my 300# azz in the seat, 10 gallons fuel.

I have 2 reasons to move the shocks forward (1) they work better to control the spring wrap effect (the springs are not the same as on the cars) as they place the axle at the mid point on the spring, not at the front third like on a B or A body. I also want to mount them more vertically than tipped out, so the crossmember needs to be revised (2) the fuel cell that I am going to use needs to be mounted below the floor of the cabin to be fire safe and since the body is short it will have to be closer to the rear axle than in a pickup.
I have a big square crossmember that I am going to substitute for the existing rear crossmember where it will mount the rear spring rollers (see picture)and the attaching points for the rear of the roll cage will be through the body and meet the top of the crossmember in the corner of the body.

When you mount the shocks in front of the axle you need
stronger valving to control the axle so plan on that...
its a ratio thing so you can figure that on how far you
move the shocks... its much easier to control the rear
end from the back of the axle... but the front is fine if
you get better shocks

We can build a set of CalTracs to fit this application, fill out one of truck dimension spec sheets off our website, calvertracing.com
We can generally get the kit out within one day, cost should be around $369 plus the ride.

I should be able to buy relatively cheaper adjustable shocks for a heavier vehicle and if they are mounted upright the effect, both in compression and rebound, will be more pronounced than if they were mounted at an angle like stock.

Half the pleasure in doing this is that I am looking at every part of the truck from front to back and focusing on making it a drag vehicle only. As an example I made a plate to fill the area in the firewall where the heater was and this is what I came up with...

And then a friend gave me his spare license plates and I had to built a new bumper, but that also gave me a good place to put the battery cutoff switch

Even with the shock mounted vertical is gonna take a
stronger valving vs the rear mount... buy what you
want to... I hope it has enough

Straight from caltrac...they can build them
Mine is a 78' stepside

Well how does the inside ear next to the frame rail look? I don't think there is enough space in there to let it actuate. It seams like you need to notch it for some clearance

Ok I see it the outside ear isn't a perfect triangle either they cut into a little

As far as the front anchor for the traction device goes...I could always use the front half of the "Assassin Traction Device" and not have to wrap the anchor around the spring.

http://www.srdparts.com/index.php?page=s...t&Itemid=1.

I like that one but they don't list a dodge pick up either. But it seams like it would be an easier install. Does anybody have a review with these vs caltracs?