CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
#2426502
12/31/17 05:40 PM
12/31/17 05:40 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,318 State of confusion
Thumperdart
OP
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OP
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So after my shock post and reading about the OLD page on FB, what's the new trend as they suggest 5+ inches of travel and I'm now being told maybe 2"'s max so what gives.........Also, bottom hole w/1 flat is how my bars are now and am told I should pre-load em 1 to 2 full turns and others say an air gap.........
Last edited by Thumperdart; 12/31/17 05:41 PM.
72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: MR_P_BODY]
#2426583
12/31/17 06:47 PM
12/31/17 06:47 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,418 Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
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Well, using MF front ends tends to restrict the travel of the front suspension over stock by a bunch....Typically you get about 3"-3.5" of travel with a MF front end.
We have found adding as long of front coil overs as possible really helps with consistent 60fts...This is why I had a set for sale earlier this year. I went and ponied up for a longer set. I have forgot what we got the front end travel back to with the longer coil overs, but I want to say its around +4.5" of travel now.
As far as Caltrack's go, I put weight on the drivers seat, brought them up till they touched, and added about 1-2 flats pre-load. Haven't touched them since, and that was a long time ago. Best 60ft so far....1.35!
Only thing I tinker with on the rear is tire pressure and shock clickers...
Last edited by Dragula; 12/31/17 06:49 PM.
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: Dragula]
#2426610
12/31/17 07:25 PM
12/31/17 07:25 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,318 State of confusion
Thumperdart
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OP
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I had Morgans book, loaned it out years ago and havn't seen it since........Speaking of tires, my 1.33 was w/old MT 28x10.5 w's and these soft walls aren't happy from 11 3/4-15 lbs..........
72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: Thumperdart]
#2426616
12/31/17 07:32 PM
12/31/17 07:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439 Val-haul-ass... eventually
BradH
Taking time off to work on my car
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Taking time off to work on my car
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
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That's what I used to think till guys way faster than me do the opposite..... Yep. At some point there is a crossover between cars that still need the extra front-end lift to pitch-rotate and plant the tires, and those where limiting the front-end travel improves the launch. I see enough 9-sec Stock and SS cars, etc., that obviously still rely on a good amount of front-end extension at launch to suspect you're not in the "Strap it down and it'll 60-ft better" category, yet. Re CalTrac setup... all I can tell you is that John C. told me to stick my butt in the driver's seat and have someone put the preload at one full turn on both sides. When it pulled slightly to the right, he said to add 1/2 turn on the passenger-side bar. It went straight then, so that's where I left it ever since. I, too, ended up using the #4 of 5 settings on my old Ranchos, but don't know if that setup will still work best with the new engine, etc.
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: Thumperdart]
#2426635
12/31/17 07:50 PM
12/31/17 07:50 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,260 New Mexico
Adobedude
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,260
New Mexico
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I struggled with my rear suspension for the better part of year... Monoleafs Caltracs Relocated vertically behind the axle DA Vikings Spring sliders...
A local 8.5 guy who is friends with some of the fastest Caltrac guys in the country came to the track to help me after talking to his buddies. Before I unloaded off the trailer, he put my caltrac bars in the upper hole, 1.5 turns preload and changed all my shock settings front and rear...
In four passes I went from the blowing the rears off to pulling the fronts an inch or two.
Caltracs need a lot of front end lift..You can slow it down with DA shocks, but the lift still has to be there, and you don't want the front end to just drop down, that will unload the rear....Front is as important as the rear.
Ya gotta watch it in slow mo...Period.
Paint a stripe on your tire and have a buddy video your launch and slow it way down, the stripe lets you know know it's slipping...
2001 Dodge Dakota 408 All Motor 11.27 @ 117.83 mph 2017 NM Mopar Challenge Series Champion.
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: Dodgeguy101]
#2426660
12/31/17 08:30 PM
12/31/17 08:30 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225 Charleston
sixpackgut
Drag Week Mod Champion
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Drag Week Mod Champion
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,225
Charleston
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In my opinion, this is a good read. I do not run alot of front seperation. I do not have a lot of preload on my caltracs either. http://www.baselinesuspensions.com/info/Launching_A_Drag_Car.htm
Last edited by sixpackgut; 12/31/17 08:32 PM.
Gen 3 power 6.22@110, 9.85@135 Follow @g3hemiswap on instagram
performance only racing, CRT, ultimate converter, superior design concepts, ThumperCarbs
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: sixpackgut]
#2426676
12/31/17 08:53 PM
12/31/17 08:53 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,318 State of confusion
Thumperdart
OP
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I Live Here
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I read some of that Ray and the last story about the truck said they ADDED 4"'s of travel and solved all issues yet you and others suggest reducing travel so this is one of those "give it what it wants" scenarios...........lol
Last edited by Thumperdart; 12/31/17 08:53 PM.
72 Dart 470 n/a BB stroker street car `THUMPER`...Check me out on FB Dominic Thumper for videos and lots of carb pics......760-900-3895.....
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: Thumperdart]
#2426682
12/31/17 09:06 PM
12/31/17 09:06 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,553 baldwinsville new york
a493demon
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,553
baldwinsville new york
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So after my shock post and reading about the OLD page on FB, what's the new trend as they suggest 5+ inches of travel and I'm now being told maybe 2"'s max so what gives.........Also, bottom hole w/1 flat is how my bars are now and am told I should pre-load em 1 to 2 full turns and others say an air gap......... I still have 4 inches of travel . I took 1 1/2 out .
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: Thumperdart]
#2426703
12/31/17 09:35 PM
12/31/17 09:35 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,718 Fulton County, PA
CMcAllister
Mr. Helpful
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Mr. Helpful
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,718
Fulton County, PA
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Morgans book is good, but dated. And I don't remember it having any information relating to a Cal-Trac type deal, but it's been awhile since I looked at it. Still worth reading for someone trying to learn this stuff. It should not be the only read though.
Every car is different.
Use the best shocks you can afford.
Testing and video is essential.
Learning what doesn't work, and why, is at least as valuable as learning what does.
If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: Thumperdart]
#2426974
01/01/18 09:41 AM
01/01/18 09:41 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,937 A shed in England
Tig
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,937
A shed in England
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Restricting the front end travel on our car did not work, all we gained was a lot of wheelspin from the line. I thought the car was at that stage where it might benefit from less front travel but it did not like it at all. Spent a weekend racing and trying to tune it out but we struggled. Put everything back to where it was for the next meeting and the launch was fine, uncovered other issues doing so but that's another story
'74 Challenger..9.46 @ 145.9 1/4, 6.001 @ 118 1/8 so far. 4023lb !!! # N/A, Marsh performance 655ci, Indy Maxx, T/R, Indy 600-13 X's, Street legal, pump gas, full interior, Cal-Tracs, mufflers, 3:73's and real 10.5 radials. 9.51 @ 142.4 1/4, 6.003 @ 114 1/8 with our old mule KB, 572-13, 580 wedge. RHD '68 Barracuda Fastback 323ci street/strip. Best ET 13.88 @ 99.03
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Re: CAL-TRACS AND TUNING..............
[Re: Thumperdart]
#2427002
01/01/18 12:26 PM
01/01/18 12:26 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,627 anywhere@ anytime
actionange
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,627
anywhere@ anytime
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I had Morgans book, loaned it out years ago and havn't seen it since........Speaking of tires, my 1.33 was w/old MT 28x10.5 w's and these soft walls aren't happy from 11 3/4-15 lbs.......... Don’t worry Morgan’s book has nothing on Caltrac tuning... In my Belvedere I had 5 inch front end travel and QA-1 set on 5. Rear bottom hole with QA-1 set on 5. Weight in driver seat I’d adjust driver side with width of a nickel gap, passenger side 2 flats preload. 1.39 60ft@ 3750 lbs
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