Has anyone made their own Caltracs?

10secgoal · Sep 29, 2009

rubber, P/U, it's all the same. Both = deflection

Take the car, lift the body of the suspension, then lift on side of the suspension. The leafs try to move and articulate, and one side of the bars will try, but the other side is fixed to the body, causing binding. Just because you can't feel it, doesn't mean it isn't there.

Everything else is Crap ? No. But sophmoric would be everytime someone askes about "traction" and not wheel hop, you bring up those bars and tell them to save the money. Like in this thread.

2+2GT · Sep 29, 2009

Rubber, P/U, it's all the same. Both = deflection

Ohh, a lotta urethane bushing manufacturers won't like hearing that.

Take the car, lift the body of the suspension, then lift on side of the suspension. The leafs try to move and articulate, and one side of the bars will try, but the other side is fixed to the body, causing binding. Just because you can't feel it, doesn't mean it isn't there.

I have jacked this car every way but loose over the last three decades. No bind.

Everything else is Crap ? No. But sophmoric would be everytime someone askes about "traction" and not wheel hop, you bring up those bars and tell them to save the money. Like in this thread.

Sorry, I have had extremely good results with Traction Masters on multiple cars for decades. If you want me to lie, and start telling people they are dangerous crap, not gonna happen. I guess you'll just have to follow me around, warning people.:stirpot:

You may have to follow this guy, too:

2+2GT · Sep 29, 2009

Might want to read the drag racing portion. Not leaf spring, but might help you understand suspesion better.

Might be more interesting if I cared about drag racing. I drive my car on the street. I build cars that drive on the street. It would be hard to describe how little interest I have in cars that look like this:

Argue about it all you want. The atari was the greatest thing on the planet, in 1980.

I found Atari entirely boring then, too.

Just because you dont like the facts doesnt make it wrong.

Facts are pretty subjective, because they depend on circumstance. Friend of mine has a Pro Street, well over 500hp, rear tires from the fender lip to the diff. front tires narrower than my hand. He drove it to work one day, for fun. Hit a patch of damp pavement that hadn't dried in the morning sun yet, on a straight level road. Car spun completely around.

brianj5600 · Sep 29, 2009

I like cars that look like this.

I see a set of CalTracs in my future. 5.90's or bust!

htwheelz67 · Sep 29, 2009

so does the "permanent" adjustment change when your leaf springs sag like they all do?

2+2GT · Sep 30, 2009

htwheelz67 said:
so does the "permanent" adjustment change when your leaf springs sag like they all do?

Well, a once every 20 years or so event would be a poor reason, even if it made a difference with the Traction Masters, which I doubt. You really going drag racing with saggy springs? I don't think so.

A new set of GT springs is less than $200. Anyone too cheap to buy them probably can't afford Caltracs, Traction Masters, or a full tank of gas.

Brian- Nice looking car. Dunno what you have under the hood, but I'm sure there's every chance you could beat me in the 1/4 mile. On the other hand, on the country roads around here, you wouldn't have a prayer keeping up with me. Everything is a choice- some choose the dragstrip, some the open road. Neither is good or bad. Dunno why some think their choice is the only one. Starting to sound a little like politics.

Wicked65 · Sep 30, 2009

I really have to know, Whats done to your car for suspension??

2+2GT · Sep 30, 2009

wickedcobra96 said:
I really have to know, Whats done to your car for suspension??

Shelby/GT springs front & rear, 1" front sway bar, Traction Master bars (not the cheap fakes), Kayaba Gas-A-Just shocks, upper control arms relocated down 1", export brace with welded-on cowl reinforcement (the thick Ford brace, not the cheap fake), and Monte Carlo bar, 4-turn steering gearbox,. I used to have the Shelby extended fast steering arms, but tired of them. I had Koni's too, but they were way to stiff for roads around here. I also have a 3/4" rear bar, but it's currently off the car.

brianj5600 · Sep 30, 2009

I doubt you could keep up in the 1/4 too. I sold the 17" wheels or it might be close on the back roads. I started out to make a TransAm replica for the street. The suspension is similar to yours. Here it is with 560lbs springs and 1.25" sway bar and all.

<embed src="http://videos.streetfire.net/vidiac.swf?video=b270784f-0bd5-479c-99dd-9af701251fe8" width="428" height="352" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br/><a href="http://videos.streetfire.net/video/69410045_177035.htm">6.94%40100.45</a>

And under the hood.

2+2GT · Sep 30, 2009

brianj5600 said:
And under the hood[/URL]

Looks like fun, too bad the autofocus nailed the fence instead of the board. I turbosupercharged a 68 289 car one time (AirResearch T04), started with a C6, later switched to a 4-speed. That one was a draw-through, not a blow-through, on a diverter, so the compressor was bypassed for normal driving. The downside was it had to have a BOSS 429 scoop, while you have a flat hood. Looks like you have all the rear rubber geometry will allow- How do you avoid contact with the wheel well?

brianj5600 · Sep 30, 2009

2+2GT said:
....too bad the autofocus nailed the fence instead of the board.....

I did not edit the end when the camera was pointed down to leave the audio of the announcer. Here is the timeslip from that pass. Car #56

2+2GT said:
....Looks like you have all the rear rubber geometry will allow- How do you avoid contact with the wheel well?

They only hit when I am loaded down for the track. I carry a small generator, fan, toolbox, tuning parts, ice chest, laptop, chairs, etc. The extra weight causes slight touching of the tire to the quarter. When I buy axles, I will shorten the housing a quarter inch and that problem will go away.

ron67fb · Sep 30, 2009

I don't know about you guys but I'm gonna weld my tie-rods and control arm shims on once it's aligned.

2+2GT · Oct 1, 2009

ron67fb said:
I don't know about you guys but I'm gonna weld my tie-rods and control arm shims on once it's aligned.

Hmm… I'm not sure I share your optimism.

Has anyone made their own Caltracs?

10secgoal

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2+2GT

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brianj5600

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htwheelz67

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2+2GT

Wicked65

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brianj5600

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ron67fb

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