Caltracs - install, set up, tuning

[CDMBill]

I found the YB thread very helpful and this distillation is helpful too.

[milner351]

I got my bars used but still in the box from a friend - the instructions.... not so much, thanks for the quote TC.

The instructions say to adjust each side evenly at ride height with driver (as Joe said he does) to establish pre-load - but they don't say how much pre-load to establish.

[TC]

I got my bars used but still in the box from a friend - the instructions.... not so much, thanks for the quote TC.

The instructions say to adjust each side evenly at ride height with driver (as Joe said he does) to establish pre-load - but they don't say how much pre-load to establish.

In the quote it says to use a "1/4 Turn" of pre-load, that is the starting point, then you can use what the OP said about fine tuning it...... Launch the vehicle if it pulls to one side add more pre-load to that side bar or vise versa if it pulls to the other side. I would probably just do hole shots until the car goes straight adding a 1/4 turn of pre-load at a time to which ever side it is pulling to.........

[Joe Grippo]

The only pre-load I use is my weight sitting in car. In my opinion, if you adjust the stop bolt evenly on both sides while your in the car the left side will have some defacto pre-load. How much exactly I don't know but I have never put in any extra and my car leaves straight and square.

[CDMBill]

Joe, I see you get a lot of rear separation. Have you played with slowing the extension on the back and if so to what result?

[JeffMcKC]

Most of the guys we are adding extra holes on are Radials, high power ( over 1000 HP and some as high as 2000 HP) for a lot of leverage, and the Shocks are slowed way down on ext and comp. Afco Big Guns revelaved some time twice to slow them down even more. The travel stopping is whats un hooking the radials. Less travel over a long period of time as they ramp Boost, Nitrous, timing in these are low 1.20 to 1.15 60' cars on a 275 radial.

[squirrel]

Interesting stuff. I'm planning to make some of these bars for my 55. I have a wierd rear suspension, I threw together 15 yrs ago when I built the car. Shortened Mopar springs with reversed eyes, mounted under the frame (not pocketed in the frame like most of them). I might need to put the "short" front springs back in the car to make it work? right now it has almost no upward travel.

this is a video from last weekend with the slapper bars, it was not behaving very well, 1.86 60' time on a mid 11 run at 120. 275 drag radials

[JeffMcKC]

Your getting plenty of seperation then it tops out and pulls the tire off the ground, If you had a shock on the back you could tighten up to slow it down might help, its pretty uncontrolled right now, rear and front. To add travel you could rework the shackle on the back. If it was me, I would just get a better shock to tighten the ext and adjust the compression with I think you have enough travel if it was slowe down. Are you sure the pinion is got enough down angle to it also?

[Joe Grippo]

Not yet Bill. But my car has been really standing up in the last few weeks (we have had some good summer air as of late), so I will be making some changes in the coming weeks in preparation for the fall conditions. My wife informed me that it is starting to make her nervous, plus I a broke another front shock last weekend....gotta do something. I will soften the rear shocks first and that doesn't do it I guess I will move to the to the top hole in the Caltracs. I will post results hopefully with video. I will also try to note any changes in rearend separation.

I have been gathering up Opentracker front end pieces to rebuild the suspension over the winter. I will probably also go to a higher quality front shock for next year, some thing with more adjustability. Some Super Stock buddys are recomending the Strange Double Adjustables or maybe some Santuff Sportsman Shocks.

[JeffMcKC]

Joe, you might look into the Afco BNC Shock for the front the BNC is Bounce Control valving. Its a double adjustable and in the same price range as the Strange.