Cal Tracs Springs

69camz28 · 09-20-2009, 04:55 PM

Hi guys. My name is Jeff, I am new to the forum. I was hoping someone could help me out a little with a few questions I have. I have a 69 Camaro - I am trying to set the suspension up like a Stock Eliminator Camaro ( I don't run in the class). I have a factory front suspension - A-arms are stock w/ polygraphite bushings, factory springs with 1 coil cut, no sway bar, and Cal Tracs shocks. In the rear I had Cal Tracs bars with multi-leafs and Rancho 9way shocks. With this set up I ran a best of 10.90 @ 121mph, best of 1.46 60ft off the footbrake and a 275/60/15 MT Drag Radial.

I recently purchased the Cal Tracs split leaf mono, and I had some quesions. The springs appear to have moved the tire forward slightly in my rear wheel wheel, maybe by a 1/4 inch or less. The car also sits slightly lower than it did....Have any of you had an issue like this? Also, what is the largest tire I can run w/o a minitub? Any front end suspension tricks you could share? Sorry for the long post, was just hoping someone could steer me in the right direction.

Thanks,

Jeff

SmallBlockNova · 09-20-2009, 06:55 PM

Low friction bushings and a lot of travel...

69camz28 · 09-20-2009, 08:45 PM

Thanks for the reply - can you explain hat exactly you mean by 'a lot of travel'?

SmallBlockNova · 09-21-2009, 06:12 PM

The distance the nose of your car is able to move upward until the front wheels come off the ground...Crucial in a small tire/low power car that you're trying to get to wheelstand.

69camz28 · 09-21-2009, 07:19 PM

Thanks for the info....Any suggestions other than the bushings?

Jeff Lee · 09-22-2009, 12:47 AM

Sitting lower may be a good thing; it was for me. Calvert will work with you on the ride height. It involves replacing the rear portion of the spring.
One thing often overlooked by those not running the Stock class but wishing to emulate a Stocker in suspension and leave characteristics is the fact many of these "hard leaving, wheelie poppin' vehicles" have a LOT of ballast in the rear. This is done to make the class minimum weight and / or to gain traction.

69camz28 · 09-22-2009, 09:03 AM

Has anyone else had an issue with the new springs moving the rear tires forward in the wheelwell?

69camz28 · 10-06-2009, 08:10 PM

Bump

CrateCamaro · 10-07-2009, 12:39 AM

My springs did move the tire forward slightly but my car was already cut to allow a 30in tall tire. I run a radial slick so there is no worries about tire growth. I ordered my springs +1 on the ride height that way when they broke in and sagged a bit there would be no issue with the car sitting too low. Buddy with the nova on the bumper that was talking about front end travel is absolutly right. Remove the upper bump stops and make sure to have some good lowers. I have gone through 3 sets this year because my car stands right up but doesnt have the power to set the nose down easy.

denny harvey · 10-09-2009, 01:09 PM

they moved mine forward also.stock wheelwells and stock height split monos, run a 29x 10 m/t on 5.5 bs 10 inch rim..

09-20-2009, 04:55 PM	#1
69camz28 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Cal Tracs Springs Hi guys. My name is Jeff, I am new to the forum. I was hoping someone could help me out a little with a few questions I have. I have a 69 Camaro - I am trying to set the suspension up like a Stock Eliminator Camaro ( I don't run in the class). I have a factory front suspension - A-arms are stock w/ polygraphite bushings, factory springs with 1 coil cut, no sway bar, and Cal Tracs shocks. In the rear I had Cal Tracs bars with multi-leafs and Rancho 9way shocks. With this set up I ran a best of 10.90 @ 121mph, best of 1.46 60ft off the footbrake and a 275/60/15 MT Drag Radial. I recently purchased the Cal Tracs split leaf mono, and I had some quesions. The springs appear to have moved the tire forward slightly in my rear wheel wheel, maybe by a 1/4 inch or less. The car also sits slightly lower than it did....Have any of you had an issue like this? Also, what is the largest tire I can run w/o a minitub? Any front end suspension tricks you could share? Sorry for the long post, was just hoping someone could steer me in the right direction. Thanks, Jeff

09-20-2009, 06:55 PM	#2
SmallBlockNova Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island Posts: 47 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cal Tracs Springs Low friction bushings and a lot of travel...

09-20-2009, 08:45 PM	#3
69camz28 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Cal Tracs Springs Thanks for the reply - can you explain hat exactly you mean by 'a lot of travel'?

09-21-2009, 06:12 PM	#4
SmallBlockNova Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Long Island Posts: 47 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cal Tracs Springs The distance the nose of your car is able to move upward until the front wheels come off the ground...Crucial in a small tire/low power car that you're trying to get to wheelstand.

09-21-2009, 07:19 PM	#5
69camz28 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Cal Tracs Springs Thanks for the info....Any suggestions other than the bushings?

09-22-2009, 12:47 AM	#6
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Cal Tracs Springs Sitting lower may be a good thing; it was for me. Calvert will work with you on the ride height. It involves replacing the rear portion of the spring. One thing often overlooked by those not running the Stock class but wishing to emulate a Stocker in suspension and leave characteristics is the fact many of these "hard leaving, wheelie poppin' vehicles" have a LOT of ballast in the rear. This is done to make the class minimum weight and / or to gain traction. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

09-22-2009, 09:03 AM	#7
69camz28 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Cal Tracs Springs Has anyone else had an issue with the new springs moving the rear tires forward in the wheelwell?

10-06-2009, 08:10 PM	#8
69camz28 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Cal Tracs Springs Bump

10-07-2009, 12:39 AM	#9
CrateCamaro Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 411 Likes: 1 Liked 19 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Cal Tracs Springs My springs did move the tire forward slightly but my car was already cut to allow a 30in tall tire. I run a radial slick so there is no worries about tire growth. I ordered my springs +1 on the ride height that way when they broke in and sagged a bit there would be no issue with the car sitting too low. Buddy with the nova on the bumper that was talking about front end travel is absolutly right. Remove the upper bump stops and make sure to have some good lowers. I have gone through 3 sets this year because my car stands right up but doesnt have the power to set the nose down easy. __________________ Tony Valerio 1968 Camaro 1700 IHRA H/CM 1701 NHRA SS/?A

10-09-2009, 01:09 PM	#10
denny harvey Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: pataskala ohio Posts: 132 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cal Tracs Springs they moved mine forward also.stock wheelwells and stock height split monos, run a 29x 10 m/t on 5.5 bs 10 inch rim..