Setting up Cal Tracs

Troy Henderson · 04-30-2013, 02:47 PM

I saw this nice document someone put together on yellowbullet and though I'd share for those needing some help.

t.tosto · 04-30-2013, 08:23 PM

Troy, thanks for the info, just finished a '69 Camaro 396/375 Iron head for B/S. This will help on tuning, think the stick combo would differ much over the auto settings? Thanks again, Tony Tosto 3050.

Troy Henderson · 05-01-2013, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t.tosto

Troy, thanks for the info, just finished a '69 Camaro 396/375 Iron head for B/S. This will help on tuning, think the stick combo would differ much over the auto settings? Thanks again, Tony Tosto 3050.

Settings are about the same. The one that took me time to figure out on my own was tightening the extension (rebound) on the rear. I always had a jag in my drive shaft line on RacePak from hitting the tire too hard. I had to have my D.A. Afcos re valved several years back to control it. Works great now.

An automatic car should be able to get away with Calvert's Ranchos or similar since they don't shock the tire like we do. Stick cars require a good double adjustable shock like Afcos to work their best.

Going to have the car at Topeka?

philbilly · 05-01-2013, 08:41 AM

Thanks for the info. According to these specs I am set up on softest hit. I been wanting to do some adjusting to see if there is any et.

t.tosto · 05-01-2013, 09:10 AM

Troy, dealing with back pain issue so I missed the chances to get a grade point before Topeka race. Tim will be there with the '99 Camaro, hope to be able to help him, thanks, Tony Tosto 3050.

Todd Boyer · 05-03-2013, 06:06 PM

I've heard that Calvert Racing is great as a source for setup info on their bars.

Scott P3274 · 05-07-2013, 01:00 PM

This looks very helpful. I have a 69 Nova with Cal Tracs and Landrum mono leafs. I added some power this year and a trans brake. I am running a 29.5 x 9" slick and stock front suspension. Foot braking the car, it is pretty consistent and has 1.44-1.45 60 ft times. I tried the trans brake and it initially spun. When it hooked up, it pulled a huge wheel stand.
Can anyone make a recommendation on getting it to hook consistently with the trans brake and also calm down the big wheelie? I will be testing tomorrow night. I stiffened the front shocks (QA1 Stocker Stars)but I want to make sure it hooks too. The rear shocks are set at approximately 50/50. The Cal Tracs are set up with the bar in the lower hole and pre-load on the passenger side only.
Thoughts?

Troy Henderson · 05-08-2013, 09:23 AM

Hey Scott are the basics covered?

- Travel - 1 1/2" for compression and 5-5.5" for extension?
- No binding in the front and rear?
- Are the front QA1's single or double adjustable? You need double adjustable when you start hitting the tire had with a trans brake. Set the Rebound loose and Compression tight. If it comes up to fast you'll have to tighten the extension until its under control. If it rises too fast and bottoms out it will spin after it hooks.
- The rear needs to be double adjustable also. Set the compression full tight to keep the tires planted. Set the rebound a couple clicks from full tight to get the initial hit under control. (This could be why its spinning on the brake.) Loosen a couple clicks at a time and see if 60' improves. Stop if if starts hitting the tire too hard and spinning.

I'd leave the bar in the lower hole if it's already wheeling.

Troy

Scott P3274 · 05-08-2013, 01:35 PM

Troy, thanks so much for your response. The basics are covered. There were no snubbers in the upper control arms. I put some polyeurothane bushings in to try to limit a little front end travel. With the front suspension fully extended (on a jack) the snubbers squash to about 1/2 inch. Before that, the front travel was all the way to hitting the control arms on the frame. It has new upper control arm bushings and new upper ball joints. The rear has a lot of travel. It has polyeurothane bushings in the leaf spring eyes too.

I don't think the QA1s are double adjustable. They are the R type but they only have one knob on them. What shocks do you recommend for the rear? I talked to Calvert and they recommended their single adjustable.

Your help is greatly appreicated. I plan to test tonight if the rain holds off.

Scott P3274 · 05-08-2013, 02:21 PM

P.S. Is that you on autoimagry.com in the black 68 Camaro with the number 10 on it? Very nice!!

04-30-2013, 02:47 PM	#1
Troy Henderson Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 397 Likes: 104 Liked 105 Times in 32 Posts	Setting up Cal Tracs I saw this nice document someone put together on yellowbullet and though I'd share for those needing some help. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Troy Henderson Henderson Race Shop LLC 816-520-5389 www.hendersonraceshop.com

04-30-2013, 08:23 PM	#2
t.tosto Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 152 Likes: 104 Liked 61 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Troy, thanks for the info, just finished a '69 Camaro 396/375 Iron head for B/S. This will help on tuning, think the stick combo would differ much over the auto settings? Thanks again, Tony Tosto 3050.

05-01-2013, 08:41 AM	#4
philbilly Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Demossville,KY Posts: 337 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Thanks for the info. According to these specs I am set up on softest hit. I been wanting to do some adjusting to see if there is any et.

05-01-2013, 09:10 AM	#5
t.tosto Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 152 Likes: 104 Liked 61 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Troy, dealing with back pain issue so I missed the chances to get a grade point before Topeka race. Tim will be there with the '99 Camaro, hope to be able to help him, thanks, Tony Tosto 3050.

05-03-2013, 06:06 PM	#6
Todd Boyer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Saint John NB Canada Posts: 560 Likes: 27 Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs I've heard that Calvert Racing is great as a source for setup info on their bars.

05-07-2013, 01:00 PM	#7
Scott P3274 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs This looks very helpful. I have a 69 Nova with Cal Tracs and Landrum mono leafs. I added some power this year and a trans brake. I am running a 29.5 x 9" slick and stock front suspension. Foot braking the car, it is pretty consistent and has 1.44-1.45 60 ft times. I tried the trans brake and it initially spun. When it hooked up, it pulled a huge wheel stand. Can anyone make a recommendation on getting it to hook consistently with the trans brake and also calm down the big wheelie? I will be testing tomorrow night. I stiffened the front shocks (QA1 Stocker Stars)but I want to make sure it hooks too. The rear shocks are set at approximately 50/50. The Cal Tracs are set up with the bar in the lower hole and pre-load on the passenger side only. Thoughts? Last edited by Scott P3274; 05-07-2013 at 04:19 PM.

05-08-2013, 09:23 AM	#8
Troy Henderson Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 397 Likes: 104 Liked 105 Times in 32 Posts	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Hey Scott are the basics covered? - Travel - 1 1/2" for compression and 5-5.5" for extension? - No binding in the front and rear? - Are the front QA1's single or double adjustable? You need double adjustable when you start hitting the tire had with a trans brake. Set the Rebound loose and Compression tight. If it comes up to fast you'll have to tighten the extension until its under control. If it rises too fast and bottoms out it will spin after it hooks. - The rear needs to be double adjustable also. Set the compression full tight to keep the tires planted. Set the rebound a couple clicks from full tight to get the initial hit under control. (This could be why its spinning on the brake.) Loosen a couple clicks at a time and see if 60' improves. Stop if if starts hitting the tire too hard and spinning. I'd leave the bar in the lower hole if it's already wheeling. Troy __________________ Troy Henderson Henderson Race Shop LLC 816-520-5389 www.hendersonraceshop.com Last edited by Troy Henderson; 05-08-2013 at 05:07 PM.

05-08-2013, 01:35 PM	#9
Scott P3274 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Troy, thanks so much for your response. The basics are covered. There were no snubbers in the upper control arms. I put some polyeurothane bushings in to try to limit a little front end travel. With the front suspension fully extended (on a jack) the snubbers squash to about 1/2 inch. Before that, the front travel was all the way to hitting the control arms on the frame. It has new upper control arm bushings and new upper ball joints. The rear has a lot of travel. It has polyeurothane bushings in the leaf spring eyes too. I don't think the QA1s are double adjustable. They are the R type but they only have one knob on them. What shocks do you recommend for the rear? I talked to Calvert and they recommended their single adjustable. Your help is greatly appreicated. I plan to test tonight if the rain holds off.

05-08-2013, 02:21 PM	#10
Scott P3274 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs P.S. Is that you on autoimagry.com in the black 68 Camaro with the number 10 on it? Very nice!!