Suspension Set-up/ Tuning

Vonboxer · 03-31-2016, 06:35 AM

Hello all, trying to set-up a 1980 Camaro.. leaf spring car. 3680 lbs. 90-10 70-30 summit shocks, moroso coils, slapper bars set to hit eye of spring there is about an 1" travel between rubber stopper and eye resting. Not sure of pinion angle or front and rear separate weights. Essentially stock other than what listed.
26" slick. Aluminium headed BBC, TH350 JW converter flashes to 5000 with current set-up.
Aside from Cal-trac's is there anything I can do to launch better? Don't have any numbers with current engine, but it did 60 ft. a best of 1.78 with the previous SBC with a best et of 12.01 @ 113. Car does squat a bit. Does have new solid bushings in rear springs, rubber trans and engine mounts.

Thanks

terry1 · 03-31-2016, 09:11 AM

I have '78 Camaro stick setup.
When I did nothing else BUT go from slapper bars to
Cal-tracs it was like a new car.60 ft better, launch straighter and a
breeze to set up and fine tune.Worth the effort of installing them, even if you
do nothing else.
Terry Knapper

Vonboxer · 03-31-2016, 09:51 AM

If I had the $1800 to spend on Cal-tracs I would, but this is just a street car that does the occasional blast down the track. I was sort of hoping for some tuning tips with what I already have... might have a few bucks to play with but not $1800.

ss3011 · 03-31-2016, 10:21 AM

It would be nice to know the corner weights. When I ran my 1971 Formula, with slapper bars , I usually had the Passenger side snubber preloaded against the spring eye with me in the drivers seat . Should have about 75 lbs extra on the right rear corner.

03-31-2016, 11:56 AM

You might get the book How To Hook & Launch written by Dick Miller...the hook guru !
It's about $25 and has a lot of info that might help you. If you can't find it locally go to www.Amazon.com to get it ..........

Harry 6674 · 03-31-2016, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vonboxer

If I had the $1800 to spend on Cal-tracs I would, but this is just a street car that does the occasional blast down the track. I was sort of hoping for some tuning tips with what I already have... might have a few bucks to play with but not $1800.

The last cal tracs I bought were about $350.00. What's with $1800.00? Has the prices went up that much?

03-31-2016, 12:46 PM

I just checked their web site for fun because $1800 seemed crazy. Cal-tracs for that specific car are $339.

Doug Domm · 03-31-2016, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vonboxer

If I had the $1800 to spend on Cal-tracs I would, but this is just a street car that does the occasional blast down the track. I was sort of hoping for some tuning tips with what I already have... might have a few bucks to play with but not $1800.

The OP never stated if this was for all the Caltracs components or just the bars. If he was intending on complete system I can for certain see the $1800 and more. Taking into consideration the low $CDN and the obscene shipping rates and brokerage fees to Canada. Here's how I see part of the breakdown.
$398 Split mono springs
$339 Caltrac bars
$238 ($119ea x 2) Calvert rear shocks
$118 ($59ea x 2) Calvert front shocks
$29 Calvert wrench
$1122 USD total x 1.32 CDN exchange= $1481.04
$1481.04 x 15% HST (harmonized sales tax)=$222.15
Now we are at $1481.04+$222.15= $1703.20 CDN and the transportation and broker fees still aren't included and they are many many times what the Continental USA rates are. So when the OP quoted $1800 if that was for the complete system I believe he is still short by a bunch.
Just for conversation sake all those big mail order stores that offer free continental USA shipping those in the US are getting a bargain compared to what your friends to the north are getting. I am in no way venting it just is what it is. Doug

rick winchester · 03-31-2016, 03:57 PM

To use slapper bars compress pass. side snubber 1/2 inch. 1 inch gap on drivers side. Leaf spring car should separate ,not squat. Try setting the rear shocks 50/50 at first . Remove front sway bar and make sure nothing is bound up in front susp. moroso springs are cheap and really help. Set front shocks as loose as they will go. Use a 29 inch slick, should fit easy with 8 inch wheel. Move the battery into the trunk if you have not already done so. I ran slapper bars for years , they work very well but after a while they tend to bend rear springs and you will need to shim the snubbers . When you get the money get the calvert springs and bars as they can be adjusted. you can make the slappers work very well ,just takes a little time and work. Rick.

Vonboxer · 03-31-2016, 05:32 PM

Thank you Rick and others who posted. And yes I was referring to the leafs bars etc... Last time I looked into it, it was around $1200 and it was too much then...lol. I will look into that book and also try what was suggested. I do have access to some 29's so I will give them a go to. The weather is starting to clear here so hopefully get it out soon.

03-31-2016, 06:35 AM	#1
Vonboxer Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 12 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Suspension Set-up/ Tuning Hello all, trying to set-up a 1980 Camaro.. leaf spring car. 3680 lbs. 90-10 70-30 summit shocks, moroso coils, slapper bars set to hit eye of spring there is about an 1" travel between rubber stopper and eye resting. Not sure of pinion angle or front and rear separate weights. Essentially stock other than what listed. 26" slick. Aluminium headed BBC, TH350 JW converter flashes to 5000 with current set-up. Aside from Cal-trac's is there anything I can do to launch better? Don't have any numbers with current engine, but it did 60 ft. a best of 1.78 with the previous SBC with a best et of 12.01 @ 113. Car does squat a bit. Does have new solid bushings in rear springs, rubber trans and engine mounts. Thanks

03-31-2016, 09:11 AM	#2
terry1 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Moncton, N.B. Posts: 276 Likes: 24 Liked 24 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Suspension Set-up/ Tuning I have '78 Camaro stick setup. When I did nothing else BUT go from slapper bars to Cal-tracs it was like a new car.60 ft better, launch straighter and a breeze to set up and fine tune.Worth the effort of installing them, even if you do nothing else. Terry Knapper

03-31-2016, 09:51 AM	#3
Vonboxer Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 12 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Suspension Set-up/ Tuning If I had the $1800 to spend on Cal-tracs I would, but this is just a street car that does the occasional blast down the track. I was sort of hoping for some tuning tips with what I already have... might have a few bucks to play with but not $1800.

03-31-2016, 10:21 AM	#4
ss3011 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 909 Likes: 70 Liked 239 Times in 114 Posts	Re: Suspension Set-up/ Tuning It would be nice to know the corner weights. When I ran my 1971 Formula, with slapper bars , I usually had the Passenger side snubber preloaded against the spring eye with me in the drivers seat . Should have about 75 lbs extra on the right rear corner.

03-31-2016, 11:56 AM	#5
John L Kelley Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Suspension Set-up/ Tuning You might get the book How To Hook & Launch written by Dick Miller...the hook guru ! It's about $25 and has a lot of info that might help you. If you can't find it locally go to www.Amazon.com to get it ..........

03-31-2016, 12:46 PM	#7
Tar Heel Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Suspension Set-up/ Tuning I just checked their web site for fun because $1800 seemed crazy. Cal-tracs for that specific car are $339.

03-31-2016, 03:57 PM	#9
rick winchester Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: cincinnati ohio Posts: 211 Likes: 315 Liked 208 Times in 35 Posts	Re: Suspension Set-up/ Tuning To use slapper bars compress pass. side snubber 1/2 inch. 1 inch gap on drivers side. Leaf spring car should separate ,not squat. Try setting the rear shocks 50/50 at first . Remove front sway bar and make sure nothing is bound up in front susp. moroso springs are cheap and really help. Set front shocks as loose as they will go. Use a 29 inch slick, should fit easy with 8 inch wheel. Move the battery into the trunk if you have not already done so. I ran slapper bars for years , they work very well but after a while they tend to bend rear springs and you will need to shim the snubbers . When you get the money get the calvert springs and bars as they can be adjusted. you can make the slappers work very well ,just takes a little time and work. Rick. __________________ Rick Winchester Stk 3277

03-31-2016, 05:32 PM	#10
Vonboxer Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Atlantic Canada Posts: 12 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Suspension Set-up/ Tuning Thank you Rick and others who posted. And yes I was referring to the leafs bars etc... Last time I looked into it, it was around $1200 and it was too much then...lol. I will look into that book and also try what was suggested. I do have access to some 29's so I will give them a go to. The weather is starting to clear here so hopefully get it out soon.