CalTracs?

[Cuda54]

How many people use CalTracs on thier cars? And how well do they work? A 4link is better but I just want some feedback on them. One guy told me all I need for my 525hp Cuda was a set of CalTracs to get it to hook up. Any thoughts?

[Chryco Psycho]

my experience with them was on a 440 Duster , his 60" times at the track went from 1.82 before the Caltracs to an amazing 1.82 after the caltracs so I guess you know what my recommendation is

[nqkjw]

My recommendation is the humble adjustable pinion snubber.
Might be 1960's technology but still work well.
I've only got 400hp and usually 60ft at 1.65-1.66.
Best has been 1.62.

[Chryco Psycho]

over the years simple ladder bars have shown the best results they hook up very hard resulting in 2' wheel stands & 60' times in the 1.40s with not much tire

[Road_Runner]

my experience with them was on a 440 Duster , his 60" times at the track went from 1.82 before the Caltracs to an amazing 1.82 after the caltracs so I guess you know what my recommendation is

I know sarcasm when I see it!   So what have you seen work the best on Mopars?  I've been told traction bars are totally not necessary if you're already running XHD or SS springs, any thoughts?  I know there are J-bolt or mopar specific bars which clamp the front of the springs, just curious if Caltracs are a waste are they all a waste?  I run a pinion snubber on the Roadrunner, and Lakewood bars since I've had them on since the 70's, but if there's something significantly better I'd be interested.

Later, Jim

[mopar12372]

the cal trac system works verry well . it works great for a small tire big cube car that will not hook . never saw a problem with them .
 60 foot/ hooking problem / you could even adjust them for a road raceing situation .

[Chryco Psycho]

Well having built race cars & fast street cars as well the best I have seen is a simple ladder leaf with a floater combo , it is hard to spin the tires even in the rain .We have had cars win  100" shootouts , they produce consistancy even with varying track conditions .
 Playing with the stock suspension will net some gains as well, the pinion snubber simply works but it is horrible on the street , adding froward sections of leaf spring & clamping them tight with a square to U bolt stiffens the front leaf section & tranfers a lot more power as well .
4 link systems do work but tuning them in can be a nightmare , there are over 250 possible settings & finding the right one can be a long process & then if you run on a different track or different traction on the same day you are lost again  .
 I have set up 2 Caltracs with minimal results , they are a variation of the old Leaf link designed by Mopar back int he 60s

[Strawdawg]

It's hard to beat a ladder bar on a leaf spring car.  Learning to adjust them for strip conditions may take awhile, but, they work

[HP2]

FWIW, pinion snubber and SS leafs are a contrary combination. A snubber works well on lighter springs that bend. The front section is SS springs is so firm that the car lifts and creates seperation from the snubber, rendering it ineffective. Like CP said, clamped front section of leaf spring packs helps out tremendously.

Never tried ladders bars, but a recall seeing lots of high powered cars with them in the 70s.

I have set up 2 Caltracs with minimal results , they are a variation of the old Leaf link designed by Mopar back in the 60s

I always thougth they resembled that set up as well. Cal-tracs were invented by a NHRA class racer who ran a Ford. Fords have symetrical leaf springs. Mopars do not. Cal-tracs allowed the symetrical Ford leaf to more closey act like a mopar asymetrical leaf within the letter of the stock class rules at the time.

[Cuda54]

Thanks for the replies! So anyone have pics of the ladder bar setup with a floater? How can you have a floating rear end with spring and a ladder bar setup? And how easy is it to install a ladder bar setup into a 72 Cuda? Do you move the springs inward at the same time so that bigger tires can be used? Just looking for the best for the money before I start modifying the rear end. Where would you find them for a Cuda? Or do you just make them to fit? Thanks again it all helps.

[Cuda54]

I has the SS spring on now on my Cuda.  But it just spins when I go to launch hard. That is why I was thinking of a 4 link. I do not want to the strip and go up in smoke on the line. I want it to hook and run not just sit and smoke. I also have a set of traction bars on too. And the pinion snub just does not seem to help stop it from spinning either.

[mopar12372]

ya ladder bars work as do  alot of the 1960 style designs still work today engine / trans mods ect . superstock springs work too for their time .  people design better and more efficent ways to do the same job .
a caltrac set up is like the jadder bar setup / 4 link in many ways / super stock spring . the caltracs work very well  and they do the same job as the above  YES  in a smaller package in a different way . i like them and was able to afford them at the time . if i didnt have the money for the cal tracs i would us a ladder bar / superstock , yes . a  linked car does work better but the average person COULDNT ADJUSTE THEM IF THEY TRIED .  the caltracs are designed for the average person to use and yes if you set them up with the proper parts adjust them according to john calverts directions you can put a fire breathing high compression in the front with a 9.5 slick and hook . yes they are *****en!!!!

[Chryco Psycho]

we did not use the CalTrac leafs , we used adjustable shocks & the Caltrac system & played with the adjustments but no significant [or any gain at all] was realized 

[Chryco Psycho]

ladderbars are a relatively easy fit , you need to added either a crossmember which can include a driveshaft loop  or box the front in well along the frame rail . The ladderbar & leaf spring are different lengths so you need a floater or slider to allow them to move properly . they companies selling the kits use a box that allows the diff to rotate & uses the ladderbar to hold the diff in place , it bolts over the leaf spring & allows the diff to float so the leaf only control the ride height & side to side motion . I designed my own system using to plates over the leafs on each side , we welded the top plate to the spring seat used spacers a few thou thicker than the leaf spring pack & used U bolts to hold it all together , packed the leafs & plates with grease so it will slide on the leafs , you only need 1 " movement total .

[Cuda54]

Chryco Phycho do you have pics of your setup? I would like to see what it looks like. How well does it work can you get a real good launch giving it full power? I am looking to launch at full power off of the line with out a lot of tire spin. About how many HP is your engine? I am not sure of how much torque I have the engine was built in California. And they do not have the paper work anymore. All they had was that it was 440-6 dynoed at 525HP on the build sheet no torque. It has a custom 6 pack roller cam with custom pushrods with Edeldbrock performer heads. It has auto with 2800 stall and 3.23 gears and still goes up in smoke if I try to get on it hard of of the line. So I need a better setup than I have to get it to launch hard. I was really thinking of a 4 link but do not really want to cut up my 72 Cuda.