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Author
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Topic: Cal-Tracs on the street?
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stang106
Gearhead Posts: 734
From: God's Country!... Port Alberni B.C. Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-22-2002 12:21 PM
   
I now have serious traction deficits, and am using 620# front springs, 5 leaf rears, 1" front and 3/4" rear swaybars, KYB gas shocks. I will also be upgrading to 15" magnums and taller tires. What I was wondering is how does Cal-tracks work for street use? I will still see occasional track time but mostly street. The horsepower I now have is unusable on the street so far. I will be upgrading to 90/10 and lighter springs for track time also.
Thanks,
Dave------------------
'70 ragtop Stang
351W - 13.70 @104.
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ZEATER
Journeyman Posts: 89
From: Mount Pleasant,IA,USA
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 08-22-2002 01:17 PM
I use comp engineering slide a links as my car is mainly street driven with two or three track visits a year. I heard the cal tracs are better for pure strip and the slide a links which are similar are better for street driving. I have run 11.80 with the slide a links in a 1969 Mach. They are very forgining on the street also by backing them off a turn or so.
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ZEATER
Journeyman Posts: 89
From: Mount Pleasant,IA,USA
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 08-22-2002 01:19 PM
That's forgiving not forgining. I hate it when I forget to proofread.
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stang106
Gearhead Posts: 734
From: God's Country!... Port Alberni B.C. Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-22-2002 06:42 PM
Zeater-
What does the rest of your suspension look like, tire size, and what are your 60' times?
Thanks,
Dave
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V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 3467
From: Orange, Ca. United States of America
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 08-22-2002 11:05 PM
I've got Slide-a-links on my '65, and with them backed off a bit, they are real forgiving on the street. Hardly know they're there until you get on the throttle and the nose points skyward 
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65_289
Gearhead Posts: 761
From:
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-22-2002 11:07 PM
I have Slide-a-links on my 65. Back them off for the drive to/from the strip. Tighten them up at the strip. Easy. 
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stang106
Gearhead Posts: 734
From: God's Country!... Port Alberni B.C. Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-23-2002 12:40 AM
What is the difference between Cal-Tracs and Slide-a-links? Does the Slide-a-links use poly bushings instead of Heim joints? They both look simular to me, are they simular priced?
Dave
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67Coupster
Gearhead Posts: 179
From: Fortson, GA, USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 08-23-2002 09:06 AM
I use the Cal-tracs on my '67 Coupe. They work quite well. My best 60' has been a 1.52 and there is still more left just have to find it. I drove the car around for a while on the street and with them set loose I didn't even notice they were there. Stang106, Have you thought about trying some drag radials? At the track a slick will be the best. Mine started off as a street/strip car so I bought some ET Streets. Should've gotten ET Drags. I think that's what is keeping my car out of the 1.4 60' times. Later! ------------------
James
67 Coupe
393W, 4 Speed,
7.07 @ 98MPH 1/8
1.52 60'
'66 Fairlane 500XL
Daily Driver [This message has been edited by 67Coupster (edited 08-23-2002).]
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V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 3467
From: Orange, Ca. United States of America
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 08-23-2002 09:07 AM
The only diference is Slide-a-links have a pre-loadable polyurethane bushing in the center of the link, making them tuneable. I think the Cal Tracs are priced about the same.
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CometGT1974
Gearhead Posts: 181
From: Asheville, NC USA
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 08-23-2002 10:11 AM
I run cal trac bars on the street and at the strip, my best 60" is a 1.50....I never change the adjustment when I drive on the street and I have never had any problems....they work fine on the street...IMO
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ZEATER
Journeyman Posts: 89
From: Mount Pleasant,IA,USA
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 08-23-2002 11:53 AM
I am running M/T slicks 29X9X15 on 15X8 magnums with 4 1/2 inch back spacing. I have comp eng 90/10 shocks on front and rancho adjustable on back. I set the slide a link with one turn past contact on the left side and 1 1/2 turns on right side.I have only been to the track once with this set up and ran a best of 11.879 @ 115.71. My 60' was 1.76 so I have some tuning to do on the suspension, tire pressure and launching rpm. I am running a 1969 Mach 428 with 4 speed and 4.11 rear end. It is mainly street driven with two or three trips to the track a year. The slide-a-links work very well on the street and better than slappers at the strip. I do think the cal tracs offer more tech support and would be better for strictly track use.
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stang106
Gearhead Posts: 734
From: God's Country!... Port Alberni B.C. Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 08-24-2002 10:55 AM
Hmmmm, I'm still a little confused between which to get, Cal-tracs or Slide-a-links. I just know I have no traction. Last night when Roger and I were out for a cruise, had more than 1/2 tank of gas, and I punched it doing about 30 MPH at 3,000 RPM, both wheels broke loose and I backed out at 4,000 RPM before I swapped ends. I want to also run taller and wider tires.
Dave------------------
'70 ragtop Stang
351W - 13.70 @104.
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rockafellz
Gearhead Posts: 1291
From: San Lorenzo, CA, USA
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 11-12-2002 10:11 AM
What do you guys mean when you say the slide-a-links are "more forgiving on the street"?I'll be ordering a pair of either one of those soon, but I'd like to know what you guys mean by "forgiving"?  Thanks. Erik ------------------
1966 Ford Mustang 2+2
Mine - Restomod in Progress 1966 Ford Mustang Coupe
Dad's - Original Unrestored
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Rory McNeil
Gearhead Posts: 1210
From: Surrey, B.C. Canada
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 11-12-2002 11:04 AM
Dave, those 620lb F springs, & big sway bars may be fine for handling, but they are making the suspension far too stiff to allow for any kind of weight transfer, esp. if you are running a low profile, stiff sidewall street tire. You have to decide what you plan to use the car for, a road racer/slolam type setup ain`t gonna get you any decent 60 foot times at the strip, & vice versa.------------------
78 Fairmont 428 4 speed 10.20@130mph
80 Fairmont 302 5 speed 12.8@105mph
85 Mustang NHRA Stocker under construction, 302 5 speed
59 Meteor (Canadian Ford) 2 dr sedan 332, auto
74 F350 ramp truck 390 4spd
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V8 Thumper
Gearhead Posts: 3467
From: Orange, Ca. United States of America
Registered: Dec 2001
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posted 11-12-2002 07:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by rockafellz:
What do you guys mean when you say the slide-a-links are "more forgiving on the street"?
The Slide-a-links are a telescoping design, with a big urethane bushing in the center. Both ends of the link are threaded, so you can lengthen or shorten them (preload), the bushing absorbs ~some~ of the torque, but if backed off also makes for a decent ride for the street. Cal Tracs have no bushing; a direct mechanical link without any 'soft' components at all. Direct torque transfer to the chassis, great for the track, beat the he11 out of you and the car from stoplight to stoplight
------------------
1965 GT coupe, 333ci aluminum headed/solid cammed stroker, four speed, 3.70:1 9" All Blue Oval, no blue bottle
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/V8Thumper.html
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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 1547
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 11-12-2002 07:48 PM
I DROVE a my car with a set of CalTracs for a few years, and didn't really have any problems.If you set the preload too loosely, they'll clank a little as the slack is taken up... but all you have to do to keep them quiet, is to add an extra turn or so of preload to keep them from unloading. Adding more preload makes the rearend stiffer, but it's not that bad at all. It can actually be helpful with cars that rub their tires on the quarter. On cool thing I noticed, was that if going around a turn or something that caused the tire to rub, you could just give it a little throttle, and the bars would push up on the body and make it quit. Of course slide-a-links would do the same thing. I can see where the poly bushings on the slide-a-links could be an advantage on the street.... but the CalTracs aren't really that harsh. Good Luck! ------------------
Mike Burch
66 mustang real street
302 4-speed 289 heads
10.63 @ 129.3
http://www.geocities.com/carbedstangs/cmml_mburch.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/silverstone/healey/367
http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/moi-display.cgi?220
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stang106
Gearhead Posts: 734
From: God's Country!... Port Alberni B.C. Canada
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 11-13-2002 11:46 AM
Rory,
I'm definitely going to softer springs and 90/10 shocks for the strip. But how effective will the cal-tracks be with stiff five leaf rear springs and KYB gas shocks?
Dave
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