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Author
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Topic: Clamping leaf springs
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ciscokid
Gearhead Posts: 129
From: Ooltewah, TN
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 06-26-2003 10:27 AM
  
I have heard many times that there is a benefit to clamping the front portion of a multileaf spring when using Cal-Tracs. My question is, how tightly do you clamp them? Is the purpose to clamp the springs to keep the leaves from separating, but still allow them to slide over one another as the spring bends? Or, is the purpose to solidly clamp the springs together to create a solid inflexible "bar" between the housing and forward spring mount?Looking at the geometry, it seem like making a solid tightly clamped mass would sorta kinda make the front of the spring act as the upper link of a 4-link setup with the Cal-Trac bar acting as the lower link. Is that the idea? Thanks.
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CometGT1974
Gearhead Posts: 372
From: Asheville, NC USA
Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 06-26-2003 11:40 AM
Try this article and see if it helps, it helped me to understand some things better!!http://members.tripod.com/~Crim_Auto/leafs.html
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67Coupster
Gearhead Posts: 181
From: Fortson, GA, USA
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 06-26-2003 01:42 PM
I have mine clamped tightly. I also have the rear of the leafs clamped to help limit body seperation. My car is a stick shift and I had a lot of problems in the begining due to excessive body to rearend seperation causing it to spin the tires right after launch. Clamping the leafs completely eliminated that problem.------------------
James
67 Coupe
393W, 4 Speed,
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 8826
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-27-2003 12:50 AM
Cisco,Clamping the leafs works but not nearly like fiberglass monoleaf springs do with caltrac bars. SteveW
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 2060
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 06-27-2003 08:18 AM
SteveW,
Did your 'glass springs come with different rear shackles - if so, are they longer between the frame mounting hole and spring eye hole than the OEM shackle? Thanks!
Ryan 
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 8826
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-27-2003 11:18 AM
Ryan,No, but I already had aftermarket shackles. SteveW
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Ryan Wilke
Gearhead Posts: 2060
From: Stanton, Michigan 49707
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 06-27-2003 12:17 PM
SteveW,
So how are your current shackles different from OEM shackles? Ryan
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 25883
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-27-2003 12:18 PM
They are longer.------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
MCA member# 53321
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,&'03
First SS/MA in the TENS!
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28
Professional Manwhore
The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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ciscokid
Gearhead Posts: 129
From: Ooltewah, TN
Registered: Jul 2001
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posted 06-27-2003 01:00 PM
So how much body separation is too much? This shot:http://www.employees.org/~bhracing/rock_launch.jpg shows quite a lot of body separation. The front of the springs are not clamped and the Ranchos were set rather soft on "2". The 60' for this run was a 1.41 which is good for me, but I'm wondering if I could be better. The springs are showing a whole lotta arch on that launch. The track was holding pretty well that day and I had just put on a new set of Hoosiers. Just experiment?
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 8826
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-27-2003 01:19 PM
Cisco,That's a lot of seperation. Here's a pic with the glass springs and Rancho shocks set on 1 - 2 on a greasy track.  SteveW
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jim1320
Gearhead Posts: 189
From: white plains, maryland, usa
Registered: Apr 2003
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posted 06-27-2003 05:00 PM
Who sell mono leaf spring or fibergrass leafs i have a 1970 mach 1 weight is 3550 lb best 60 ft was 1.49 time 10.99. but i run on friday nite on street nite usely 60mft are about 1.54 looking for 60 ft thanks jim1320------------------
1970 Mach 1 393 stroker cleveland best 10.99 @121.50 3550 lb car with exhaust
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steve'66
Gearhead Posts: 8826
From: Sonoma,CA,USA
Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-27-2003 05:05 PM
Jim,I got them from MoneyMakerRacing, Alex. SteveW
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