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Author
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Topic: Questions about Cal Tracs
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89_coupe
Gearhead Posts: 228
From: Ontario (Upstate), NY
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-01-2005 10:27 AM
   
I have my car scheduled to go in the chassis shop on the 18th to have another set of custom headers made for it (not sure what diameter or primary length I want yet) and I figured since it will be there to go ahead and get some Cal Tracs. Right now my car has severe roll rotation on launch and has run 1.32 60' times back in the '90s but the rear leaf springs have sagged some since then and the spring bushings are dry and rotted so the car drives funky now and the left front corner goes to the sky while the right rear comes close to the ground. It is fun I have to admit and it does get a lot of attention from spectators that come over to check the car out in the pits but I know it can never hit 1.30s with it the way it is and I feel I'm nearly at the suspensions limit this time with low 1.40 60' times. I have never used a trans brake in this car because the suspension would never handle the "hit". I would foot brake and let the suspension do its "thing" which worked out well but I would be eaten alive on a pro tree. I would like a quicker reacting sooner foreward movement if possible and be able to use a trans brake. Would Cal Tracs let me leave level? Can they handle a trans brake shock load and actually plant the tires while on a trans brake? Will I also need an adjustable sway bar? I was thinking of just having an adjustable sway bar made and continue using the car as it is. The kicker is I really hate spending more money on the car itself since it is a Pinto and any money I put into it is a waste but I also want it to launch level and hard. I always liked the fact that even the slickest greasy tracks I could get perfect traction and pull the wheels without worry. What should I do and how much are Cal Tracs? Are they worth the price and effort and any opinions or experience is appreciated.
Thanks------------------
Kent '68 Falcon wagon stock 289
'65 Fairlane 500 wagon 10.5:1 351W
'78 Fairmont wagon 10.5:1 302
'76 Pinto wagon 392 stroke
'01 Focus SE DOHC 2.0L
'04 Explorer XLT 4.6 3.73 trac lock What is this FE fixation for which there seems to be no real cure? Something about wanting to spend twice as much money to go half as fast for one third the number of passes between explosions and not being able to find parts to fix it when it does explode. Pinto 392W 15:1, Iron Pro Topline 64/215s ported to 237cc, angle milled .115" to 52.5cc chambers with 2.08/1.6 valves, ported Super Victor, 1.72 rockers, Isky solid roller (290/300 adv, 256/266 at .050", .650" net lift, 108LSA/108 ICL), Crane Pro Series solid roller lifters, 9375 1050 Dominator, Victor water pump, billet 9 key timing set, custom 1 7/8"-2" step headers, 3.5" H-pipe and Hooker Aero Chamber mufflers, C4 w/9" 5000 stall, 4.30 gears, 28/10.5/15 MT ET Drags, 3200#s w/o driver.
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 25883
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-01-2005 10:41 AM
There are small tire Cal-Trac cars running in the high sevens. Auto's with a brake and sticks.
You can get them to react very well, although never as good as a set of ladder bars with a floater.
Regardless, you will need a premium set of adjustable shocks to help plant the tires.
QA-1, Strange, Afco, etc. Not, Rancho/Taco's.The Cal-Tracs are just under $320 plus shipping. ------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 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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89_coupe
Gearhead Posts: 228
From: Ontario (Upstate), NY
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-01-2005 11:10 AM
Alex, I have been doing searches on the web this morning about the Cal Tracs and I see they probably are what I've been needing. Seeing as though you have experience with them, are they street friendly or should they not be used on the street. I don't plan on running 8s in this car but I want to run deep in the 9s naturally aspirated though I can't rule out a small 125-150 shot of juice to get an 8 on my timeslip. Can they make the car pop a big wheelie and do a quick adjustment to barely pull the wheels on the next pass? I see they have 2 lower bar mounting holes and they say one is for a nose heavy car and the other is for a more balanced car. Will one pop the front up high for the fun factor and switch to the other hole for consistent 60' times during competition? I like to have fun and get attention without looking like I am trying to get attention if you know what I mean  Can I forget about getting a rear adjustable sway bar or is that still a good idea even with Cal Tracs?
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 25883
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 03-01-2005 01:13 PM
You can drive them on the street if you back off the pre-load.
Forget about the sway bar.------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First SS/MA in the TENS!
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 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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n2oMike
Gearhead Posts: 2419
From: Spencer, WV
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 03-01-2005 03:48 PM
Sounds like your old suspension wasn't the most efficient, but definitely seemed to get the job done.... and didn't spin on slick tracks.All that 'monkey motion' your car was doing was absorbing the power from the engine. If you tighten it up, more power will be getting to the ground on launch, and it will probably start losing traction on slick tracks... but it will probably be a little quicker on the STICKY ones. (as long as you don't drag the bumper) Loose suspensions aren't what the doctor ordered for setting records, cutting good lights on pro trees, etc... but they will usually end up working out when you need that one wheel on the ground to steer with, or are in the running against a bunch of fast cars on a track that is going away. Small tired cars that are required to go FAST are often set up loose and 'inefficient' like yours was. I'm no chassis expert, and Alex knows FAR more than I do about the subject... but absorbing and storing a little of that energy isn't always a bad thing when you've got TOO MUCH POWER to launch with. ------------------
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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89_coupe
Gearhead Posts: 228
From: Ontario (Upstate), NY
Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-02-2005 05:17 PM
I think the suspension was OK for bracket racing and the "fun" factor but I would like to run off a pro tree in "street race" shoot-outs so I don't get drilled so bad on the tree. On a 5/10ths tree I would either leave at idle before the 3rd yellow cames down or stage 3000 against the converter and lauch half way between the 3rd yellow and green. It pulls the wheels higher with the idle launch and the chassis preloads a bit against the converter letting it have foreward movement much quicker and less chassis movement. My springs are not like they were and the bushings are smushed and cracking since the 1.32 60' times in the mid 90s. Now I think low 1.40s are about all it has left which is why I am seriously considering the Cal Tracs.
Alex, are you a Cal Tracks dealer? I see they have Cal Tracs for Pintos but mine is not the standard Pinto. It is a V6 wagon with staggered shocks. I also have the 3" axle tubes on my 9' like Cal Tracks require. My springs being V6 wagon springs might have different spring and eye dimensions. I don't know. Can you do this or should I contact Cal Tracs directly? ------------------
Kent '68 Falcon wagon stock 289
'65 Fairlane 500 wagon 10.5:1 351W
'78 Fairmont wagon 10.5:1 302
'76 Pinto wagon 392 stroke
'01 Focus SE DOHC 2.0L
'04 Explorer XLT 4.6 3.73 trac lock What is this FE fixation for which there seems to be no real cure? Something about wanting to spend twice as much money to go half as fast for one third the number of passes between explosions and not being able to find parts to fix it when it does explode. Pinto 392W 15:1, Iron Pro Topline 64/215s ported to 237cc, angle milled .115" to 52.5cc chambers with 2.08/1.6 valves, ported Super Victor, 1.72 rockers, Isky solid roller (290/300 adv, 256/266 at .050", .650" net lift, 108LSA/108 ICL), Crane Pro Series solid roller lifters, 9375 1050 Dominator, Victor water pump, billet 9 key timing set, custom 1 7/8"-2" step headers, 3.5" H-pipe and Hooker Aero Chamber mufflers, C4 w/9" 5000 stall, 4.30 gears, 28/10.5/15 MT ET Drags, 3200#s w/o driver.
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