Caltrac’s and high rpm doesn’t mix

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o1heavy

o1heavy

1974 dart sport
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I know some have had success as have I
As long as there was weight added in the car power taken out and/or low two step launch
Not sure the Caltracs will ever be reliable
Enough
5000 rpm just hits the tire to hard
The instant center is terrible on these cars

If anyone is using the Caltracs and leaving
At a high rpm I would love to hear about it
Ps
I’m looking at 200 passes a year not just a
One hit wonder
 
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I know they’re still very popular with the Stocker guys.
The hot BBC stick cars usually leave higher than 5k.
 
PRH said:
I know they’re still very popular with the Stocker guys.
The hot BBC stick cars usually leave higher than 5k.
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With Chevy/ford platform I see it working every weekend while at the track .
But These short front Spring segments on the mopar make it tough
I’m talking about a3 speed and SLR around 11
 
After you left the line the car bounced. Was that when you shifted? Or did you lose traction for a moment?
 
Jadaharabi said:
After you left the line the car bounced. Was that when you shifted? Or did you lose traction for a moment?
Click to expand...
That bounce is my issue
I cannot seem to get it to stop
At first glance seems light a easy fix
Tighten the rebound and slow the hit but doesn’t help
 
o1heavy said:

I know some have had success as have I
As long as there was weight added in the car power taken out and/or low two step launch
Not sure the Caltracs will ever be reliable
Enough
5000 rpm just hits the tire to hard
The instant center is terrible on these cars

If anyone is using the Caltracs and leaving
At a high rpm I would love to hear about it
Ps
I’m looking at 200 passes a year not just a
One hit wonder
Click to expand...


Have u tried lowering the rear of the car ?
 
famous bob said:
Have u tried lowering the rear of the car ?
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It has 1 inch lower blocks now
Front spring mount is as high as I can go
Us cartool bracket
And the rear sliders are mounted on the frame I could make some adjustments to the rear frame to lower raise the sliders
If that would help but I’m not sure if that would be worth the trouble .
But I’m open to suggestions
 
o1heavy said:
Stock weight monoleaf from Calvert's
Click to expand...

Ok, well that surely should work. Looks to me like the suspension is too stiff when leaving. The car should rise more. A lot more. Almost like something is binding.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Ok, well that surely should work. Looks to me like the suspension is too stiff when leaving. The car should rise more. A lot more. Almost like something is binding.
Click to expand...
I wish it was something simple like binding
But I’ve been over this suspension front and rear. And please don’t take that response as being stubborn I’m certainly open for any and all suggestions.if this doesn’t get fixed I’m gonna be forced to go to ladder bars
 
o1heavy said:
I wish it was something simple like binding
But I’ve been over this suspension front and rear. And please don’t take that response as being stubborn I’m certain open for any and all suggestions.if this doesn’t get fixed I’m gonna be forced to go to ladder bars
Click to expand...

I understand. Look at the video. That car should rise a lot in the rear and it's not. That's how those Caltracs work. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that since you have them.
 
i think the rearend is too tight. you say the bounce is your issue, meaning something going on with you're driving? are you feeling something and trying to peddle the car through it? have you tried re-setting the caltracs with the roll pin just barely on the spring? and like RRR said, make sure everything in the front is as free to move as possible
 
Have you tried turning the adjustment all the way one way on those rear shocks. Make a pass then go back and reset the shocks the totally opposite way.

And By the way if anybody ask I really like your car.
 
RustyRatRod said:
I understand. Look at the video. That car should rise a lot in the rear and it's not. That's how those Caltracs work. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that since you have them.
Click to expand...
I agree and i have the rear sliders greased
And the pattern from the roller shows it’s not moving much maybe a 1/2 inch of movement according to the grease tracks .
Which made me think it was the rebound being to tight which had me loosen the rebound the video was the result
The Caltracs brackets in the front hanger are loose I know for a fact . I’ll revisit the actual movement of the leafs and pinion
 
kursplat said:
i think the rearend is too tight. you say the bounce is your issue, meaning something going on with you're driving? are you feeling something and trying to peddle the car through it? have you tried re-setting the caltracs with the roll pin just barely on the spring? and like RRR said, make sure everything in the front is as free to move as possible
Click to expand...
I do have a small gap with the roller and do plan on adjusting the gap to just barely touching
 
I have seen some guys modify the top shock mount to more straight up and down position, maybe to help more free movement, kinda like a ladder bar set up. just a thought.
 
Straight from the horse's mouth. By the way this is a sticky.

Caltrac Tuning Info LOOK HERE

Caltrac baseline tuning and adjustment-troubleshooting.JPG.jpg
 
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What do the rear sliders look like? Any pictures?
 
o1heavy said:
I wish it was something simple like binding
But I’ve been over this suspension front and rear. And please don’t take that response as being stubborn I’m certainly open for any and all suggestions.if this doesn’t get fixed I’m gonna be forced to go to ladder bars
Click to expand...


A ladder bar won’t fix it. A 32 inch IC that’s what, 12 inches up isn’t that much better than what you have.


If you can’t get what you have to work, get a 4 link.


FWIW, you need WAY more bump in the shocks, probably need to slow the extension way down, put some air in the tires and see if you can use the shocks to control the hit AND keep the tire from bouncing back every time it gets hit.

What you are seeing is the tire getting hit, then bouncing back, then getting hit again and repeating.

Once you tame the back end down, you’ll probably need to go back up front and and tune it. Probably more travel, a bit slower to keep it from shocking the tires.
 
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