Setting up Cal Tracs

Todd Boyer · 05-03-2013, 06:06 PM

I've heard that Calvert Racing is great as a source for setup info on their bars.

Scott P3274 · 05-07-2013, 01:00 PM

This looks very helpful. I have a 69 Nova with Cal Tracs and Landrum mono leafs. I added some power this year and a trans brake. I am running a 29.5 x 9" slick and stock front suspension. Foot braking the car, it is pretty consistent and has 1.44-1.45 60 ft times. I tried the trans brake and it initially spun. When it hooked up, it pulled a huge wheel stand.
Can anyone make a recommendation on getting it to hook consistently with the trans brake and also calm down the big wheelie? I will be testing tomorrow night. I stiffened the front shocks (QA1 Stocker Stars)but I want to make sure it hooks too. The rear shocks are set at approximately 50/50. The Cal Tracs are set up with the bar in the lower hole and pre-load on the passenger side only.
Thoughts?

Troy Henderson · 05-08-2013, 09:23 AM

Hey Scott are the basics covered?

- Travel - 1 1/2" for compression and 5-5.5" for extension?
- No binding in the front and rear?
- Are the front QA1's single or double adjustable? You need double adjustable when you start hitting the tire had with a trans brake. Set the Rebound loose and Compression tight. If it comes up to fast you'll have to tighten the extension until its under control. If it rises too fast and bottoms out it will spin after it hooks.
- The rear needs to be double adjustable also. Set the compression full tight to keep the tires planted. Set the rebound a couple clicks from full tight to get the initial hit under control. (This could be why its spinning on the brake.) Loosen a couple clicks at a time and see if 60' improves. Stop if if starts hitting the tire too hard and spinning.

I'd leave the bar in the lower hole if it's already wheeling.

Troy

Scott P3274 · 05-08-2013, 01:35 PM

Troy, thanks so much for your response. The basics are covered. There were no snubbers in the upper control arms. I put some polyeurothane bushings in to try to limit a little front end travel. With the front suspension fully extended (on a jack) the snubbers squash to about 1/2 inch. Before that, the front travel was all the way to hitting the control arms on the frame. It has new upper control arm bushings and new upper ball joints. The rear has a lot of travel. It has polyeurothane bushings in the leaf spring eyes too.

I don't think the QA1s are double adjustable. They are the R type but they only have one knob on them. What shocks do you recommend for the rear? I talked to Calvert and they recommended their single adjustable.

Your help is greatly appreicated. I plan to test tonight if the rain holds off.

Scott P3274 · 05-08-2013, 02:21 PM

P.S. Is that you on autoimagry.com in the black 68 Camaro with the number 10 on it? Very nice!!

Troy Henderson · 05-08-2013, 03:35 PM

Thanks that's probably a shot from 2008 when I could drive

John sells a great product and if he says his shocks will work then you can trust him.

His shocks work basically the same as your QA1's when I looked them up though so I don't know how much you would be gaining? They are both set with a firm compression and adjustable rebound (extension) to control axle separation. Maybe someone else could chime in.

http://www.qa1.net/qa1_motorsports/d.../r-series.html

http://calvertracing.com/9way.php

What you gain with spending the extra money on some Afcos is full control on bump and rebound. And if you car falls outside of the range of the shock they can be re-valved to fit your needs. They're also rebuildable. It's all my family has used but I think Strange makes good stuff also.

Take some video of the car if you can maybe the forum could offer some help. The only thing more fun then playing with your race car is someone elses..lol

Scott P3274 · 05-08-2013, 04:08 PM

Great car! I wish I had a stocker. My Nova would be a good candidate but a friend of mine told me to make it into a competitive Stock Eliminator car all I would need is a pile of money about waist high...

I will try to get some video and post it so you and others can take a look and make some suggestions. It is a very fun car to drive and I want to put the electronics on it to go 10.90 racing. That just means I really need to get the suspension worked out.. I have seen Martin Ganjoin do it so I would like to try it on 9" tires too.

Thanks for your help!!!!

05-03-2013, 06:06 PM	#1
Todd Boyer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Saint John NB Canada Posts: 561 Likes: 30 Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs I've heard that Calvert Racing is great as a source for setup info on their bars.

05-07-2013, 01:00 PM	#2
Scott P3274 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs This looks very helpful. I have a 69 Nova with Cal Tracs and Landrum mono leafs. I added some power this year and a trans brake. I am running a 29.5 x 9" slick and stock front suspension. Foot braking the car, it is pretty consistent and has 1.44-1.45 60 ft times. I tried the trans brake and it initially spun. When it hooked up, it pulled a huge wheel stand. Can anyone make a recommendation on getting it to hook consistently with the trans brake and also calm down the big wheelie? I will be testing tomorrow night. I stiffened the front shocks (QA1 Stocker Stars)but I want to make sure it hooks too. The rear shocks are set at approximately 50/50. The Cal Tracs are set up with the bar in the lower hole and pre-load on the passenger side only. Thoughts? Last edited by Scott P3274; 05-07-2013 at 04:19 PM.

05-08-2013, 09:23 AM	#3
Troy Henderson Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 410 Likes: 126 Liked 129 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Hey Scott are the basics covered? - Travel - 1 1/2" for compression and 5-5.5" for extension? - No binding in the front and rear? - Are the front QA1's single or double adjustable? You need double adjustable when you start hitting the tire had with a trans brake. Set the Rebound loose and Compression tight. If it comes up to fast you'll have to tighten the extension until its under control. If it rises too fast and bottoms out it will spin after it hooks. - The rear needs to be double adjustable also. Set the compression full tight to keep the tires planted. Set the rebound a couple clicks from full tight to get the initial hit under control. (This could be why its spinning on the brake.) Loosen a couple clicks at a time and see if 60' improves. Stop if if starts hitting the tire too hard and spinning. I'd leave the bar in the lower hole if it's already wheeling. Troy __________________ Troy Henderson Henderson Race Shop LLC 816-520-5389 www.hendersonraceshop.com Last edited by Troy Henderson; 05-08-2013 at 05:07 PM.

05-08-2013, 01:35 PM	#4
Scott P3274 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Troy, thanks so much for your response. The basics are covered. There were no snubbers in the upper control arms. I put some polyeurothane bushings in to try to limit a little front end travel. With the front suspension fully extended (on a jack) the snubbers squash to about 1/2 inch. Before that, the front travel was all the way to hitting the control arms on the frame. It has new upper control arm bushings and new upper ball joints. The rear has a lot of travel. It has polyeurothane bushings in the leaf spring eyes too. I don't think the QA1s are double adjustable. They are the R type but they only have one knob on them. What shocks do you recommend for the rear? I talked to Calvert and they recommended their single adjustable. Your help is greatly appreicated. I plan to test tonight if the rain holds off.

05-08-2013, 02:21 PM	#5
Scott P3274 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs P.S. Is that you on autoimagry.com in the black 68 Camaro with the number 10 on it? Very nice!!

05-08-2013, 03:35 PM	#6
Troy Henderson Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kansas City Posts: 410 Likes: 126 Liked 129 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Thanks that's probably a shot from 2008 when I could drive John sells a great product and if he says his shocks will work then you can trust him. His shocks work basically the same as your QA1's when I looked them up though so I don't know how much you would be gaining? They are both set with a firm compression and adjustable rebound (extension) to control axle separation. Maybe someone else could chime in. http://www.qa1.net/qa1_motorsports/d.../r-series.html http://calvertracing.com/9way.php What you gain with spending the extra money on some Afcos is full control on bump and rebound. And if you car falls outside of the range of the shock they can be re-valved to fit your needs. They're also rebuildable. It's all my family has used but I think Strange makes good stuff also. Take some video of the car if you can maybe the forum could offer some help. The only thing more fun then playing with your race car is someone elses..lol __________________ Troy Henderson Henderson Race Shop LLC 816-520-5389 www.hendersonraceshop.com Last edited by Troy Henderson; 05-08-2013 at 03:57 PM.

05-08-2013, 04:08 PM	#7
Scott P3274 Junior Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 13 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Setting up Cal Tracs Great car! I wish I had a stocker. My Nova would be a good candidate but a friend of mine told me to make it into a competitive Stock Eliminator car all I would need is a pile of money about waist high... I will try to get some video and post it so you and others can take a look and make some suggestions. It is a very fun car to drive and I want to put the electronics on it to go 10.90 racing. That just means I really need to get the suspension worked out.. I have seen Martin Ganjoin do it so I would like to try it on 9" tires too. Thanks for your help!!!!

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