Setting up Cal Tracs

[Scott P3274]

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]

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

[Troy Henderson]

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]

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!!!!

[philbilly]

On my 283 car. I set up using this chart. Of course I want to hit the tires the hardest. Lol. I made my first run and it is driving right real hard. Instead of making passenger side longer I shortens the bar on the driver side After a few runs I got the car going straight but on the shift the car seems to dart right. Just on the jerk of the shift. Do I just need to twist a bit more Or should I take some of the bite out of it? Bars in bottom hole and no pre load it never done this.

[Scott P3274]

Hi Troy, I was able to do some testing with the adjustment to the front shocks and travel limiter. It didn't go well. I took out the travel limiter and it improved but it spins as soon as the front starts to rise. I then installed double adjustable QA1 stocker stars on the rear. I adjusted them as you said, all the way tight on compression and a couple clics from tight on extension. It still blows the tires off with the trans brake. Foot braking, it spins as well but not as bad.
Any other recomendations for the trans brake set up?
Should I go to a much closer to 50/50 (slightly tight) set up for foot braking?

Your help is greatly appreciated.
Scott

Try backing off on the extension adjustment on the rear shocks. Sounds like the rear is a bit tight. Have somebody take a video of the car and watch it. That may help you

[Troy Henderson]

Originally Posted by Scott P3274

Hi Troy, I was able to do some testing with the adjustment to the front shocks and travel limiter. It didn't go well. I took out the travel limiter and it improved but it spins as soon as the front starts to rise. I then installed double adjustable QA1 stocker stars on the rear. I adjusted them as you said, all the way tight on compression and a couple clics from tight on extension. It still blows the tires off with the trans brake. Foot braking, it spins as well but not as bad.
Any other recomendations for the trans brake set up?
Should I go to a much closer to 50/50 (slightly tight) set up for foot braking?

Your help is greatly appreciated.
Scott

Scott did you measure to make sure you have 5" of extension for the front AND rear?

Is the front and rear suspension nice and free to move with the shocks unbolted? This can cause a lot of grief if any thing is over tightened and hasn't been greased in a while.

You're running a bias tire? Radials will need the rear extension loosened up more to work right like Todd mentioned. If will take a few hits to find the right settings on the shocks. Just keep adjusting until it responds.

Some video would sure help, good luck!

[Troy Henderson]

Originally Posted by philbilly

On my 283 car. I set up using this chart. Of course I want to hit the tires the hardest. Lol. I made my first run and it is driving right real hard. Instead of making passenger side longer I shortens the bar on the driver side After a few runs I got the car going straight but on the shift the car seems to dart right. Just on the jerk of the shift. Do I just need to twist a bit more Or should I take some of the bite out of it? Bars in bottom hole and no pre load it never done this.

Phillbilly the Driver bar needs to be set at 0 preload. Add 2 flats of preload to the passenger side until it drives straight.