Leaf spring suspension

NHRA1926 · 07-15-2018, 03:47 PM

Daily Driver Sst. I run a 3700 lb 67 Camaro with a 496 pump gas John Lingenfelter engine. It runs 10.50's @ 127 mph. It's still a street driven car with full interior and working lights and such. It has Caltrac bars, Afco shocks, (which are a must with the bars). I installed Caltrac split mono leaf springs and did see a big difference. But, the biggest gain in 60 ft. times was when I installed a set of Mickey Thompson Pro Drag Radials. 60 ft times went from high 1.40s - low 1.50s, all the way down to mid to high 1.30s. The Calvert springs and bars put a HUGE down force on the tires this is why the Afco shocks are so important. I used to run Competition Engineering shocks, but there is no way they can overcome the body separation of the down force caused by the Caltrac bars. Coming of the trans-brake @ 3,000 RPM, the car used to flatten the tire to the point that it was wearing off the side wall writing of the tires, then obviously it would spin, then hook hard again, folding the tire, spin, then hook and take off. the only way I found this out, was by video taping the launch, and playing it back frame by frame in slow motion. The tires completely stopped all that from happening. Best thing I've ever done to the car. Now the cars carries the front wheels about 2 feet high till just passed the tree. I am very satisfied with John Calverts products. I did notice in the picture that you tie the car down using the frame. In theory, this is the correct way the not wear out the suspension during transport. But, keep in mind that you have a very heavy 4500 lb car. you may want to try tying it down at the rear axle instead, and stiffen the shocks during transport mode. It may be putting too much pressure on the springs during transport tying it down from the frame. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps.
Lugnut

07-15-2018, 03:47 PM	#13
NHRA1926 Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Bowling green, Ky Posts: 241 Likes: 12 Liked 232 Times in 69 Posts	Re: Leaf spring suspension Daily Driver Sst. I run a 3700 lb 67 Camaro with a 496 pump gas John Lingenfelter engine. It runs 10.50's @ 127 mph. It's still a street driven car with full interior and working lights and such. It has Caltrac bars, Afco shocks, (which are a must with the bars). I installed Caltrac split mono leaf springs and did see a big difference. But, the biggest gain in 60 ft. times was when I installed a set of Mickey Thompson Pro Drag Radials. 60 ft times went from high 1.40s - low 1.50s, all the way down to mid to high 1.30s. The Calvert springs and bars put a HUGE down force on the tires this is why the Afco shocks are so important. I used to run Competition Engineering shocks, but there is no way they can overcome the body separation of the down force caused by the Caltrac bars. Coming of the trans-brake @ 3,000 RPM, the car used to flatten the tire to the point that it was wearing off the side wall writing of the tires, then obviously it would spin, then hook hard again, folding the tire, spin, then hook and take off. the only way I found this out, was by video taping the launch, and playing it back frame by frame in slow motion. The tires completely stopped all that from happening. Best thing I've ever done to the car. Now the cars carries the front wheels about 2 feet high till just passed the tree. I am very satisfied with John Calverts products. I did notice in the picture that you tie the car down using the frame. In theory, this is the correct way the not wear out the suspension during transport. But, keep in mind that you have a very heavy 4500 lb car. you may want to try tying it down at the rear axle instead, and stiffen the shocks during transport mode. It may be putting too much pressure on the springs during transport tying it down from the frame. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps. Lugnut