? diff in cal-trac vs slapper bar ? - Page 2

Dave Turner · 11-06-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danny waters sr

I am going to change my 66 nova from the traditional slapper bar to a split spring leaf and cal-tracs... what should i expect such as reaction and performance. My car works excellent as is but am looking for some help in reaction times and maybe pick the front wheels a little. As of to date my 283 has yet to lift front wheels and i do struggle on a consistent spot for a decent reaction time. Running stock class with 165 sixty foots and 490 on the 330 foot.

Mr Waters, I have a 6cyl FORD for sale that'll get your Nova in the air!!

Might give it a rash however......

james schaechter · 11-06-2010, 12:23 PM

Danny, you just need to hook up that clutch pedal that we talked about and you will get your front tires off the ground! LOL.

Also, be mindful of ride height when ordering the split monos. We started with the stock ride height,but like the lower ride height so we changed the back halfs to lower the car. We still have the standard height back halfs in the garage. The springs work well.
The Calvert stuff is very good. certainly the norm in the stockers. I have seen slappers on some notable cars too, but given the choice, I would go with the Calvert stuff.

Also, not sure of your tire size, but watch the belly of the inside of the slick. We have 9 x 29.5s on 8 inch rims and we had to really massage everything. It still rubs. This is an issue with most any mono spring by the way. Just something to really look at. Jim

Alan Roehrich · 11-06-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cad

Here is a video of both cars side by side....

Clark

We've changed some things on the orange car since that race. It's now even smoother.

Anthony won that race, with a 0.001 reaction time.

danny waters sr · 11-08-2010, 03:35 PM

Thanks for all the replies . I am going to go this route and will let you know how it turns out. I am excited on doing this and hoping the outcome is very good . Probably install them next month when time will be more on my hand. Update later ......

Stick Racing · 11-08-2010, 06:40 PM

The first set of bars I had on my stocker years ago were slapper bars. I spoke with Ed Quay about some suspension mods I was thinking about and he told me I needed to modify the slapper bars. I made the trip to Pottstown and delivered them to him. He extended the tubing about 8-10 inches toward the rear and put another u-clamp to hold the spring between the housing and the shackles. I think Ed worked for Jenkins at one point in time and I believe the modified version is what Jenkins ran on his cars back in the day. I still have them....somewhere.

Denny Ford told me he recently changed from slapper bars to Cal tracks. Said the cars seemed smoother and carried the front farther out.

______________________________

Andy Stone 1102 A/S 1112 SS/C

Todd Boyer · 11-08-2010, 09:20 PM

I'm thinking the advantage to CalTracs is the tune-ability of the setup. I'm going with CalTracs on my Dart which will be built from scratch.

danny waters sr · 11-08-2010, 10:38 PM

After talking to Alex , I would highly reccomend his advise and help and product. Don't have any doubts that it will not help my car and can't wait to install everything . Thanks again Alex.

Hemiparts · 11-09-2010, 09:02 AM

I think after following this post we'll most likely go the Cal-Trac direction with the Duster. Thanks for all the info. Hey Danny maybe there will be 2 cars @ KDS getting some big air under the front wheels next season !!!!

danny waters sr · 11-09-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemiparts

I think after following this post we'll most likely go the Cal-Trac direction with the Duster. Thanks for all the info. Hey Danny maybe there will be 2 cars @ KDS getting some big air under the front wheels next season !!!!

Yep ,and we can blame it all on Alex and Cal- Tracs

carbuilder · 11-10-2010, 12:10 AM

The Check Mate cars used a floater with a heim joint attached to a bracket bolted to front perch bolt holes,,,those cars would hook on a skating rink,,the real beauty of that set up was the spring only held up the car,,not used to propel the car,,,the ABSOLUTE ULTIMATE in traction devices,,no one ever had a "A" car quicker in 60 feet with any consistency,,,period

11-06-2010, 12:23 PM	#12
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,989 Likes: 1,289 Liked 1,429 Times in 297 Posts	Re: ? diff in cal-trac vs slapper bar ? Danny, you just need to hook up that clutch pedal that we talked about and you will get your front tires off the ground! LOL. Also, be mindful of ride height when ordering the split monos. We started with the stock ride height,but like the lower ride height so we changed the back halfs to lower the car. We still have the standard height back halfs in the garage. The springs work well. The Calvert stuff is very good. certainly the norm in the stockers. I have seen slappers on some notable cars too, but given the choice, I would go with the Calvert stuff. Also, not sure of your tire size, but watch the belly of the inside of the slick. We have 9 x 29.5s on 8 inch rims and we had to really massage everything. It still rubs. This is an issue with most any mono spring by the way. Just something to really look at. Jim __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK

11-08-2010, 03:35 PM	#14
danny waters sr VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: lagrange,nc Posts: 2,224 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: ? diff in cal-trac vs slapper bar ? Thanks for all the replies . I am going to go this route and will let you know how it turns out. I am excited on doing this and hoping the outcome is very good . Probably install them next month when time will be more on my hand. Update later ...... __________________ Danny Waters, Sr / 73 Duster "340"

11-08-2010, 06:40 PM	#15
Stick Racing Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 169 Likes: 4 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: ? diff in cal-trac vs slapper bar ? The first set of bars I had on my stocker years ago were slapper bars. I spoke with Ed Quay about some suspension mods I was thinking about and he told me I needed to modify the slapper bars. I made the trip to Pottstown and delivered them to him. He extended the tubing about 8-10 inches toward the rear and put another u-clamp to hold the spring between the housing and the shackles. I think Ed worked for Jenkins at one point in time and I believe the modified version is what Jenkins ran on his cars back in the day. I still have them....somewhere. Denny Ford told me he recently changed from slapper bars to Cal tracks. Said the cars seemed smoother and carried the front farther out. ______________________________ Andy Stone 1102 A/S 1112 SS/C Last edited by Stick Racing; 11-08-2010 at 07:02 PM.

11-08-2010, 09:20 PM	#16
Todd Boyer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Saint John NB Canada Posts: 561 Likes: 30 Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts	Re: ? diff in cal-trac vs slapper bar ? I'm thinking the advantage to CalTracs is the tune-ability of the setup. I'm going with CalTracs on my Dart which will be built from scratch.

11-08-2010, 10:38 PM	#17
danny waters sr VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: lagrange,nc Posts: 2,224 Likes: 1 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: ? diff in cal-trac vs slapper bar ? After talking to Alex , I would highly reccomend his advise and help and product. Don't have any doubts that it will not help my car and can't wait to install everything . Thanks again Alex. __________________ Danny Waters, Sr / 73 Duster "340"

11-09-2010, 09:02 AM	#18
Hemiparts Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Raleigh, N.C Posts: 212 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: ? diff in cal-trac vs slapper bar ? I think after following this post we'll most likely go the Cal-Trac direction with the Duster. Thanks for all the info. Hey Danny maybe there will be 2 cars @ KDS getting some big air under the front wheels next season !!!!

11-10-2010, 12:10 AM	#20
carbuilder Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: detroit area Posts: 27 Likes: 9 Liked 19 Times in 5 Posts	Re: ? diff in cal-trac vs slapper bar ? The Check Mate cars used a floater with a heim joint attached to a bracket bolted to front perch bolt holes,,,those cars would hook on a skating rink,,the real beauty of that set up was the spring only held up the car,,not used to propel the car,,,the ABSOLUTE ULTIMATE in traction devices,,no one ever had a "A" car quicker in 60 feet with any consistency,,,period