Time to hit the Track.

[malex]

How do you have the caltracs adjusted? Preload or none? Instead of lowering the car, crank up the torsion bars and raise the front, this will put more weight on the rear. Then readjust the caltracs. I run zero preload on the bars, the pin just touches the spring on my car. just some suggestions that don't cost any $$$$

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Great suggestion on the front ride height NSS, will do that because it is front low, and it makes sense to re-adjust the caltrac preload, as the rear of the car should drop some amount.
I normally run zero preload on my caltracs with me in the seat. The last time out though I did run some pre-load.
The cal tracs went to the upper hole today. It took some clearancing on the spring box so the bolt/nut/ washer wouldn't make contact. A harder hit but less downward force on the cross pin across the leaf. The hole spacing is 2.5" and 4" from the spring eye, so approx 40% less leverage. The rear shocks went another 1.5 notches to full tight now and the front rebound went up 4 notches too. A number of changes, all of which should firm up the rear and keep the weight rearward longer.

 

[Mike Gaines]

I am amazed at the trouble you are having....
I have Cal Trac Bars, Mono Leaf Springs, Cal Trac (Rancho) Rear 9 way single adjustable shocks set on 1 for Trans Brake, One flat preload on passenger side and drivers side just touching (with me in the car). Bars in bottom hole, not top hole. Front is Cal Trac 90/10 front shocks, Torsions Bars are loosened up to "sag" and allow 5" on front wheel free travel....and NO PROBLEMS.
Hoosier Stiff side wall Bias Slicks (with tubes) and 94" rollout with 17 lbs of air.
No sliders, just regular rear spring shackles.
I launch at 3600 off the trans brake'
The car 100% hooks, no tire spin, lifts the front wheels about 12-16" for about 20 feet.
1.40 60' and consistant 10.15 to 10.18 ET's
Your car has the capability of running 10.10's or less, no problems, I hope you get things worked out...because I still want to trade you cars (LOL).

 

[malex]

I am amazed at the trouble you are having....
I have Cal Trac Bars, Mono Leaf Springs, Cal Trac (Rancho) Rear 9 way single adjustable shocks set on 1 for Trans Brake, One flat preload on passenger side and drivers side just touching (with me in the car). Bars in bottom hole, not top hole. Front is Cal Trac 90/10 front shocks, Torsions Bars are loosened up to "sag" and allow 5" on front wheel free travel....and NO PROBLEMS.
Hoosier Stiff side wall Bias Slicks (with tubes) and 94" rollout with 17 lbs of air.
No sliders, just regular rear spring shackles.
I launch at 3600 off the trans brake'
The car 100% hooks, no tire spin, lifts the front wheels about 12-16" for about 20 feet.
1.40 60' and consistant 10.15 to 10.18 ET's
Your car has the capability of running 10.10's or less, no problems, I hope you get things worked out...because I still want to trade you cars (LOL).

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I'll get it, it has pissed me off now. Lol. Everything changed with the low gear set and converter. I'm telling you Mike! 10.0's once it's sorted out!

 

[dvw]

Diferent converters, track prep,etc. Also Malex is knocking at the door of 1.40 60ft, 130mph messed up. When it's done it'll be in the 1.30's. I have a friend struggling right now, 9.40's@145+. Car has good parts and has been 9.1x. Heck I had mine so screwed up it wouldn't go 330ft. Sometimes you stumble onto something that works. Sometimes it takes real work.
Doug

 

[Hemirunner]

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I'll get it, it has pissed me off now. Lol. Everything changed with the low gear set and converter. I'm telling you Mike! 10.0's once it's sorted out!

I’ve seen lots of people go to that low gear set but the only guys successfull with it were low torque engines needing a mechanical advantage. The last guy was an 1/8 mi guy who added the low gearset, took out some rear gear and went .2 slower.

We’re running 1.24 60’s with a big power car using 3.5 gears and a power glide. Most power adder cars have gone to TH400’s with a 2nd gear leave to kill the launch torque. I’m running 1.48 60’s on spray with some cheap strange double adjustables at 4100lbs standard first gear and a 3.73 rear with a 28” tire. After this post, I’m keeping my mouth shut as most of my opinions aren’t popular with this crowd lol.

 

[Wookie316]

Low gears work with big heavy cars I know a guy running that combo. He has a bit of a tail shaft and sprag problem right now.
Dang progressive damage from my S60.

 

[malex]

I’ve seen lots of people go to that low gear set but the only guys successfull with it were low torque engines needing a mechanical advantage. The last guy was an 1/8 mi guy who added the low gearset, took out some rear gear and went .2 slower.

We’re running 1.24 60’s with a big power car using 3.5 gears and a power glide. Most power adder cars have gone to TH400’s with a 2nd gear leave to kill the launch torque. I’m running 1.48 60’s on spray with some cheap strange double adjustables at 4100lbs standard first gear and a 3.73 rear with a 28” tire. After this post, I’m keeping my mouth shut as most of my opinions aren’t popular with this crowd lol.

—-
No worries. All good. The Plymouth has been a work in progress here for over a year and everyone has been a great help throughout. Initially the goal was 10.5 but it didn’t take long to beat that.
It’s easy enough to slap the 2.45 gear set back in but that will be the last resort.
I’ve seen 1.43 60’ bouncing and spinning at 132 mph with this set and If I can get it to hook it will be the group effort here that’s getting the Plymouth on the 10.0 line.

 

[malex]

Low gears work with big heavy cars I know a guy running that combo. He has a bit of a tail shaft and sprag problem right now.
Dang progressive damage from my S60.

View attachment 628048 View attachment 628049

Glad you found a sprag Wooks! The purple dragon will live another day!

 

[malex]

Diferent converters, track prep,etc. Also Malex is knocking at the door of 1.40 60ft, 130mph messed up. When it's done it'll be in the 1.30's. I have a friend struggling right now, 9.40's@145+. Car has good parts and has been 9.1x. Heck I had mine so screwed up it wouldn't go 330ft. Sometimes you stumble onto something that works. Sometimes it takes real work.
Doug

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Yes I can taste the 1.30’s and consistency already. It may take shock re-valving to get there, but maybe not.

 

[bearman]

its all good hell malex you reached your number just sitting still with that great looking ride.

 

[dvw]

I’ve seen lots of people go to that low gear set but the only guys successfull with it were low torque engines needing a mechanical advantage. The last guy . After this post, I’m keeping my mouth shut as most of my opinions aren’t popular with this crowd lol.[/QUOTE

Everyone's opinion is noted. Again its all about power to the tire. If you have big power it doesn't need suspension or gear to aid the hit. That being said there's a big difference between 700hp and 1500hp. Obviously 1500hp doesn't need loose front suspension, a ton of starting line ratio, and chassis seperation. Many give up on trying to apply power and band aid by reducing timing, gear, leave rpm , etc. No better place to watch than the 275 outlaw classes. Watch a 4.30 car vs 3.80 car. Both run 190+mph in the 1/8th. Both have similar power. The 4.20 car is soft. So you can play safe, or work at it.
Doug

 

[malex]

Today I decided to do a check under the car today, checked this and that, checked the leaf spring u bolt torque to find them somewhat loose on the right side. On closer inspection I noticed that the right side spring perch had an air gap under the front. Looking closer I realized that the perch was crushed towards the rear!

There is an 1/8" gap under the front of the spring perch..

The perch is crushed towards the rear and looking from behind it shows that it's bending over..

The perches didn't have any blocking on the fronts or rears, and that obviously allowed the crush. Looking at the pinion angle it appears to now be positive. Using my iPhone protractor on the back Moser cover it also shows 2 to 3 degrees up angle (positive).

The diff will be coming out tomorrow, perches cut off. Will pick up a new set on Monday morning and get it back together. What the hell though, all the bouncing and **** took it's toll on the perches.

Hopefully with this fix and the other changes the old Plymouth might start leaving properly now. I'm certainly due for a breakthrough.

Any advise on the amount of negative pinion angle? I'm thinking 3 to 4 degrees downward. Can't help thinking about DVW's comment a little ways back about stumbling onto something.. I'm just glad I caught this now.

 

[Endangered Species]

Ours did the same thing. Call Cal Tracs they should send you new brackets.

 

[malex]

Ours did the same thing. Call Cal Tracs they should send you new brackets.

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Thanks ES. At least I'm not the only one who has had this happen. Running short on time so I'll have to just grab a set from the local speedshop. In hindsight I sure wish I would have boxed these perches, it would have been so easy to do right on the car even. The new ones sure will be..

 

[bearman]

Malex, good find well another note for me. Will box in the perches just to be safe. I'm assuming with the boxed perches that crushing affect will stop.

 

[gtxracer]

Just a comment Malex. I boxed the perches on my GTX many years ago, at the urging from my Dad. Surely you will get some positive results now.
Bob

 

[68 HEMI GTS]

I run 4 down with my caltracs. Calvert makes a nice boxed perch. They should warn you that you need them when you buy the bars. I had the same thing happen on the dart, I folded both over.

 

[malex]

Malex, good find well another note for me. Will box in the perches just to be safe. I'm assuming with the boxed perches that crushing affect will stop.

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Yes boxing, strapping them will do the trick. I have the perches in my Camaro boxed, but not the Plymouth of all things. Lesson learned.

 

[malex]

So the dana came out today, bent perches cut off and dana is back in place. Will pick up the new perches in the morning and get back at it.

The first thing I did was build a bracket to hold the dana. Actually works great. Can spin it 180 degrees and work on the perches. Sure makes it easier when doing this stuff solo.

Dana out and flipped over, ready to cut the perches off.

Damn perches sure flattened out on the back. Both sides bent, the right side was worse.

Perches gone, ready for new.

Back in place, will slip the new perches under and get it bolted up, on the wheels, set the pinion angle, tack in place, then pull it back out and weld/box them good, but thats tomorrow's job.

 

[69 GTX]

Good catch! Something to put on my list! Thanks for sharing.