[jhein]

Does that mod make any sense or just a waste of time and money? See my car specs below. Thanks.

[yellow1098]

Great question I was thinking of doing the same thing…..also wondering this compared to a 4 link

[Formulajones]

You can certainly set a car up to work pretty well on the street with a few suspension tweaks and tricks. I always spend some time on each car to make them as effective as possible in street trim. No sense in having a bunch of HP if the car isn't setup to use it properly, unless you like putting on smoke shows

Any time you can use a device that helps to plant the rear end into the ground it's going to be a benefit whether you're on regular street tires or something sticky.

It would be just as beneficial to spend some time on the front suspension to help with some weight transfer as well. In fact they go hand in hand.


With a suspension setup to work well, I've gone as quick as a 1.89 60 foot time on a stock street tire (not a sticky) and still have a suspension that's nice to daily drive.

Caltracs are nice if you don't mind the cost. They work well. I've had about as much success with old school traction bars as well on a leaf spring setup if you set them up properly. The sneaky route playing with the pinion snubber also works.
Then you'll likely want to look at the front.

[jhein]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

You can certainly set a car up to work pretty well on the street with a few suspension tweaks and tricks. I always spend some time on each car to make them as effective as possible in street trim. No sense in having a bunch of HP if the car isn't setup to use it properly, unless you like putting on smoke shows

Any time you can use a device that helps to plant the rear end into the ground it's going to be a benefit whether you're on regular street tires or something sticky.

It would be just as beneficial to spend some time on the front suspension to help with some weight transfer as well. In fact they go hand in hand.


With a suspension setup to work well, I've gone as quick as a 1.89 60 foot time on a stock street tire (not a sticky) and still have a suspension that's nice to daily drive.

Caltracs are nice if you don't mind the cost. They work well. I've had about as much success with old school traction bars as well on a leaf spring setup if you set them up properly. The sneaky route playing with the pinion snubber also works.
Then you'll likely want to look at the front.

Thanks for the advice. Yeah old fashioned bars are just so much more, uh... less attractive. Caltracs are a bit more stealthy. I'm gonna see just how bad my traction and other things are before I do anything.

[jhein]

Looks like it's not compatible with a rear sway bar.

[69FIREBIRD76MM]

I have used cal Tracs in 3 of my cars, 1 69 fi rebird, 73 comet and my last one 70 maverick, they look great and work great, smooth on the streey n freeway. You should check Assassin Bars too.... Slappets bars look ugly jmho.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by jhein

Thanks for the advice. Yeah old fashioned bars are just so much more, uh... less attractive. Caltracs are a bit more stealthy. I'm gonna see just how bad my traction and other things are before I do anything.

Yeah it just depends on the thought process. Myself I'm very old school and love a good slapper bar setup. In fact the vintage stuff has started to get more popular and kind of expensive. Looks great sitting behind a set of cragars if you're going for that day 2 look. This attraction also mainly comes from the older generation.

If you run stock wheels and looking for more of a subtle appearance the Caltracs aren't as noticeable.

[PAUL K]

For a more street than strip car I perfer the good ole fashioned slapper bar. If your chasing ET the Cal-tracs usually work better.

[yellow1098]

I’m ordering some caltracs for my 77 TA after my last track day with 650 hp I couldn’t put the power down at all even with Mickey thompson estreets

[slowbird]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

For a more street than strip car I perfer the good ole fashioned slapper bar. If your chasing ET the Cal-tracs usually work better.

Really? Slapper bars are gross 😝

[4dblnkldude]

Confused ? Shock plate to eye bolt? Just a little fabrication... if your draggin mo need

[ta man]

Originally Posted by jhein

Looks like it's not compatible with a rear sway bar.

Mine was tight but was able to keep the rear sway bar. Others say the Caltracs work better without it..I'd sooner have the car leaving level.

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by slowbird

Really? Slapper bars are gross 😝

All the guys that can't make them work say that

[jhein]

kinda cool homemade fab job:

https://youtu.be/MoREDuJFd2U

[slowbird]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

All the guys that can't make them work say that

Probably but I got them working pretty good on my brother's car and when I ran them. People that like them are probably too cheap to buy good parts lol

[Formulajones]

Na, we just like period correct on these old cars, that's all.

[AG]

I ran slapper bars and stock leafs down to 10.4 before I switched to Caltracs and split monoleafs. No rear sway bar and the car leaves completely level without any twisting. They slapper bars are ugly though.

[Formulajones]

The stock and super stock guys in the 60's and 70's were running 9's with slapper bars. Guys like Grumpy for instance.

This classic old school look is what many duplicated on their street cars back in the day and that movement has grown quickly in the last few years. Nothing really oozes cool more than cragars and slapper bars on a classic muscle car. Love to see the purists squirm when you park something like this next to them

[blueghoast]

My firebird 60's@ 136-138 on the rear tire's with a set of the cheap
u-bolt on sllaper bars bought them at a swap meet for $5.00 .
Had to go to something better because they were bending.
So now I've got a set of caltracks and they seem to work better have to
get back to the track and see. I'm afraid of to much hook at the track now
so I'm going to have to tie the front end down to keep it from going to high.
We will see as soon as the tracks open.

GT

[blueghoast]

Oh yea mine drives great on the street and I'm still using the stock
leaf springs too.

GT