Tbird Caltrac dimensions

Tbird Caltrac dimensions

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By CK - 10 Years Ago

I'm hoping one of you guys can share some images or dimensions of caltracs fitted to 55Tbird.

By Vic Correnti - 10 Years Ago

At the time I did mine I had to make the front spring pocket wider because the 55 T-bird leaf springs are 2" wide so the front spring pocket is too narrow. The smallest the Caltracs made was for was a 2 1/2" wide leaf spring. A wider spring pocket is available so it can be welded in place, but I cut mine open and made them wider. They worked wonders for the launch and really plant the tires. They did NOT get rid of my 50+ years of wheel hop though, I had to relocate the rear shocks to a more vertical position to get rid of that. Is your Bird a stick or automatic mine is a stick, an auto might react differently. Here is a link to the wheel hop I had (even with the Caltracs), the rear tire looks like a basketball being bounced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eByKKsRtnD8

By CK - 10 Years Ago

Thanks Vic
Mines a stick.
So straightening up the shockers fixed the axle hop and the caltracs only stopped the pinion crawling up the crown?
Did you try adjusting the caltracs etc?
Maybe the pin across the top of the spring could be further from the eye bush, where the stopper is on the chassis? What is that stopper ment to be for anyway, I assume to harden the spring near full compression??

What size tyres are you running? Did you have to panel beat?

Thanks again for photos and help.

By CK - 10 Years Ago

Whoops

By Vic Correnti - 10 Years Ago

The new shocks are now double adjusting and fixed the wheel hop after a few adjustments. The Caltracs help the weight transfer at the launch as well as applying a down force to the rear tires. I run a little pre-load on them as they recommend. I would think that moving the pin further would just wind up the spring and this is what you are trying not to do. The year before last I broke the main leaf where the pin contacts at the front of the leaf spring, I now have a thicker main leaf. My usage is related to drag racing what are your plans for the car? I assume that the rubber bumper is to limit the down travel, I don't think mine has ever been touched. Also my car has a Ford 9" with posi and 9" wide Quick Time Pro DOT slicks. The 9" housing has been shortened and the wheel offset was ordered for the tires to fit between the leaf spring and the stock body lip. Where do you live?

By CK - 10 Years Ago

I'm in Melbourne, Australia.
Mainly it's a street car, though we have a few drag strips local which are open most Friday and Saturday nights.
So I'm looking forward to getting down there with the tbird for a few fun nights.

I think I've seen your times are pretty good in one of the posts, 10's-11's
Looks pretty cool lifting the wheels.
I'll be happy in the 12's
I have a top loader and a 9" to fit. I'm thinking of gearing it to max 130 mph or there abouts.

By MoonShadow - 10 Years Ago

Take a look at this site. It's a tell all about the Caltrac's.
http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/Traction.html

By CK - 10 Years Ago

Thanks
It's pretty good direction on how to go about it.
I actually found it a few days ago and went out to measure the spring, however as you can see in Vic's pictures the spring is very light compared to the hemi drawing and the second spring is pretty much the same length as the main spring. So I thought I'd ask and see how the caltracs measure up.
Which I'm glad I did now knowing the effects of moving shockers. And that the axle hop was still present with caltracs alone.

By CK - 10 Years Ago

By MoonShadow - 10 Years Ago

Yee Ha Bill is using a truck spring leaf that extends straight out from the center bolt/clamp area. He has a regular rubber snubber bolted on the end. So under torque it act like the slapper bars. Until he went to a 4:56 rear it was handling his wheel hop. And I'll tell you his car hits hard and runs fast. I was shocked at how simple it was. Maybe Bill will post some pictures. Chuck

By slumlord444 - 2 Years Ago

Wheel hop has never been a problem with the traction masters. It was an issue without them. I also ran a set of slapper bars for a while with no wheel hop. Talked to CalTrak today and will have to measure and custom order when I decide to go with them. Will try switching tires around first.