The SSM bars are history along with the factory original mono leaf springs.

Even though we managed a 1.39 ET 60' with the Southside bars we couldn`t get the car to repeat that time ever again.
Last trip the 60`s were in the 1.47-1.57 ET range.

So now, new Caltrac bars along their spit mono leafs were ordered.
This move has been tossed around for a couple years now and we finally got it done this week.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a356/scm-asm/000101120000246.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a356/scm-asm/000101120000247.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a356/scm-asm/c9d032e5.jpg



All done:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a356/scm-asm/000101120000255.jpg

The 295/65/15" street tires just fit, but the 28.5/11.0/15" Phoenix slicks were a No Go.
The slicks rubbed on the inner fender lip a little, but were pressed solid against the new leaf springs on the back side.
So we had to put on a smaller set of slicks...28.0/10.50/15" M/T`s

Disappointed that we had to do it that way, but we had absoutely no other choice.
Would like to have seen the car run with only the Caltrac switch made.
We log every pass made along with any changes made so we can simply go back and compare notes no big deal.

Just thought I`d post...
BTW...Friday night we race, should be interesting!

Cool :cool: Looks nice -- I bet it will still hook hard with the smaller tires.

I almost wonder if there wasn't something other than the suspension going on if it wouldn't repeat -- mine was pretty consistently in the low 1.5's with bests in the high 1.4's with the SSMs and only 275-60-R15 M/T Drag Radials . . . but then again, maybe that is pretty much the limit with the SSM setup, I dunno

Oh well . . . good luck! I'm jealous -- its snowing here in MI.

I got the Calvert racing split mono leafs on my ride a few months ago, but havent made a new set of T-bars yet.
The new monos are a lighter (rating) spring then the factory multileafs I was running.
They lowered the back end a bit, and should help the rear not separate as much at
launch and wt. transfer better (with my heavy nose). But I dont plan to hit the track this
winter so I'm eager to see how things work out for you Big. Did the car have a lot
of separation in the rear off the line?
Eric I saw your ride in Hot Rod this week, that musta been a fun deal;)

Thanks Eric...we had many 1.42-1.45`s in the 60' but it really needs to get in the mid 1.30`s to reach our goal.
Maybe we max`d out the SSM bars maybe not, but we`re tired of the car spinning.
When we were in Orlando for the Worlds Fastest in October virtually every leaf spring car there had Caltracs, must be a reason for that, and also too, not one car had SSM bars that I saw. Food for thought.

Rafeal (sp?)..We got the 1" lower leaf setup. Had a decent amount of seperation but I think the old mono`s were just too weak.

I figured we added maybe 10-15 lbs with this new setup. The difference in the leaf springs alone seemed to be that much.

I`m also expecting the ride to improve some too, we`ll see.

Looks good!
Can you explain for me what exactly the split mono leaf spring is? I assume it means that the front half is stiffer than the back half?
If so, that would be the same, or similar anyway to the Landrum Mono leafs I have in my Nova. I got those from Calvert as well, back in the late 90's.

How would one determine the rate required (and arch)?

Anxious to hear your results at the track.

Ron

The split monoleafs are 2 pieces that overlap in the center.

Big
When I 1st put them on I could bounce the back of my car
like a basketball :) until I put the Strange shocks on - on the stiffest setting.
The ride is better then the factory multileafs, its the shocks that make it kinda
stiff.

Big Red,

Set up looks nice indeed! Did it change the stance of your car at all? How much did that setup set you back? (Shocks and all)

Eric,

What suspension are you running again? (Refresh the brother's memory)

VI

B/R, you'll love the caltracs, they work awesome. i put some on my car a couple of years ago, and will never look back. the car runs consistent all day long, on any track. my problem is a too tight converter that sometimes messes with my 60 times a little (very little though). i'm running all stock parts on the suspension, and it dead hooked on any track with my old bfg drag radials, the new mickeys (radials) even try to hook on the pavement, cant wait to get them to the track.
i am also curious about ride height with the split monos, this winter i think i'm going to change some suspension parts (if i get 5 seconds of time), and was considering them. would like to know where they sit on a first gen. 67RS502, do you have them on now? if so whats the stance like, and height?

Please let us know how they work out for you.

I have SSM bars, but the Cal tracs are on my short list of changes to my car and would be interested in your results. I put Ranchos on last month and they helped, so I'm anxious to see what it will do with some cal tracs.

I just changed converters and have not had a chance to run it yet. So I'm going to wait a little longer on the Cal tracks untill I get a few passes with the new converter.

As mentioned, the "split" is were the leaf overlaps in the center.
Aluminum bushings in the front and a urethane bushing in the back.
The car now sits lower. These are the 1" lower ones leafs btw.

I`ll post the results.

Does Calvert have a website? I am about to attack the rear of the 67 nova wagon.

Here you go Oger: http://www.calvertracing.com/

Thanks, I E-mailed them for the info.

blackvi -- I am running stock multi-leaf replacement springs with the lowest leaf removed (they are now 4 leaf) with SSM lift bars and Rancho shocks in back. Stock 6 cylinder springs in front with Koni SPA 1 shocks.

I have caltracs on my 73 camaro. I have stock multi leafs with rancho 9 way adjustable shocks. 275/60/15 MT drag radials. I havent made it to the track yet but they do pretty good on the street.

Will the split mono leafs work with multileaf perches? I dont know if it makes a difference.


If you are interested in buying a set of cal tracs I got mine from Manny at Cv tire. He is a cal tracs dealer and can beat the price from calvert racing. Give him a call or check out his site. www.cvtire.com 209-357-4115. He is in Atwater California.

I also have the 1" lowering springs, which lowered it just over 1" from the old multileafs.
Heres a after pic:
memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/709000-709999/709320_27_full (http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/709000-709999/709320_27_full.jpg)

67rs502, are those 28" tires? what springs are you running in front?
and eric, are those 6 cylinder springs the #6308 moog spring (i believe thats the number). and are they uncut? i like the stance both you (eric) and 67rs502's car sit at, mines similar, but slightly higher in front. i need some new parts and want it to sit right, the first time. i hate re-doing stuff.

[QUOTE=Dave I]I have caltracs on my 73 camaro. I have stock multi leafs with rancho 9 way adjustable shocks. 275/60/15 MT drag radials. I havent made it to the track yet but they do pretty good on the street.

Will the split mono leafs work with multileaf perches? I dont know if it makes a difference.QUOTE]

I have monos on a multi leaf spring perch. I had to make a spacer block to make up the difference in thickness.
Mine are aluminum with a pressed in pin to locate the whole setup. The pressed in part is steel, and has a receptacle to mate with the spring on one side, and a pin to engage the housing on the other side.

Ron

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b14/RonSS/LeftBar.jpg

Thanks Ron. I was searching around for ideas and came up with something similar. I was looking at the lowering blocks for leaf spring vehicles. The smallest one I could find is 1" thick. I figure if I get one of those and I can have it machined down to whatever thickness I need. It appears yours is about 3/4 to 1" thick. Do you remember exactly how thick it was? Did you just take a block of aluminum and drill a hole through it then press pin through it? I could probably do something similar by drilling/tapping and just using a bolt and cut the head off. Thanks for the help.

Dave

Dave,

Mine are 1.2" thick. Thickness is going to depend on the difference between the thickness of the springs you have now, vs. the new springs. I don't have the split mono's. I have some Landrum mono's. So you will have to do some measuring.
I wanted everything to locate as accurately as possible. So I made the blocks on a milling machine, and turned the press in pieces on a lathe.
Rather elaborate I suppose, but I have access to the equipment at work.

Ron

Thers a guy on EBAY selling knockoffs of cal tracs for 200 bucks plus shipping. I have two friends that have bought them. One is my neighbor buddy across the road. He has them in his 63 chevy II. They look excellent, not like some cheap ass off shore knockoff. I guess some guy has a shop and he builds them here in the good ol' U.S. of A. Ill let you all know if they help this spring....hes gonna need em. 427 small block, 227cc M2 track 1's and a TKO 600. So i guess my next question is....dosent calvert have a patent on these bars? My buddies are identicle to them.