Hot Rods 40 ford + caltrac + chassis engineering kit.

So i did a search and have found nothing so far. Any how i am trying to put some caltrac on the car's new leaf spring setup and am having some issues with fitment. the caltrac bars need 3 inch of clearance inside hanger bracket and chassis engineering are only 2 7/8 inch. So what are you all doing to make them fit or does anyone run their car hard enough to need them. The caltrac traction adders he is sending i will have to cut the spring width down to make them fit without binding. sounds like a 1/16 on each side is what he thought but until i actually see how they look i figured i'd get some opinions.

 

I wouldn't go cutting the springs, mock it up first and see where you go from there

 

Grinding the spring down shouldn't hurt anything, just take it slow.

I doubt you will find many guys who drive their cars to the point of needing cal tracs.

 

Theres a few on here, but not many, and maybe not on their traditional hot rod...

 

I have no advise to give. I had to google the system to find out what it was. It looks like a good system. Please report back on how it works out. I was having spring rap problems when I first installed a 383 in my 39. I was considering a slapper style traction bar system but my scrub line and wheel offset made it it impractical.

I soon installed a traction loc system in my 8 inch ford rear end and learned that the car launches well without trying to fry the tires.......

 

I have them on my daily, they work fine.

 

My .02
I would err. on the side of what works right, and not be too concerned about what the "traditional" crowd thinks is "period correct".
Cal-Tracs have earned their reputation from outstanding results on the dragstrip,
that doesn't meen they can't be made to work on a street car.

 

I agree, doesn't matter what the "traditional" crowd thinks, except this is where the traditional crowd can be found??

They probably work good, but are they needed? I would make new front hangers before grinding the springs, but that's just me.

 

they work very well on a street car, but you need to keep everything lubed so it moves freely. They have less effect on ride quality than slapper bars.

 

Yep and they look better too, more resembling an ancient set of Traction Masters than muscle car era slappers.

 

True. Personally I am not down on well set up slapper bars, I am putting a set on my sb '65 Futura, for that late sixties "day 3" look, but the cal-tracs work well and at least from the side of the car, look enough like traction-masters. but you need to keep an eye on the rod ends if you drive the car a lot, they don't like grit and water.

 

I agree.

 

Lots of guys in heads-up small tire classes take a grinding disc to the side of the spring pack and scallop it for tire clearance...

 

They work, 1.05 sixty foot on my sons X275 car.

 

What's a caltrac ?