Thanks for the replies. Going to do alignment first and do the flip kit asap.

 

i have the same bouncing problem, thought it was just not having adjustable shocks at first then watching some videos i could see the drop is what screwed it all up. As in your case the same as mine the hangers are the problem!

 

BINGO. ive been called stupid for this comment before though by self proclaimed
suspension experts". been there, done that, hangers suck. flip kit will get your instant center the furthest out front. lance had great success with his stock suspension setup over his shackle/hanger setup.

how do you adjust your caltracs/shock settings? firming up my shocks made the launch a ton smoother. no more see-sawing down the track.

 

Get the transfer as close to parallel as possible. The best dropped leaf spring suspension setups I've seen 60ft is either just a drop shackle and caltracs (gets the bar almost parallel just higher off the ground) or the flip kit, which accomplishes a similar angle just lower... I'd personally just take the front hangers off and run the shackles and caltracs and see how that improves you. This will be the easiest also since you don't have to channge completely to a flip kit as well as get different rear mounts for your cal-tracs. This will also allow your front suspension to stay the same or close to it. A flip kit will require the need to change front ride height and setup.

 

Good news. Mhotrodscooter came over today and found that passenger tire is 1/2" further front than drivers which explains the drifting. Also bought the flip kit caltrac perches from bluecajun5.3 and should have the flip kit installed by 00z71 pretty soon. Don't know how it shifted but it shouldn't be hard to fix and rear will be loose for flip kit anyhow.

 

i have someone put the caltrac cross pin just resting on the leaf spring with me in it. shocks setting somewhere in the middle like 5 or 6. you don't want the extension too loose (which is what you are adjusting) because it will compress too quickly and unload the tires. you want to control it.

this is on the bottom hole on the pivot plate. someone needs to try the top hole just to see if there is a difference (suppose to hit the tires harder). i know it worked better there on a 71 camaro with their monoleafs and rancho shocks.

like Ben said your best success with them is drop shackles only with overload removed, or a flip kit. if a flip kit is too low then a lift shackle along with it should work too.

 

Yep!!! Either remove the overload or clamp the hell out of it LOL

 

I'm glad we was able to find the problem that fast. When you go back together with it make sure to measure from a solid point closes to the front of the truck as possible ( something that can't move or be adjusted)

 

Post up the results when your done! And if you do it in another thread link it in here! Subscribing for results!!

 

that question was actually for tarinitup but its good to see how others are making it work. looks like we do it about the same.

i set my shocks to 7 on the ranchos. touch both bars to the leaf spring while sitting in the truck, then turn the bars. i crank the preload much farther than calvert recommends though. i start at 1/2 turn on passenger side and 3/4 turn on the drivers side. if it doesnt hook, i give it another 1/4 turn on each side. dead hooked 1.68 N/A last time and havent tried on the spray yet...but now i have an entire new suspension setup to learn