Cal Tracs

[1 Fast SS]

Well, I told you guys that I was going to make my own set of Cal Tracs traction bars, so I did. Here are some pics of them, but I have a question for Chase. When you did your cal tracs and you took the bushing out of the leaf spring, how did you jack the truck up? I haven't done this before, so I was wondering if the leaf spring will bend up with force when I take the weight off the spring when I take the front bolt out. I think it will bend up when I take the pressure off, but I'm not sure. Anyway, here's some pics of the process from start to finish.

 

Started with a 1/8 thick steel plate and made a templet and cut everything to size. Got some 30" long and 1/8 thick hollow bars cut for me at work.

 

Drilled the holes in them from the templet.

 

Ground down all the rough edges on my bench grinder

 

Got all the hardware from Lowes and Summit racing

 

Wire brushed the paint off the 1" round bars.

 

I installed the leaf spring plates and "U" bolts back on the truck until I can get back under there. At least it drivable.

 

I had to have my friend at work weld the nuts from the rod ends to the bars. Then I just sanded everything down and started to prime and paint it all. I used some Krylon brillant silver after the prime coat as a base for the Aniodized red. Then I used the aniodized red paint for the color. After 24 hours of dry time, I used a couple coats of some Krylon clear coat to seal everything up. So here is the final product of my new and home built Cal tracs.

 

 

Building the Cal tracs really wasn't that hard to do. It was just time consuming with all the measuring, doing everything after work and on weekends or when ever I got around to it. The only thing thats stopping from installing them, is that I hurt my back and got two herniated disks. So chase, if you can let me know how to jack the leaf springs up, or maybe I should strap them up so they down come flying up at me, then I'll be able to install them when my back gets better.

Terry

[BlkSSnCpt]

damn!!!!!!!!!!! thats awesome man and very impressive, everything painted up looks great.

 

BTW: if u ever want to donate a set let me know

 

-Rob

[12'SROCK]

nice job terry. . .now put them on and lets see the imrovement

[1 Fast SS]

Thanks, I think they look pretty awsome too. I spent some time on the prep work to make them look good, and it was well worth it. I was going to have them chromed, but they wanted $300 to chrome them. I can't wait to install them too. It's alot of stress on my back though. Having two herniated disks isn't very fun. It hurts like hell!!! It's really the siactic nerve that kills me. I hope it will improve my 60ft. times at the track. I'm gonna need it when I install my nitrous kit. My truck doesn't really have to much wheel hop, it's more of loss of traction. Chase and Frank said that helps with the leaf not flexing so much, so I'll find out.

Terry

[gixxerrider]

looks good. When is the test date?

[saytagf]

Man those look sick...Great job!

[1 Fast SS]

looks good. When is the test date?

Thanks guys. The test date will be in late Oct. or Nov. When it cools off in Vegas. I don't like running my truck in the 115* weather. Truck runs way to hot for the track at those temps, even with the 160* stat.

[Fireman31]

subscribed

 

Nice work Terry, i'm curious of the results as well. I also think this thread may be

worthy of a sticky.

[04CHASE]

nice work for sure, did you just copy the specs from the online website?

 

they should work exactly the same then , what are you doing for the aluminum bushing in the leaf spring?

[1 Fast SS]

No didn't copy. I made my own measurements. The ones in the website were differnet, but the same concept. I'm not going to use the bushing. I'm hoping they will work without it. If not, I'll gt some. The bolt on the top should keep it secure, and the tension from the bar will keep it in place. The question that I have for you chase is, will the leaf srping flex up when I take the bolt out? How should I jack the truck up or should I strap it from flexing up.

[SrtBrad]

Looks like a top notch job. How long did it take to make them?

[misterp]

Wow Those came out killer - very nice job.

 

Mr. P.

[1 Fast SS]

Looks like a top notch job. How long did it take to make them?

It took me a couple of months, but only because I work to much. I work on them here and there, ( I'm lazy) on the weekdays and weekends. When ever I could find the time. They are not hard to do. I just have to get under the truck and hook them up, when ever my back gets better. My back has really been hurting bad lately.

[caddy03pimpin]

they look good nice job i used to fab alot of components for our score 7s baja race truck. what wall and type of tubbing did you use??? are you worried about spring back in the leafs. if you jack up the rear of the truck and rest the middle of the frame on stands make sure you block the front wheels . next you want to put the floor jack under the rear end support lossin the bolts to the hangers and shackles lastly remove the 2 shock bolts now you can work on on side at a time if it makes it any easier you can remove the ubolts just be carefully that the spring is not under load you change the load by the height of the jack pull the front bolt out you should be able to put your mount if thats where you designed it to go, now you can put it back together and then you can start the other side if you got any question send me a message and ill pm you my#

 

i miss goin to cartech offroad i love that place

 

 

 

 

 

It took me a couple of months, but only because I work to much. I work on them here and there, ( I'm lazy) on the weekdays and weekends. When ever I could find the time. They are not hard to do. I just have to get under the truck and hook them up, when ever my back gets better. My back has really been hurting bad lately.

Edited September 3, 2008 by caddy03pimpin (see edit history)

[1 Fast SS]

they look good nice job i used to fab alot of components for our score 7s baja race truck. what wall and type of tubbing did you use??? are you worried about spring back in the leafs. if you jack up the rear of the truck and rest the middle of the frame on stands make sure you block the front wheels . next you want to put the floor jack under the rear end support lossin the bolts to the hangers and shackles lastly remove the 2 shock bolts now you can work on on side at a time if it makes it any easier you can remove the ubolts just be carefully that the spring is not under load you change the load by the height of the jack pull the front bolt out you should be able to put your mount if thats where you designed it to go, now you can put it back together and then you can start the other side if you got any question send me a message and ill pm you my#

 

i miss goin to cartech offroad i love that place

Thanks man, that's what I needed to know. I didn't want to have the leaf under a load and smack me in the head OUCH! The tubing is 1/8in thick. Chrome molly maybe? Not sure of the material, but it's pretty sturdy.