Bought&Installed the Caltrac Traction Bars
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Holly Ridge, N.C.
Bought&Installed the Caltrac Traction Bars
Back on or about 02-21-07, I posted here asking for information about "Calvert Racing's Caltrac Traction Bars" for my 1996 Dodge 2500 CTD, Ext. Cab, LB, 4X4, Auto which I have heavily modified and love drag racing with.
I received a limited response and did more research and talked to many other diesel and non-diesel truck owners who drag race finally deciding to purchase and install these Caltrac Traction Bars on my truck.
All I can say is; WHAT A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE THEY HAVE MADE!!
For those of you that talk to me regularly or read my posts, you know that I was having a terrible time with my 1996 Dodge CTD bouncing and hopping off the line at the staging lights at anything above about 15 lbs. of boost. My Son, John Jr. (banshee) and myself KNEW this was hurting my times and felt that something like this had to be done. I had no idea these Caltracs would help as much as they did!
I put them to the true test at the "OBX Bounty Hunter Diesel Drags" this past weekend in Edenton, N.C. at the "Outer Banks Speedway." This drag strip is an 1/8th mile track which has to be one of the nicest and fastest 1/8th mile drag strips that I have ever been to! I was invited to run in the much respected "Pro-Street Class" by Jess and Buck Spruill, organizers of the event. I was told by Jess Spruill I had to run a MINIMUM 1/8th mile time of 7.8 seconds to qualify which I knew I could do, having run a 7.5 in the 1/8th mile back in December at our local drag strip in Jacksonville, N.C.
In my qualifying run, I ran a 7.3 @ 94.69 MPH my fastest time ever in the 1/8th mile! All I changed was to add the Caltrac Traction Bars! These Caltracs LOWERED my E.T by 2/10ths of a second, LOWERED my 60 ft. time from 1.75 to 1.65 and RAISED my top speed at the traps by a little over one (1) MPH! However, the biggest surprise was the fact that the truck DID NOT bounce, hop or jump in ANY WAY, it just squatted down and flew down the track!
For those of you that are interested, here is a video link to my qualifying run:
http://youtube.com?v=FH05ByEyuEc
You will be able to see how well the truck takes off from the lights.
I want to sincerely thank John Calvert and Matt @ "Calvert Racing" for all of their help and guidance during my purchase and after. I also want to thank my Son, John Jr. for all his help in getting the Caltracs "dialed in" and to my friend Miguel for all his help with the install and Bobby Downes (dperf) for the use of his lift and shop!
If any of you are looking for or need traction bars for drag racing or sled pulling, I highly recommend the Caltrac Traction Bars. They truly are a reasonably priced, well made set of traction bars with excellent customer service and support!
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John_P
I received a limited response and did more research and talked to many other diesel and non-diesel truck owners who drag race finally deciding to purchase and install these Caltrac Traction Bars on my truck.All I can say is; WHAT A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE THEY HAVE MADE!!
For those of you that talk to me regularly or read my posts, you know that I was having a terrible time with my 1996 Dodge CTD bouncing and hopping off the line at the staging lights at anything above about 15 lbs. of boost. My Son, John Jr. (banshee) and myself KNEW this was hurting my times and felt that something like this had to be done. I had no idea these Caltracs would help as much as they did!
I put them to the true test at the "OBX Bounty Hunter Diesel Drags" this past weekend in Edenton, N.C. at the "Outer Banks Speedway." This drag strip is an 1/8th mile track which has to be one of the nicest and fastest 1/8th mile drag strips that I have ever been to! I was invited to run in the much respected "Pro-Street Class" by Jess and Buck Spruill, organizers of the event. I was told by Jess Spruill I had to run a MINIMUM 1/8th mile time of 7.8 seconds to qualify which I knew I could do, having run a 7.5 in the 1/8th mile back in December at our local drag strip in Jacksonville, N.C.
In my qualifying run, I ran a 7.3 @ 94.69 MPH my fastest time ever in the 1/8th mile! All I changed was to add the Caltrac Traction Bars! These Caltracs LOWERED my E.T by 2/10ths of a second, LOWERED my 60 ft. time from 1.75 to 1.65 and RAISED my top speed at the traps by a little over one (1) MPH! However, the biggest surprise was the fact that the truck DID NOT bounce, hop or jump in ANY WAY, it just squatted down and flew down the track!
For those of you that are interested, here is a video link to my qualifying run:
http://youtube.com?v=FH05ByEyuEc
You will be able to see how well the truck takes off from the lights.
I want to sincerely thank John Calvert and Matt @ "Calvert Racing" for all of their help and guidance during my purchase and after. I also want to thank my Son, John Jr. for all his help in getting the Caltracs "dialed in" and to my friend Miguel for all his help with the install and Bobby Downes (dperf) for the use of his lift and shop!
If any of you are looking for or need traction bars for drag racing or sled pulling, I highly recommend the Caltrac Traction Bars. They truly are a reasonably priced, well made set of traction bars with excellent customer service and support!
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John_P
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,311
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From: Holly Ridge, N.C.
BOILERMAKER:
Yes, here is their website for you:
www.calvertracing.com
I don't have any pictures of the Caltracs on my truck yet, but will try to get some up here for you.
As far as daily driving, the truck's driveline feels "tighter" now and I noticed that I am not hearing some of the "looseness" in my u-joints and rear end that I would occasionally hear before. Also, I have driven on some curvy roads around my area and the truck feels like it corners better now too.
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John_P
Yes, here is their website for you:
www.calvertracing.com
I don't have any pictures of the Caltracs on my truck yet, but will try to get some up here for you.
As far as daily driving, the truck's driveline feels "tighter" now and I noticed that I am not hearing some of the "looseness" in my u-joints and rear end that I would occasionally hear before. Also, I have driven on some curvy roads around my area and the truck feels like it corners better now too.
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John_P
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 279
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From: Northport, Wa
Nice clean design. Do they look like they would work on a truck that is loaded part of the time and empty part of the time. I guess you could set the preload a little loose so it doesn't bind too much when you are loaded. I sure need something - spring wrap is terrible just crawling around in the snow.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,311
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From: Holly Ridge, N.C.
Ph4tty:
Yes, they are a completely "bolt-up" set of traction bars. No welding or anything. I will send you the price by P.M.
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Barry St John:
I would say Yes, they will work for what you are trying to do also. As you said, you can just set the pre-load a little loose to prevent any binding.
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John_P
Yes, they are a completely "bolt-up" set of traction bars. No welding or anything. I will send you the price by P.M.
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Barry St John:
I would say Yes, they will work for what you are trying to do also. As you said, you can just set the pre-load a little loose to prevent any binding.
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John_P
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,311
Likes: 52
From: Holly Ridge, N.C.
dodgeramrod:
Yes, I believe the price is pretty much the same for both cars and trucks.
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Eric:
Thanks for your nice comments! I will try to get some pictures up here for you guys.
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John_P
Yes, I believe the price is pretty much the same for both cars and trucks.
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Eric:
Thanks for your nice comments!
I will try to get some pictures up here for you guys.--------
John_P
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,311
Likes: 52
From: Holly Ridge, N.C.
J Double:
No, I have a digital camera but do not have the capability to get it on here as I am on the DREADED Dial-Up Connection!!
I will try to get a buddy to take a picture of the bars this weekend and hopefully get the pictures up here for you guys. Sorry for the delay!
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John_P
No, I have a digital camera but do not have the capability to get it on here as I am on the DREADED Dial-Up Connection!!
I will try to get a buddy to take a picture of the bars this weekend and hopefully get the pictures up here for you guys. Sorry for the delay!
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John_P
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 483
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From: Springfield, OH
What is this "dialup" you speak of?
Just giving you a hard time...looking forward to the pics.Do these bars require any frame drilling?
