traction question
 

I have a 70gmc lwb, it has leaf springs which arnt hooking up very good for me so far. I am not really wanting to switch over to trailing arms. I already have a 295 slick mounted in there and they fit fine.

My question is if i heard from somewhere that if i take one leaf out of the spring back it would possible help with traction issues, is there any benefit to this at all?

Re: traction question
 

I don't know about pulling a leaf but I know they say the mono leaf factory setups on the old camaro's is better than the multi leaf. I would say try it if it doesn't work you can go trailing arms.

Re: traction question
 

Another option is Caltrack bars. I know a lot of guys that have a lot of sucess with them.

I think getting weight off the nose and setting up the front suspension though has better return on investment at this point and time.

Re: traction question
 

Where would i remove weight from the front. I have the fender wheels out the battery relocated. ac and heat all removed. Just running manual discs up from. No powersteering. no sway bar. Most the luxuries are removed on this trucl so far.

Re: traction question
 

Control arms, Cross member, Glass hood / Fenders / Nose cone / Bumper.

Another thing, does you truck sit level or does it have a rake? If there is a rake, lower the rear to where it is level with the front or even slightly lower.

Re: traction question
 

When i drive it on the street and to shows i like the front to sit up a little higher i just think it looks a little better, but i do have air shocks and when i lower them the back sits about a inch lower then the front.

Re: traction question
 

If it's an isolated system, try leaving with the front up level with the rear or even higher.

Re: traction question
 

Removing a leaf or leafs can be a double edged sword of sorts. The removal of a leaf will lower the truck (how much depends on which leaf) and also removing a leaf will aid in rear suspension squat(weight transfer),and also promote spring wrap(not good). The spring wrap issue can be solved by using a traction bar like a CalTrac or similar bar.
An old trick was to also use spring clamps on the frt of the leaf pack to keep the leaf pack in frt of the axle solid and no clamps on the rear........using the clamps made the frt part of the leaf stiffer and allowed the rear to help plant the tires.

On a side note,I was in Tulsa one night at the midnite drags and seen a guy with a 67-72 truck with coil rear suspension with get this..........bolt on slapper bars!!!! Now I was laughing my ass off and others around me didnt understand why I was doing so even after I explained they did no good.

Re: traction question
 

Give the slicks a try first and see how it is, they will be night and day from your street tires. I know guys running leafs with just caltracs and small slicks running 12's in LWB trucks. I see lots of questions on here from guys looking for tips on hooking up cause they spin like crazy on the street but have never had it at the track with slicks. Trust me, if you have a posi slicks and a track prepped with traction compound you'll be amazed how it's nothing like being on the street. Just be prepared, with power and traction there's a price to pay.;) It'll either be a dog out of the hole or craps going to break, not a matter of if, but when!

Re: traction question
 

I agree with 71Dragtruck!

I had a dually burb with street tires that would break your neck when it left on the street and spin it butt off on the track! It takes the right tire for the right place!

Re: traction question
 

So would coverting to a stock type trailing arm with just lowering springs be a good route to go down.......

Re: traction question
 

I try to personally never go to a drag race without proper tires myself,and really hate it when a guy builds a 500 hp engine and crap and goes to drag race with stock street tires and complains about hooking up. The spinning half way down the track impresses the 12-15 yr olds but no one else.

I was just offering my take on the removing a leaf and its effects.Going to a strip without sticky tires isnt goign to cut it anyway you look at it.

Re: traction question
 

like 71 dragtruck said try with some slicks before you change the world. I have good things about the caltracs for leaf stuff. I also have been 1.42 60ft with a 67 camaro with single leafs and slapper bars!

Re: traction question
 

I'd have to agree with djracer and 71 drag truck. Put the slicks on it, if you Still need more traction then you could take a leaf or two out (I would run at least 3 or 4 leafs) clamp the front of the stack together then throw a pair of slappers at it (I would say caltracs but there about $325 a pair) and see where that gets ya. As far as trailing arms if your not lookin to go any faster than say 11.50's I would not do it, thats allot of work that can be avoided with the right setup. What are you running for a front suspension setup? You can lose a good amount of weight and get allot of weight transfer by going with tubular components and a good set of adjustable springs and shocks, the front suspension and stance plays a big roll in hookin up

Re: traction question
 

well slammed1 i got a set of 295-60-15 bfg drag radials that i use when i go to the track. I used them a couple times with the small block i had in. I just havnt had time to take the bbc to the track yet, with or without slicks.

I figured id try that first. but i till spun a little bit with the sbc and the slicks. so i figured it be about the same with the bbc if not worse.

thanks so far guys.

Re: traction question
 

Alright to help you out we need to get a few clear answers, you mention 295 slicks and BFG drag radials? Have you tryed both? BFG drag radials are nothing like slicks and in no way will ever hook up like slicks. These drag radial guys you hear about running them have nothing close to what your trying to hook up.

That being said, have you ever ran at the track with a fresh pair of actual slicks or even a DOT aproved slick ( Quick time Pros, or ET Streets )? if you have never tried that type of tire at the track give it a try before spending a bunch on suspention upgrades. Like I said in my other post I've seen guys with alot more motor then your running at the track with a LWB truck and leafs hook up no problem.

If your determined to change out the rear suspension, then try to find a coil setup parts truck and swap it out, but I have a feeling your still going to spin those BFG's, if it's a drag radial you have your heart set on running then at least step up to a set of M/T drag radials.

Either way good luck with your project.