Who has removed a leaf and how has it affected your 60ft ?

[crewsy]

Casey, I am running the Metco upper track links...What is the drop you get with the Hotchkis springs and stock shackles...I need to stay at no more than 2" of drop.

[timmyturbo]

Originally Posted by Casey02L

Now swap those 02' leafs out for some Hotchkis leafs and stock shackles and get the 60ft in the 1.3x's

There is more to this traction and leaf springs than just stiffness. Things like ride height, and chassis geometry come into play

Oh I know bro. I just havn't had a chance to make it back out and get that 1.3x. I bet with some cooler weather it would've done it. Its lost a lot of weight and should go some mid-high 1.3's consistently and knock on the high 8's door. You know..........

[SCHMUCKINGHAM]

So is this a good idea or bad idea???????????

i would rather remove a leaf or two out of my 01 with my 2in shackles than spend 400-500 for new leafs ( i know they are lighter)

[Bad as L]

Originally Posted by timmyturbo

This is NOT what you want the truck to do. Wasted energy resulting in slower E.T's.......

I did it on 04's w bottom 2 removed. It did help BUT I took those off and put some 02's on with 4 inch drop shackles and that did the trick. Lots of 1.41 60fts with that setup.

I believe "Squat" is just racer slang for a front to rear Pitch Rotation movement.....which is exactly what you want the truck to do.

I don't think GG meant the truck is just gonna sit on the line and drop its ass.

Its a nice fluid movement that you will see on any good running Lightning on any video.

[Rob_03Cobra]

Wow some really great input from everyone THANKS :

Here's where I'm at
Yes my truck has a hi 1.3 60fts under it's belt, but the last 4 runs it made had 60fts that ranged from
1.41 - 1.45 so I consider that it's average.

Do I plan on going for a new PB soon, NO.
BUT I also dont want to do anything that would prevent me from being able to maintain those 1.4 60fts
and go for a PB if and when I want to

I guess my first question is, Ian would that set of 04 leafs with 2 taking out
get my truck to sit lower than it is now ???
(cause thats what I'm after)
If the answer is yes hell ya I'd love to give them a try (your coming to V's either way next Sat right ?)

My second question is, is it just easier to take one out of my current 00 leafs ???
(if I do I believe the correct way is to remove the middle leaf, is that correct ???)

I pick and choice the pic's I post wisely and my rear may not look that high in most of them, BUT IT IS.
AMOF with the front so low (like I scrape the facier all the time low) it really makes the rear look high.

My Quest is to get the back a little lower and since I already have shackles I guess I'm hoping to find out
removing a leaf would be an easy no cost way to do it. Someone mentioned all it would give me is 1/4" ???
If thats the case it wouldnt be worth it to me thats for sure....


Here's an example of the way it sits now (and Thanks for all the great input

[timmyturbo]

Originally Posted by Bad as L

I believe "Squat" is just racer slang for a front to rear Pitch Rotation movement.....which is exactly what you want the truck to do.

I don't think GG meant the truck is just gonna sit on the line and drop its ass.

Its a nice fluid movement that you will see on any good running Lightning on any video.

Right but any movement that isn't forward is lost movement. Weight has to transfer but the fenders dont have to come down over the tires for this to happen. Like Casey said, there is much more to it. Hell Casey was PM'ing me a long time ago when he couldn't get his L to hook. It was a long road for us to figure out but we did at the 780rwhp level. This next time around we will be around double that so its a new ball game...................I just wanted to make sure most dont think the ass end of the L needs to hit the bumper for there to be a proper 60ft.

[Casey02L]

We actually ended up with mine to where it moves maybe half an inch at most in the back on launch. The front is moving the full travel and then lifting the tires, but I wanted to adjust things to where it keeps them on the ground if possible just never got that many track passes. Where the new setup is going to end up is anybody's guess. I have a feeling Im borderline spinning or standing it up high; we'll see soon

[Casey02L]

Hotchkis says about 2~3" but its gonna vary truck to truck due to weight on them and such. Id safely say 2"

Originally Posted by crewsy49

Casey, I am running the Metco upper track links...What is the drop you get with the Hotchkis springs and stock shackles...I need to stay at no more than 2" of drop.

[crewsy]

I've got 2" drop shackles, but when I get the truck back I am going to get rid of the spare, hitch and the fiberglass toneau on it...I figure with the stock springs it is going to go back to close to where it was before the shackles...So that should work out pretty well for me.

[Pitstain]

Rob,

I'll bring the leafs buddy :

And Casey, Timmy, and Dale.....

YES......LOL

but indeed wieght transfer and suspension compression are two different beasts, you can have GOBS of weight transfer and end up with the rear of the truck LIFTING, it's called anti-squat, and it is based on a few particular measurments of the suspension.

The center of gravity height, the instant center of the rear suspension, side view swing arm length, etc etc.

When you have 10% A/S (Anti-Squat), and hit the gas, the back of your truck will dip way down.

100% anti-squat, and it will barely budge an inch.

150% anti-squat, and it will actually lift the rear of the chassis/body up....


I fought with alot of numbers on my 3-link to get a favorable mix of A/S, plus avoid nasty things like brakehop and roll oversteer....

QUITTIN TIME !!

talkto you guys monday :

[ilaybrk]

Casey what traction bars are you running with your Hotchkis springs. Im running long bars and I have done a handfull of 1.68 with drag radials and slicks

[Casey02L]

Originally Posted by ilaybrk

Casey what traction bars are you running with your Hotchkis springs. Im running long bars and I have done a handfull of 1.68 with drag radials and slicks

Long bars

[lvillelightning]

Originally Posted by timmyturbo

Right but any movement that isn't forward is lost movement. Weight has to transfer but the fenders dont have to come down over the tires for this to happen. Like Casey said, there is much more to it. Hell Casey was PM'ing me a long time ago when he couldn't get his L to hook. It was a long road for us to figure out but we did at the 780rwhp level. This next time around we will be around double that so its a new ball game...................I just wanted to make sure most dont think the ass end of the L needs to hit the bumper for there to be a proper 60ft.

well you and casey need to start pm'ing me with the secrets because i got one i will be trying to get hooked here pretty quick:

[Rob_03Cobra]

With all this talk of launching, squating, and 60ft times, I do have to point out this is the reason I was never interested in touching ANYTHING on my truck before. My truck runs like it's on friggin rails and it's extremely consistant, amof I still may decide not to touch anything suspension related next weekend because of it....

I have stock suspension with Qa1's
Drag Springs (with a full coil cut off),
and thats it ...

I run the rear shocks on 5 clicks "street and track"
I run the fronts also at 5 clicks on the street but go down to 2 at the track

Here's 3 diff people driving my truck the same day, Me to a 9.9, Mike to a 10.0, and V to a 10.0
3 Diff people, all very diff in weight and driving skills and all ran a 1.4 60ft, all ran a 4.1 330ft, all ran a 6.4 1/8, and all ran within 0.0- of each others final 1/4 mile ET. Mike was 0.03 behind me, and V was 0.08 behind me, (both are heavier than me and in the correct order)

Atco Raceway Wednesday April 25th
DelValLO Track Rental

1.454 - 60FT
4.158 - 330
6.403 - 1/8 Mile @ 109.28 MPH
8.343 - 1000FT
9.992 1/4 Mile 136.75 MPH

1.454 - 60FT
4.175 - 330
6.430 - 1/8 Mile @ 108.89 MPH
8.376 - 1000FT
10.028 1/4 Mile 136.46 MPH

1.413 - 60FT
4.160 - 330
6.439 - 1/8 Mile @ 107.81 MPH
8.404 - 1000FT
10.071 1/4 Mile 135.25 MPH


Point being I agree, it is NOT about the squating, it's about weight transfer...

There is still plenty of wheel well left in this pic amof


I may scrape concrete on the street with those drag springs, but check out this crappy little vid and you can see the wheels almost lift during the burnout, those drag springs truly do throw the weight to the rear tires in a very effecient way for launching. (it happens fast but it stays planted)

Now I think I'm going leave them

[VINNIE]

WOW..

Who had that awesome 1.41 60 ft. beating you by almost 1/2 tenth....

Damn I'm good.

VINNIE