All I want for Xmas is some HOOK!

[Hemidoug]

OK...so here's the deal....After putting together a "new" motor for the Hemi car one thing became apparent...the car doesn't hook worth a dam! So...... one of my biggest goals this winter is to get the suspension straightened out to handle my combo.  The engine is putting out around 600 hp going through an 833 and 4:10s in the Dana. I'm running 295 50 15 BF Goodrich radials in the rear and pretty much fry them at will. First is completely useless at WOT and I can get second to catch if I back pedal. Right now I know I have to replace the springs, they're bent up pretty good as well as on my third pinion snubber. I plan on checking/correcting pinion angle when I install the new springs.

So, what's a guy to do to get a street setup to hook? I'd need to keep the car streetable but yet get some bite at the track. Right now running the car at a track is just a giant waist of time.  I am considering the SS springs, but not looking forward to changing the cars ride height. Obviously a set of slicks would help out at the track.

So what's a good combo (tires/spring/shock/other tricks) for a 600 HP 3800 lbs car to get some hook? I'd really like to see what this car can do besides fry tires........

[Ghoste]

A lot of people seem to like the Cal-Tracs.    I do think that if you are running BFG Radial TA's that it's a big bottleneck in your program.  They look good but my experience has been that they are a little more slippery than some other choices.

[mally69]

I also have read that cal-tracs are good with weaker springs. I am going to use SS springs when i install my 512 into my charger..   I am also interested in hearing about this

[Hemidoug]

Yea Ghost...I know tires are a big part but the rest of my setup needs a good going over as well. I plan on getting a good set of slicks this year, but I want to get everything working together at the same time. I actually put an "S" bend in the springs, as well as broke 2 pinion snubbers.........If I just put a set of tires on it with more bite I'd rip that Dana right out of the car....That would be a little messy....

[Ghoste]

Do you frame connectors?

[Hemidoug]

Do you frame connectors?

Well...that's the other problem....The car is an original Hemi car so whatever I do I don't want to leave a mark.......frame connectors would leave a mark! I also suspect the car will go fast enough to need a rollbar....Ain't no WAY that's gonna happen......

[Ghoste]

An original silver Hemi four speed 69?  Now I hate you even more.   I think you'll either have to go to the SS springs or the Cal-Tracs.  That or put a restrictor plate on it. 

[Charger-Bodie]

how much track time will it see?

[Hemidoug]

how much track time will it see?

Just once in a while, nothing major. I figure that if I can get it to hook at the track it will also hook in the street (better then it does now anyway). I just want to have some fun with the car. Frying tires is fun but it gets a little old after a while. I want to see what this thing is capable of.....

[Charger-Bodie]

well, I have a friend with a 440+6 70rr and hes done a few things to make his hook up better without straying too far from stock it has: 1.clamped xhd rear springs
2 adjs pinion snubber
3.light shocks and 318 t- bars in front
4.light shocks in front
5.front sway bar unhooked
6.drag shocks in rear
7.he also had bfg radial t/a tires and he said it was a pig with them. he bought a set of repop polyglass and it hooks up WAY better!!

[gtx6970]

You might want to talk to the guys in the fast racing series

[Charger-Bodie]

You might want to talk to the guys in the fast racing series

Thats actually where my buddy got alot of this info as he is working toward just that.

[joflaig]

This is a great topic, I know I'll be wondering the same thing next spring after my 517 goes in. Since my setup will also be mainly street I'm not interested in pro-stock type mods. Yeah it would be nice to run slicks on the times at the track, but I too am a bit worried about blowing up my rear end.

[Ghoste]

What are you running for a rearend?

[joflaig]

What are you running for a rearend?

stock 8 3/4...and stock springs and AIR shocks... gears will go to 3.55 from 3.23

[Ghoste]

Without getting too off topic, I woud seriously think about a Dana upgrade after you drop in the 517.  Just one mans opinion though.

[NMike]

nevermond. i gots to go bak to skule 4 more laernin bout reedin

[firefighter3931]

Doug, i went with the SS springs and drag shocks front/back. The Comp Engineering shocks work pretty good. The key to keeping the rear tires from unloading is setting the pinion angle. It needs to be 6-7* nose down...this is critical ! 

The MT drag radials are much better than the BFG d/r's and hook awesome.  Take a look at the pic....this is an MT drag radial that is a dot legal tire...the car ran mid 9's and 60ft'd in the low 1.30's which is killer for a street car ! 

I would strongly consider some frame connectors....The US Cartool connectors look like they were designed by the factory. Basicly they folloe the contours of the floorpan and weld up to it. This is how these cars should have been made from the factory. 

These along with a set of torque boxes should do the trick and keep you from tearing sheetmatel when the big dog hooks hard. 


The pinion snubber becomes obsolete with SS springs....you won't be needing it. 



Ron

[471_Magnum]

Problem is that once you start to hook, you'll start spewing clutches (or U-joints).

Got to have some slip somewhere in the driveline.

I was happy with the SLide-A-Link I installed on my Charger. That along with Nitto Drag Radials was about as much "hook" as I wanted to funnel through my 8.75 rear, and Keisler-supplied clutch.

[Hemidoug]

Thanks guys!

Ron...no can do on the frame connectors....one rule I won't break is cutting an original Hemi car...just not going to butcher the car to go fast. If I have to go that far for hook, I'll de-tune the motor. She already has the torque boxes installed from the day she was born....

I think I have a plan...I've ordered new OEM springs from Mopar Performance, next will be a set of Cal Tracks  followed by some quality shocks .....more on that at a later date. Since I've got to get new tires anyway, I'll go with the MT drag radials. I think that will be a good start anyway.....

[mally69]

without some kind of strengthening to the body with that kind of power  you might just end up with a nice wrinkle in the roof or doors that wont like to shut

[Hemidoug]

without some kind of strengthening to the body with that kind of power  you might just end up with a nice wrinkle in the roof or doors that wont like to shut

I don't plan on dropping the clutch at 4000 RPM off the line! I'll feather it and roll into the throttle comming out of the hole. My problem is that even if I do that now she lights 'em up on a roll. Second isn't any better....I've got to do some serious back peddling to get any traction before third. I'll still be taking it easy on her, but I want to achieve traction at SOME point in first...right now I've got none. The car just spins till third gear. There has to be a happy medium at some point....

[firefighter3931]

Doug have you seen pics of the US cartool connecors installed ? Lots of guys with high end cars are using them and they look like a factory installed piece.  I'm gonna use a set on my 70 6-pack charger at some point. 


US Cartool website :

http://www.uscartool.com/Bframeconn/index.html


Ron


Some pics of the install ;

[mally69]

Ron,  those thing's look great, I never knew they made such a thing, i am defintaly going to get a set of those. Good thing your around here to fill people in on stuff like these   

[Hemidoug]

Ron,
I agree, they are nice! I just have this thing about making ANY mods to it that a wrench can't make right......That's where the clone guys have it all over the "original" cars.....I really don't own my cars, I'm just a caretaker...someday (hopefully) my cars will out live me. I want them to be correct and true when they move onto the next caretaker.....maybe I'm just weird but that's how I feel about the iron in my garage....besides, I built the Hemi car to be a street car. The theme of the 69, if you will, is to remain as close to stock as possible but yet have some "subtle" changes for performance and comfort. When you look at the car none of the "upgrades" I've done to it stand out...you have to do some digging (with exception of the big red button on the gear shift) before you start to notice "stuff".  Again, if I have to go that far to go fast, I'll just take some HP out of the motor. Who knows......I've still got a certain 65 Satellite (which IS going to be a race car) that will need a motor someday. I'm still holding out hope that I might stumble on to the numbers motor for the 69 someday. If that day ever comes, it will be a whole nother ball game for the Hemi car....In the meantime I still want to have SOME fun with her.