five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Just received my VX194A from Summit for the 10-bolt in the '57 (okay, jumped the gun putting it in my signature already). Arrived quickly, but no instructions inside. Called Summit, they said contact PowerTrax. Emailed PowerTrax, no response yet.

2 questions:
1) If I never hear from them (which I doubt will be the case), is installing it w/o instructions a dangerous thing to do? Looks intuitive, but...
2) Which set of springs do you recommend? I'll likely just drive it on the street from home to the track, occasionally to work, or if the Camaro is apart. I'm thinking the set labeled "Primary Use: Strip/track, Secondary use: Street", rather than the set labeled the other way around.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, WP 305 heads ported & polished, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

82camaro

The stiffer springs(primary strip) will require more torque from the wheel spinning faster in a corner to unlock. This will make it louder, and the locking and unlocking more harsh. I would try the primary strip springs first. You could switch them if they are too harsh. Call powertrax and get an opinion from them from them, as well as the instructions. I have the street spings in my camaro, and it launches great everytime. However, I'm sure they make the stiffer springs for a reason.
The install is pretty easy. If I remember right, you start on the drivers side and work toward the passenger side one piece at a time. That last C-clip is a pain on my 7.5 inch rear, but it's easier on bigger rear-ends. Remember to apply grease to the teeth. The instructions also tell you to take a measurement to make sure the locker isn't too loose or too tight. I don't have the instructions here, or I would scan them for you.

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82 camaro--original steering wheel, brake/gas pedals, seats--everything else modified
82camaro

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

After looking at the box again, I realized it had one of those round tape "anti-tamper" seals on it - but I didn't cut it! That probably explains the missing instructions.

I figured the difference between the spring types would be something like that. My tightest turns will be backing out of the driveway and turning into a pit space.

I'll call PowerTrax Monday and see what they have to say. Sounds like I really should have the instructions in hand before starting the install. Perhaps they'll give Summit a piece of their mind about shipping their product incomplete.

Pablo

iTrader: (1)

DO NOT INSTALL THE TRACK SPRINGS

D O N O T I N S T A L L T H E T R A C K S P R I N G S!!!

the standard ones are freakin tough enough as it is! my car is a REAL PITA driving in parking lots.. then again its a stick

If i had put the strip springs in there id probably cry

the traction is unbelievable and i couldnt imagine the thing unlocking under a launch in all but the most brutallly insane drag cars

Ed Maher

Hey Pablo, since you're driving a powertrax let me run this by you.
84ZZ4 lives a few minutes from me. He has a 3.42 one legger from his car when it was a six laying around collecting dust. I was thinking of swapping rear ends with him, then droppping a powertrax in. My other option is to get a shop to put some gears in on the stock posi, which in the end would probably cost me more money, and require me to let some shop monkeys touch my car |shivers|.
So what would you do, knowing what you do now about the powertrax. Would it completely kill any smoothness to the vert, turning it into a strip beast with a clunky rear. Or not?
...ed

Pablo

iTrader: (1)

I like mine
I dont htink youd notice it as much with an automatic, but with a stick, i notice it alot

its only really bothersome in parking lots and such

my car is a daily driver so its not bad, I dont regret it at all i thinjk its way better than posi
but, its not invisible either, if i were you id get it

Marc 85Z28

iTrader: (3)

The only time you should notice the rear is when you are decelerating in a tight turn. In parking lots, just hold the gas to keep a constant speed instead of engine braking it and it'll be nice and smooth.

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1985 Z28, Jasper Class 1 350, Edelbrock Performer intake, Dual snorkel air cleaner, K&N, Edelbrock headers, Catco 3" cat, Hooker 3" cat-back, Richmond 3.73's, Transgo shift kit, JET Stage 2 chip, Hypertech coil, Lakewood LCA's, Powertrax locker, SSM subframes, Centerline Auto Drag's

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Update: PowerTrax snail-mailed me the instructions, but all they say about the springs was "use one set and save the other - don't mix them".

I actually forgot to ask them for a recommendation when I called about the instructions, but I may have another chance. The instructions refer to other paper I didn't receive (like a warranty card), so perhaps when I call back about that. I haven't been persuaded away from the strip/track springs from what I've heard so far - bigger, heavier car, different rear, low # ratio w/automatic, etc.

By the way, in answer to my 1st question, you should have the instructions in hand. Thanks for trying, though, 82...

82camaro

Let us know the results using the mild springs on the strip. I'm guessing they will work great.

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82 camaro--original steering wheel, brake/gas pedals, seats--everything else modified
82camaro

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Well, I'm planning on the stiffer springs 1st. I'm assuming the questionable part will be how it does on the street.

Bandimere doesn't open for another 6 weeks .
But, as soon as I give it a try, I'll let you know!

82camaro

oops, I read that last post wrong.

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82 camaro--original steering wheel, brake/gas pedals, seats--everything else modified
82camaro