Drag racing, like most forms of motorsports, is always evolving. In an effort to go quicker and faster, there is a constant back and forth between the engine, drivetrain, and chassis of the car. Here’s the common scenario. Your car makes 1000 horsepower and you want it to go quicker so you make more power. Then the trans or torque converter is no longer ideal so while it is quicker with more power it isn’t as quick as it could be. So you change converters and boy is it quicker! But it’s not as quick as it could be, because you have maxed out some of your chassis adjustments. So then you add more chassis capabilities, either with shocks, struts, new suspension design, or longer travel so that it reaches its full potential.
And then the cycle repeats.
But one of the unintended consequences of this kind of cycle is that often times there is something you are doing to one area of the car that doesn’t quite fit with the other, because when it was built there was no way of knowing where it would end up. Long travel front and rear suspensions are often the source of these interference and fitment issues, which is the point of this short video.
Check out Tim McAmis and his explanation.
Video Description:
With evolution of large diameter carbon fiber drive shafts, longer suspension travel and popularity of smaller tires, the dynamics of a chassis vary greatly during a trip down the racetrack.
When running certain combinations and set-ups, clearance issues can arise from a changing driveline angle during long suspension travel.
Due this, some cars may benefit from installing a rear cross member that provides additional room for the drives haft to safely operate over the rear cross member of chassis.
This video outlines the use of a Dropped Rear Cross Member on a Tube Chassis to gain drive shaft clearance.
Dropped Rear Cross Member Options – https://timmcamis.com/product/dropped…
