Traction tips?

[Lated]

I have 305 and a 3 speed in my truck and I have problems keeping the tires from spinning if the road is just the slightest bit damp. I have 9in wide tires and the truck has a coilover rear. I'm not sure of the gear ratio in the rear end. I have a 350 that I am in the process of rebuilding (just waiting on funds) and I'm afraid that the traction will be even worse with the bigger engine. What can I do to get more traction. The only thing I can think of is moving the gas tank out of the cab and under the bed but I'm not sure it will make enough of a difference.

[special-K]

The problem with relying on a rear tank for traction is it has to be full for best results.I don`t know about you,but the only time my tank is full is right after I leave the gas station,lol.
What tire pressure do you run?I usually run lower than recommended.Other than that,I just go easy with releasing the clutch.3spds have a tall first and I`ve never had the problem you`re having with the 3spd.Maybe it`s your clutch adjustment or,worse,the clutch itself.

[Lated]

I usually run 30psi front and rear. My clutch chatters pretty bad in reverse but doesn't seem to have any problems going forward. I spins fairly easily in 2nd gear too but when I have the most trouble is turning right at stop lights. It seems like no matter how careful I am the ass end slides out from under me.

[71Rat]

might be somewhat of a stupid question but is it a posi or open? my one legger loves to run wild but my other truck with a posi in it rarely will spin.... ones and auto and ones a manual so that might be somewhat of the difference.

[Brock]

Remove big-toe from the carb...

Gas in the back should help, at about 7lbs per gal thats quite a bit of weight distribution. It makes a HUGE difference in my stockcar.

On the brighter side you can take some pictures and join that thread thats showing off burn-outs.

[special-K]

If it chirps mostly when turning you may have a locker or stout posi.Jack one side of the rear up and see if you can turn the raised tire.It should turn pretty freely if it`s an open rear.

[ND_guy]

Try using a wider performance tire, limited slip, or 500 lbs of lumber in the bed. That last one would most likely hurt performance though

[grayw0lf]

Same here! Open diff. My left tire has tread while my right tire is nice & bare.

[AlienYouth]

ha, it rained here yesterday, an i had my truck sideways more than straight on the road, if ya ask me, keep it like that n have some good times : )

[Schralper]

Your coilovers might be to stiff.
Soften the shock so you use about 40% of travel at rest, weight on both wheels. Plus a short wheelbase does not help.
Are you using good quality tires? Hard compound tires will always spin in the wet.

[Longhorn Man]

I'd say get rid of the coil overs first, let the trailing arms act as traction bars.
You need to check your tire pressure too, run it down the freeway and check the temp of the tread all the way across as soon as you stop. If you don't have access to a lazer touchless thermometer or something like that, you can use your hand... you want a nice even temperature across the tread. If the center is hotter than the outter portions of the tread, you are over inflated, if the center is cooler, then you need more air.
What size are your tires?
How wide are the rims?
I suspect most of the problem is your foot honestly. This isn't like driving mom's centra where you just floor it and it goes through any turn you can throw at it. I've never heard of a 305 accidently gettin sideways all the time either.

[Lated]

Originally Posted by ND_guy

Try using a wider performance tire, limited slip, or 500 lbs of lumber in the bed. That last one would most likely hurt performance though

LOL a guy at work told me to fill the bottom of the bed with concrete. I do have one of those Shurtrax waterbags that weighs about 300lbs when full but I only use it during the winter. It makes a noticable difference but the tires still spin fairly easily.

Originally Posted by Schralper

Your coilovers might be to stiff.
Soften the shock so you use about 40% of travel at rest, weight on both wheels. Plus a short wheelbase does not help.
Are you using good quality tires? Hard compound tires will always spin in the wet.

My truck is still wearing the same Road Hugger shoes it had when I bought it in '05. Sounds like cheap tires to me, but I'm trying to make them last until I swap from 6 - 5 lug. They won't fit on the 5 lug wheels I have so I don't really want to buy tires to use for only a couple months. I also noticed that the shocks on the rear have a coil spring around them. Could that be making the rear too stiff?

I'll have to wait until this weekend to check if I have an open rear or not since my wife works evenings and I get to play Mr. Mom. On somewhat of a side note, I have a '72 parts truck which is where my 5 lug swap parts are coming from. Can I just pull the axle shafts out of the rear and put them in my driver? It's a '70. Both are coil spring rears. Would lowering the front a little more than the back so it has a little rake help the traction any? I'll have to check on the tire/wheel size later. As far as putting my foot in it too much, I really try to be careful cuz I'm always afraid I'm gonna break something. I don't know what all has been done to the 305. It doesn't sound like the stock cam but that shouldn't make enough difference to be having this problem. Maybe I should hurry up and finish the 350 and throw the 305 in the bed for weight

[Lated]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

This isn't like driving mom's centra where you just floor it and it goes through any turn you can throw at it.

You mean like my 99 Z28? My mom drives a F-250 with a powerstroke!

[Longhorn Man]

good point... but you get the picture.

[Lated]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I'd say get rid of the coil overs first, let the trailing arms act as traction bars.
You need to check your tire pressure too, run it down the freeway and check the temp of the tread all the way across as soon as you stop. If you don't have access to a lazer touchless thermometer or something like that, you can use your hand... you want a nice even temperature across the tread. If the center is hotter than the outter portions of the tread, you are over inflated, if the center is cooler, then you need more air.
What size are your tires?
How wide are the rims?
I suspect most of the problem is your foot honestly. This isn't like driving mom's centra where you just floor it and it goes through any turn you can throw at it. I've never heard of a 305 accidently gettin sideways all the time either.

My tires are P275/60r15. According to the tire size calculator I found that means they are 28" tall and almost 11" wide.

[special-K]

That`s plenty of tire.See,stock tire sizeshave worked for years and yours are alot fatter.Those coil overs are definately adding to your problem and probably the biggest problem.Why are they on there?You`re empty with auxilary coils,basically.That thing`s gotta be way stiff in the rear.Just pull them off and see the difference.Then,go buy some cheap shocks if you have later suspension plans for your other tires/5-lug swap.

[Lated]

Originally Posted by special-K

That`s plenty of tire.See,stock tire sizeshave worked for years and yours are alot fatter.Those coil overs are definately adding to your problem and probably the biggest problem.Why are they on there?You`re empty with auxilary coils,basically.That thing`s gotta be way stiff in the rear.Just pull them off and see the difference.Then,go buy some cheap shocks if you have later suspension plans for your other tires/5-lug swap.

They were there when I bought the truck. I'll be pulling them off this weekend.

[special-K]

Let us know how that works.I figured they were on there already since you have other plans.My question,"Why are they on there?"was not directed at you.Just a ponderence.
BTW,where are you in MD?

[Lated]

Special-k, I'm in odenton. Do you know of any reputable body shops in the local area? I would like to have new floors put in my truck this winter but I don't know of good shop around here to take it to.

[1970bowtie]

start dating a fat chick and make her ride in the back

[68K20 x Drill]

I find a transfer case does a fine job!
When I had street tires, I needed 4x4 to get up my paved driveway if it was even foggy.

[Lated]

Well, I checked the bank account and it looks like I'll have to wait until next weekend to buy shocks to replace the coil overs. I was going to pull the shocks off my parts truck but only one was usable.

[Lated]

I feel like I betrayed my truck. I bought a 98 Z28 last week to be my daily driver. At least now I can devote the time to long term projects on my truck without having to worry about getting it put back together enough to drive to work on Monday. It will most likely be a long time before I get to the bottom of the traction issue with my truck though. Rusty floorboards come first.

[Palf70Step]

I was saving a similar problem with my 96. It would light up the rears with out thinking. It was really touchy on wet roads. I like you had 275/60x15's on it. I went to 31x10.50x15 and the taller tire was just enough to still run hard, but took away the touchy side to it breaking loose, unless I asked it too.

[68gmsee]

I think Longhorn Man's comments hit it on the nail...

Most young people these days (and some older folks) have never driven a rear wheel drive vehicle, much less a light on the rear end pickup truck. It takes some learning to drive a pickup truck that's empty on slick roads.

I've been driving these all my life-that means for over 40 years- and I still have trouble sometimes.

First, you need to remember that the rear is going to swing around on a turn on slick roads, that stopping may require you to pump the brakes, and taking off will spin the rear tire or tires.

The next thing to remember is that the road is slickest when there is just a slight rain. The oils will rise to the surface and not get washed off the road. So give yourself more distance to stop and slow your speed down some.

Last, if you need really traction place a couple of sand bags on the back of the truck. Looks tacky, but it works especially in snow.