Ol' Fart's Firebird Fantasy

[Danny Ashley]

Go to the top of this page and click on NHRA Competition. Then click Stock car classification on the left of the page. Then find the make and year and open it up.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by oldskool

OK, thanks for the info. I've never seen that page. Don't know yet how to call it up. But I don't understand why the non-birds are shown with calculations using the 260hp factor on this page that you linked, and the 283 factor on the page I was looking at ? It just appears to me that it is not possible for both pages to be correct. Seems it has to be one way or the other ? But then, what do I know ?

Dwight 's site makes this all much easier, but you've got to know where you're driving to first, other wise you'll crash and burn.
Start with NHRA and when you figure out where you're driving to, go to Dwight's deal.
It's the way to go..Trust me.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Danny Ashley

Go to the top of this page and click on NHRA Competition. Then click Stock car classification on the left of the page. Then find the make and year and open it up.

OK, THANKS !

It takes longer to get there, but it does show the 260hp factor for non-Birds, AND shows the correct calculations for them. So, I need to depend on this NHRA site for all final calculations--Got it ! Thanks again !

[oldskool]

OK guys, I still need an answer to the weight change questions. When we raced Stock, you were stuck with whatever your factory shipping weight was. That was your min weight. So please tell me EXACTLY how the weight and class changes work. THANKS !

(1) Can you add weight to make the next lower class ?

(2) Can you remove weight to meet the minimum weight for your natural class ?

(3) Can you remove enuff weight to meet the minimum weight for the next higher class ?

(4) Is there a max amount of weight you can remove below your shipping weight ?

(5) Explain EXACTLY how the driver weight figures in again. Maybe I'll get it all, this time.

[HandOverFist]

WEIGHT
All cars will be permitted to run on the class minimum weight, but
may be no heavier than the minimum for the next heavier class.
Car can move up (lighter) one class or down (heavier) one class. If
weight is added, must be properly attached; see BALLAST. Class
and classification weight are determined without driver weight.
Once classification weight is calculated, 170 pounds is added for
driver to arrive at total weight. All cars are weighed with driver.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

WEIGHT
All cars will be permitted to run on the class minimum weight, but
may be no heavier than the minimum for the next heavier class.
Car can move up (lighter) one class or down (heavier) one class. If
weight is added, must be properly attached; see BALLAST. Class
and classification weight are determined without driver weight.
Once classification weight is calculated, 170 pounds is added for
driver to arrive at total weight. All cars are weighed with driver.

OK, THANKS ! That clears it all up, except for one thing. I just wanna be sure, so I'll ask again. Is there no limit to the amount of weight you can remove in order to meet the min for the next higher class ?

[HandOverFist]

Originally Posted by oldskool

OK, THANKS ! That clears it all up, except for one thing. I just wanna be sure, so I'll ask again. Is there no limit to the amount of weight you can remove in order to meet the min for the next higher class ?

No restrictions other than you will reach a point depending on the platform where there is simply no viable way to remove any further weight. Our '67 Camaro for instance...we had to add 20 pounds to meet minimum weight for E/SA which means I would have to find around 120 pounds to remove in order to arrive at D/SA minimum. Our car still has the factory seats which are a tad on the heavy side...aftermarket seats would help to a point, but it would be a struggle to find more in this particular car.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

No restrictions other than you will reach a point depending on the platform where there is simply no viable way to remove any further weight...

OK, Thanks a lot ! I really appreciate all the info ! If I don't understand the weight deal now, it's my own fault and I probably don't need to think about a class car anymore.

[oldskool]

Now for some questions about original equipment. What components must be retained in a Stocker.

I'll mention a few in particular.

(1) Dash pad

(2) Heater core, cover(box) & ducting

(3) Heater / AC controls in the dash

(4) Speedo, gauges, etc(instrument cluster)

(5) Glove box and door

(6) Sun visors, headliner, overhead light.

(7) Wiring harness

(8) Rear seat

(9) Wheel well chrome trim

(10) Other factory chrome trim, emblems, & decals

(11) Front inner fenderwells

(12) Front bench seat: if removed, can it be replaced with one lightweight racing seat ? Or ?

(13) Must you run some sort of carpeting or floor covering ?

(14) How quick or fast can a car be without rollbars being required ?

If nobody has time to answer all these questions, is there a link to where I can get answers to all of 'em. Thanks !

[HandOverFist]

All your questions answered here... http://www.nhraracer.com/content/gen...000&zoneid=132