What Combo?????????????

[Dwight Southerland]

383/325/280 Blueprinted at close to 11.0:1 compression. AFB that will flow around 550 cfm. Choice of .431"/443" or .425"/.437" cam. Several heads to choose from and several intake manifolds. The 280 hp was assigned mid-year 2003, and I doubt that Mr. Hale had anything to do with that since he was still racing Hemis back then.

Incidentally, Thomas Auger has an I/SA '63 Dodge that is currently qualified at the Div 2 points meet at -.095 with basically the same engine. A bit less compression, a bit less camshaft, but very similar.

This is not a new hit, guys. You need to pay attention; the class guide is filled with treasures. Part of why I built my website was so racers could know their competition.

[Adam Strang]

Well,good for him for finding it in the guide can't fault him for that. But somebody got 45 hp off of it somewhere along the way. NHRA does this crap all the time takes way too much hp off a combo and then people go out and go way under. Like I said before...where do I send my letters?

[Bob Shaw]

How does this affect anybody unless you run K/SA?

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by Bob Shaw

How does this affect anybody unless you run K/SA?

LOL, Bob.

[Paul Precht]

Originally Posted by Bob Mulry

WOW.....ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW...

750 CFM AFB
10.0 : 1 compression
203cc Intake runner


280HP with a stock head
285HP with an Edelbrock Aluminum Head


WOW...

This engine has some things working against it. The carb on my bench flows 566 CFM, the near 0 deck height and .020" gasket combined with a small block like stroke make any cam with even modest duration difficult to fit. Before the 383s were defactored there were not any single 4 barrel 383 Stockers out there with maybe a rare exception. The 383 is Mopar's most common engine, it's what the 350 is to Chevy. For many years a Mopar racer had to run a Hemi, a Max or 6 Pak car to be competitive with a big block, all expensive combos as well as the cars they came in, thankfully that has changed.

[Mark Yacavone]

Certainly would agree they needed some help.
Similar 389 / 400 Pontiacs are in the 325 - 330 range.
Of course, those who were around in the 60's already know and understand that.

[426Fred]

Originally Posted by Paul Precht

This engine has some things working against it. The carb on my bench flows 566 CFM, the near 0 deck height and .020" gasket combined with a small block like stroke make any cam with even modest duration difficult to fit. Before the 383s were defactored there were not any single 4 barrel 383 Stockers out there with maybe a rare exception. The 383 is Mopar's most common engine, it's what the 350 is to Chevy. For many years a Mopar racer had to run a Hemi, a Max or 6 Pak car to be competitive with a big block, all expensive combos as well as the cars they came in, thankfully that has changed.

Couldn't agree with you more Paul. 280 may look low but the carb and limited cam selection definitely still hampers the 383

[Darrel Goheen]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

the class guide is filled with treasures. Part of why I built my website was so racers could know their competition.

Wow! I just went to your website. That makes things much easier! Wish I would have seen it 6 months ago! Thanks.

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by Adam Strang

Well,good for him for finding it in the guide can't fault him for that. But somebody got 45 hp off of it somewhere along the way. NHRA does this crap all the time takes way too much hp off a combo an then people go out and go way under. Like I said before...where do i send my letters?

Back when the power rating for these 383 engines was set (2003) the process and procedures and decisions were different than now. NHRA has moved toward trying to eliminate the subjective decisions and has established policy based on a portion of the AHFS. Not that it is without its flaws either. However, just petitioning NHRA without substantive performance data to back up your request, you are probably not going to get very far. There are racers out there who have realized how that system works and have become masters at establishing their power level to an advantage. However, racers with big egos who always want to show out and those people who race very popular combinations that support a very competitive cluster will be at a disadvantage. If you really want to reduce your power rating, you have to be dedicated and savvy to play the system.

[The Hawk]

Originally Posted by Adam Strang

So my question is, how did he get the 45 hp off? Has he made any runs in the car before and been playing the AHFS game? If he hasn't I need to know who to send my letter to at NHRA.

Its not who you know.....