IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules)

Tony Corley · 04-08-2015, 10:46 AM

Trying to finish up my 94 Mustang for IHRA Pure Stock, and have a question concerning the rules.
They specify, (for automatic transmission), that it may not be modified except for the addition of an aftermarket shift kit. My question is, can I convert my valvebody to full manual and it be legal? I would like to disable the electronic control portion of the valve body, and in reality, doing so is nothing more than installing a shift kit. There is not a performance advantage, because if it's not legal, I can still control every function of the trans through the computer tune and make it work the same way. Just trying to eliminate some tuning hassles, and stay legal at the same time.

Tony Corley · 04-08-2015, 01:34 PM

79 views and no answer, lol. To make it easier to answer, for the guys already running the class with older cars, Chevys, etc. Did you retain full automatic capabilities, or modify so that it only shifts manually?

GallopinGhost · 04-08-2015, 03:18 PM

Tony, I don't think that a shift kit and a valve body change are looked at as being equivalent. You could ask Mike Baker at IHRA, but I'd be surprised if it was ok to do that. I'm running an AODE as well, and theoretically an auto-shift would be the way to go....if you could get the trans to shift like you want with the computer...........

Tony Corley · 04-08-2015, 03:39 PM

I can definitely tune the trans to shift at whatever shift points I want with stock ecm. As far as the other extreme, it would just be the stock valve body with modifications to make it manual. Not much different than a shift kit. Thanks for the answer though.

Fireofficer5 · 04-08-2015, 04:09 PM

If your running the Florida races, I say no.

Out side of Fla. do what ever you want.

Tony Corley · 04-08-2015, 04:12 PM

Lol. I want to be legal There is no performance advantage, because as I already said, I can tune the trans to shift at any rpm and with whatever firmness I want through the tune. I can even set it up to shift each gear at the push of a button, it's a computer controlled trans, lol. I'm just trying to save time and money by controlling it manually. I guess the grey area comes down to what qualifies as a shift kit. I'll email Mike, just didn't want to bother him if someone already knew the answer.

Tony Corley · 04-08-2015, 04:51 PM

Email sent to Mike Baker. We'll see what he says.

Tony Corley · 04-08-2015, 05:20 PM

Mike has already replied. Should have done that to begin with, lol

ss3011 · 04-08-2015, 05:40 PM

What is the answer ?

Tony Corley · 04-08-2015, 05:44 PM

This is what I sent.

Today at 4:49 PM
Mike,

Car is close to being finished. Another question involving the rules. Under automatic transmission, it specifies no modification other than shift kit. So can I modify the valve body to shift manually, ie do away with electronic shift controls? I know I can legally control the valvebody through the tune, and make it shift at any rpm and at whatever firmness I desire, just really prefer to be able to do it manually if legal. (Less money and headaches, lol) I guess I'm trying to clarify what constitutes a shift kit, since I would actually be modifying the valve body with factory parts and an aftermarket plate.

As always, Thank you.
Tony Corley

04-08-2015, 10:46 AM	#1
Tony Corley Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 230 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts	IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) Trying to finish up my 94 Mustang for IHRA Pure Stock, and have a question concerning the rules. They specify, (for automatic transmission), that it may not be modified except for the addition of an aftermarket shift kit. My question is, can I convert my valvebody to full manual and it be legal? I would like to disable the electronic control portion of the valve body, and in reality, doing so is nothing more than installing a shift kit. There is not a performance advantage, because if it's not legal, I can still control every function of the trans through the computer tune and make it work the same way. Just trying to eliminate some tuning hassles, and stay legal at the same time.

04-08-2015, 01:34 PM	#2
Tony Corley Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 230 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) 79 views and no answer, lol. To make it easier to answer, for the guys already running the class with older cars, Chevys, etc. Did you retain full automatic capabilities, or modify so that it only shifts manually?

04-08-2015, 03:18 PM	#3
GallopinGhost Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: VA Posts: 228 Likes: 23 Liked 21 Times in 13 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) Tony, I don't think that a shift kit and a valve body change are looked at as being equivalent. You could ask Mike Baker at IHRA, but I'd be surprised if it was ok to do that. I'm running an AODE as well, and theoretically an auto-shift would be the way to go....if you could get the trans to shift like you want with the computer........... __________________ Brian Carpenter Stock 1358

04-08-2015, 03:39 PM	#4
Tony Corley Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 230 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) I can definitely tune the trans to shift at whatever shift points I want with stock ecm. As far as the other extreme, it would just be the stock valve body with modifications to make it manual. Not much different than a shift kit. Thanks for the answer though.

04-08-2015, 04:09 PM	#5
Fireofficer5 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 89 Likes: 36 Liked 33 Times in 20 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) If your running the Florida races, I say no. Out side of Fla. do what ever you want.

04-08-2015, 04:12 PM	#6
Tony Corley Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 230 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) Lol. I want to be legal There is no performance advantage, because as I already said, I can tune the trans to shift at any rpm and with whatever firmness I want through the tune. I can even set it up to shift each gear at the push of a button, it's a computer controlled trans, lol. I'm just trying to save time and money by controlling it manually. I guess the grey area comes down to what qualifies as a shift kit. I'll email Mike, just didn't want to bother him if someone already knew the answer. Last edited by Tony Corley; 04-08-2015 at 04:25 PM.

04-08-2015, 04:51 PM	#7
Tony Corley Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 230 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) Email sent to Mike Baker. We'll see what he says.

04-08-2015, 05:20 PM	#8
Tony Corley Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 230 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) Mike has already replied. Should have done that to begin with, lol

04-08-2015, 05:40 PM	#9
ss3011 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 885 Likes: 63 Liked 221 Times in 102 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) What is the answer ?

04-08-2015, 05:44 PM	#10
Tony Corley Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 230 Likes: 15 Liked 12 Times in 7 Posts	Re: IHRA Pure Stock Trans question (Rules) This is what I sent. Today at 4:49 PM Mike, Car is close to being finished. Another question involving the rules. Under automatic transmission, it specifies no modification other than shift kit. So can I modify the valve body to shift manually, ie do away with electronic shift controls? I know I can legally control the valvebody through the tune, and make it shift at any rpm and at whatever firmness I desire, just really prefer to be able to do it manually if legal. (Less money and headaches, lol) I guess I'm trying to clarify what constitutes a shift kit, since I would actually be modifying the valve body with factory parts and an aftermarket plate. As always, Thank you. Tony Corley