Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

And That's Ironic…this photo was sent to me last week...

Edit...had pic problems.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

If it saves one driver or car incident it’s a good rule. Those guys were very lucky..

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Barry, right now the "issue" seems to be that the "new SFI replacements" are failing at a higher rate than the "old OEM" units!
This is automobile racing not cornhole. NHRA can't control every possible situation and they shouldn't be trying to. It just, bit-by-bit, pushes it further beyond the average Racer's grasp.
Now if NHRA is concerned mainly about spectators which is the message that I'm getting then they should be getting them away from the starting line/burnout box!

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Understand your point 100 %.
The offshore garbage is an issue. That’s an SFI issue and not NHRA?
As pointed out to me;,stick cars have had SFI for a very long time so it’s only fair flex plates follow. We’ve had SFI flex plates show separation between welds in the ring gear. The starter tipped us off. You could hear the difference cranking. That was 6 years ago ( or more) and we’ve replaced flex plates / brands since then.
Stock flex plates weren’t designed to see 6 K time after time let alone 7500 or 8.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

And by no means am I saying anyone is being cheap!
I understand what this rule means for everyone.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

So... if it's internal balance should be no big deal...
Just something to add to the winter freshen up...
External balance... I bet ATI or TCI or one of the other major manufacturers can match balance one for you if necessary...
It's not that great an expense in the grand scheme of things...
Remember... the toe you save may be you own...

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

and you race what?

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

On my sons IMCA dirt car with a mini clutch bolted to stock flywheel running hundreds of laps with out failure along with hundreds of other cars .We asked at the parts truck at the race track once after running over a tire infield, he said he never had anybody ask for one. My thoughts are run a sfi one and be safe, things are not made like they used to. Tom

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Has there been research on failure rates between two-piece flexplates with welded-on ring gears, and one-piece flexplates with "machined" gears?

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Since you asked...
Not currently racing, used to run Super Comp and Brackets.
Been around Pro Stock cars, (Pre Jellybean back when local guys could run) Comp cars, etc.

Have always had SFI flywheels on everything, since they became mandatory for what we were running, so I guess I'm used to it.
Never saw a flex plate explode but have seen one spit the weight off and go through the bell.
Saw balancers spit the ring off on the starting line back when stock balancers were still being used.

I've never argued about safety equipment.
All the rules we have, have mostly been a reaction to something bad happening (usually involving a death or serious injury, IE: window nets, 4' belts, blowproof bellhousings, SFI chassis)
Sadly, I've known personally some of the people involved in some of these incidents.

Been doing this since late 70s until life got in the way.
Now I have more time, so slowly trying to get a car put together.
I might not be up on all the latest stuff, but I intend to have fun.
I miss racing, but now we are down to one 1/8 mile track, so there's that...

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

L.Fite, racing what you've been familiar with racing I agree with you're not arguing about safety equipment. I'm not talking about Pro Stock or S/C but I HAVE been talking about Brackets. What I am talking about is High 11/low 12 second and slower Stockers!
My DTD tells me that NHRA is trying to "align" the rules but that is absolutely not the case and not true. They claim to be "aligning" the rules with the Stick classes where a V8 must have an SFI shield and flywheel. As it is written now, a V8 automatic combo needs an SFI flexplate even in a 14 second car! The caveat being that a V8 automatic car doesn't need a transmission shield/blanket until 10.99! And it doesn't need a flexplate shield until 9.99! Where is the "alignment"?
A Bracket car doesn't need an SFI flexplate or any kind of shield until 9.99!
If there is any history of vast numbers of 11/12/14 second Stockers breaking flexplates, I don't know anything about it and I'm a pretty nosy guy.

Hey, get your butt in gear and get something together and come out and play! Time's short!

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

just ordered a pioneer flexplate for my big block. if i get 2 years out of it before i eat the teeth off im lucky. 65 bucks out of summit. whats a non sfi flexplate cost? 40$?

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

When you get it please give us a picture of the "official" SFI tag on your flexplate.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

General Regulations state that SFI 4.1 transmission shields are required at 10.99.

This thread did enlighten me to the fact that my low 10-second car does not require a current SFI flexplate. I've always kept them in-date.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Billy, similar to how any V8 stick car is required to have a SFI clutch, flywheel, and bellhousing, even on a 14 second 302 2 barrel car. Yet, a modern car can run 9s without any safety equipment, other than a helmet. Years ago, it seemed like Stockers were often excused from having some safety stuff, like low 10 second A/S-A/SA cars were driving in a T shirt in the 80s, but the bracket guys running 11.99 or quicker needed a SFI -1 jacket. Then NHRA went the other way, I can race my 10.0 bracket car in regular pants, but my low 12 second M/S Mustang required me to wear SFI pants. It also needed a roll bar, and 2 year SFI harness, but if I ran it in brackets, I wouldn`t need any of that stuff until 11.49.And if it was 2018 and newer, not until 9.00 ETs! Funny watching some of the old Pro Stock racing in the early 80s, open face helmet, no gloves, and string style window nets, running low 8s and high 7s.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Funny watching some of the old Pro Stock racing in the early 80s, open face helmet, no gloves, and string style window nets, running low 8s and high 7s

And The Grump with a cigar clenched in his teeth! LOL

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

I get where you're coming from...
The rule revision probably should be written better to get all the classes in some kind of alignment, but I get the spirit of the rule, and you'd think it will probably get tweeked a bit in the future.

And you are correct time IS short...
And seems to be getting shorter the older I get!

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Looks like any other lol. But here it is.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Good deal on a real one! Carry on!

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

The gold piece pictured is what happens when you check eBay for an SFI flexplate for curiosity's sake. No sticker, weird engraving..."CAT" product...need I say more? The silver one is a PRW from Summit which is noticeably thicker than the CAT. The CAT is literally just a hair thicker than an OEM Chrysler. I would have did a comparison with a stock one, but I only have one stock one left, and it was on the back of a motor on the engine stand.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Billy, I wonder how many people at NHRA actually know they have 14 second V8 car running in Stock.
Also ,how many know there are V8 combos that an SFI flex is not available for..
How many even care?

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

I'm still waiting for some of the 302/2V FFFFord guys to reply what with all of the different "balances" over the years.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

The gold piece pictured is what happens when you check eBay for an SFI flexplate

YEAH... CHINA... :eek:

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

To be fair, nowhere on the box or instructions could I find where the PRW piece was made. It does have the "PRW-USA" sticker on it, but again, it does not specifically state anywhere "Made In XXX"

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Pioneer was bought by Lodi .
https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/d...house-location

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

I was referring to the to the golden eBay piece...
The PRW one appears to have an actual legit SFI sticker on it... (But I'm sure someone probably can fake that also, not saying that's the case here, but things like that do occur also)
Or am I misinterpreting the photos?..

There is a lot of "Hecho en Chin*o parts floating around...
That's what my beef is with Made in China...
Back in the 80s (I think) when all this began, I heard a story about a bus wreck where the bolt holding the steering components broke and killed some people and the cause of the breakage was the bolt was made in China/overseas counterfeit/substandard grade 8 bolt?
Was told that's when they started making the bolts traceable to the manufacturer.
Also remember a story also about pot metal ball joints... Fact or Fiction?
"Made in China, looks like a ball joint"

I do know it seems like a lot of imported appliances, etc. don't seem to last as long as the "good old stuff".
Don't think it's just Chinese manufactured stuff, I'm sure there are others doing the same thing.
Back in the 50s/60s it was Japan making cheap junk...
They pretty much fixed that when the reputation started to haunt them, then they stepped up their game and became a quality manufacturer of electronics, etc.
Part of the problem is our wanting the cheapest price on everything...

All I'm saying is caveat emptor, make sure you use quality parts on you stuff, one of the reasons SFI, UL, ASME, etc. testing organizations are necessary.

Anyway, seems we've gone off on a vector...
Sorry

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Looks like about twice the flex plate that a lot of the Mopar guys are using, and still doesn't address the supposed problem...The ring gear :-(

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Very true, the one on my car looks like this, I got it in late 74.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

After reading this thread , I have come to 2 conclusions. Not quite sure if the new flex plates are any better than the old ones. Some of you guys value your feet and toes more than others. :)

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Something that I learned...

There are some guys that spent years and money to develop a combination, and now NHRA is telling them they can't race it anymore.

How about the 425 Caddys ? There are a few still out there.
High 12's. low RPM ..Hmmm
Any suggestions from the guys who do value their feet and toes?

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Yes... that is a problem, isn't it?

And honestly, I don't have an answer for some of these more obscure combos...

Do you grant waivers, for some combos?...
Pending an approved part?...
Hmm...
That would certainly start a whole new s--- storm now, wouldn't it?

Don't know...

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Ya know, IMHO in 21ST century America I'm far more apt to lose my "feet and toes" and other things (like my life) driving to and from the racetrack than I am in the safety of my (11,12,13,14,15 second) racecar! Do I have to even bring up what might happen when I stop to fuel up or get some groceries?
Again, IMHO if any Racer is THAT afraid of losing their "feet and toes" in their racecar then maybe that Racer should seriously consider just how much faith they have in their own abilities and/or their mechanic's abilities to give them a safe car. NHRA doesn't even have any kind of remedial Tech Inspection anymore! How am I supposed to rely on them to keep me safe?
I'll put my faith in my good old "American Iron" parts and my ability to inspect them.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

21st Century America, that's a whole new topic...

I've always been of the opinion that you're safer on a race track than on a freeway...
Even before road rage was a thing...

In the industry I work in there may be a greater risk of injury or death than racing...

I would hope everyone that races understands the risks and would do what it takes to reduce the chance of injury...
Isn't that part of the reason for sanctioning bodies?
I think Wally would think so...

And you are correct, there is no one that looks at flywheels during tech but maybe in teardown? maybe...

Good old American iron is getting harder to find, original or aftermarket...
Just saying...

As for your ability to inspect, there are fewer people around that have your abilities...
Alot of that ability has to do with being around long enough to know what to look for...

Honestly, I would have assumed that safety equipment was covered in the General Regulations and would have gone by ET across the board...
So much for logic...
We'll just have to see where this goes...

Probably driven more by the lawyers than anything else.

Be safe, have fun...

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

The real reason for that is the local bracket tracks.
Every time NHRA comes up with a new "safety spec" or a new "has-to-be-approved part" the local tracks are forced to either turn a blind eye or lose customers to tracks that will.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

True...
I've seen that more than once...

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Nobody is going to check the SFI sticker on a flexplate but if damage or injury is caused by a non SFI flexplate then the liability is 100% on the user, NHRA and the track will no longer be responsible.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

At that point they will assess a fine...

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

So you're telling me that if my SFI approved flexplate explodes and pieces go around and/or through my SFI approved trans shield and flexplate shield that NHRA and the track will accept full responsibility?

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

No, I'm saying if you sign your tech card to an SFI approved flexplate and you don't have it and it explodes you're liable not the NHRA or the track.

Re: SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024
 

Might be more than that Mark.