Pre '60 Stockers
 

Anybody planning on running a pre-1960 car in Stock next season?
It will be interesting to see what shows up.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

It will be interesting to see wwhat NHRA Tech ALLOWS to race.

Lots of great combination out there; the blown '57 Fords and lots of Studebakers with Paxtons, the Tri-power, solid lifter, 317 H-P '57 Pontiacs, those '50 Oldsmobiles, '56 Mercurys with 2 fours (260 H-P) and 348 Chevys with multiple carbs and solid lifters (335/350 H-P) in '59 and '60.

The possibilities are endless, but NHRA is not willing, I'll bet, to do the tech research to give us a lot of options. Still, it will be nice to see those 270 H-P '57 Chevys again.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Would only be REALLY neat if they allowed any motor, trans combl. The Panel trucks are what got the juices flowing in Jr. Stock with the 55,56, 57 chevies.
But were these rules to quiet the conversation on Mustangs with blowers or....?
Even though it is a GREAT rule, does it "help anything"?or hurt with MORE combinations they cannot factor well?

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Shalby Hurley has a P/SA '55 Chevy she runs in IHRA and at some of my S/SS combo's. Other than her car, I can't think of anyone currently with one. Maybe we'll see some more in 2011.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

I have access to a couple of always Arizona '56 Ford wagons if anybody needs one. PM me for details.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Bill,

Can you see anything out there that would be competitive in heads up races though?

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

I would like to see Mike Braswell's wagon as a stocker!

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

IF anyone even builds a pre-'60's car it will only be '55 and up Chevy's.

As I pointed out in another thread, the only people that will benefit from this rule will be the Chevy guy's.

There are no other car's that can be built and be competitive with out spending over a 100k. Blown Fords and TBirds are non-existing and would cost 100k just to buy, 57 Pontiac's were not competitive, 58's were but where are you going to find one for less that $40,000.00, blown Studes suffer the same fate as the Fords.

Lastly, compare the availability of racing parts for the Chevy's vs all the other cars........nada, zip!

But, if there is a masochist out there I have a '58 Tri-power Pontiac Chieftan sedan, auto and posi with only 29k miles for only $38,000.00!

JimR

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Carl Libucha is putting his 1955 chevy super stocker back to stock trim. Plans on running P/SA with a Boucher motor. With Parker and Fink helping with the tuning, look out...

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

My guess is NHRA will allow a current Paxton to replace the antique Paxton superchargers. After all, they are both belt driven superchargers, right.
You can find decent '57 T-Birds for $25K. A Studebaker or T-Bird with a new Paxton could be pretty interesting!

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

If it was a station wagon, I think my buddy would be all over it. He is looking for a Pontiac station wagon of that era to use as a tow vehicle for his '98 Firebird on an open trailer. He has a nice enclosed trailer, but he waxes on and on about how much he likes seeing drag cars on open trailers.

He is a bit twisted and that is why he likes me, I think. He said he would figure a way to put a LY6 that he got from E-bay in the wagon and air ride the suspension in it.

Don

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

The transmissions / bell housings would be the problem.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

My Father put his 1956 2 door post Bel Air together in 1971 for stock eliminator racing. Now 40 years later it looks like he is going to give it another go.
The combo was a 225hp 3 speed running M/S, but this time we are going with a glide behind the 225 hp 265 to run in N/SA. Back in 1971 he was running low 13's with the stick (and far different camshaft rules) but given today's technology and rulebook is it feasible to get this car down into the 12.20-30 range?
Here is a picture of the car now in Pro ET brackets.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Ford apparently makes a pretty neat powerglide nowadays. QuickTimeInc will make a bellhousing for a manual trans (if they don't already have one). And I'm sure NHRA would just throw in transmission adapters legal on pre-1960 vehicles if somebody asked.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

You won't see anything pre-'60 that isn't a Chevy...ONLY Chev and Cadillac have any listings earlier than t1960 in the class guide, and I really doubt anyone would build a '59 Caddy stocker. Unless NHRA adds some cars to the guide. (can you say, "snowball's chance in hell?")

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

If NHRA lets the older cars run that good single 4 manifold that originally came on the 327-300 horse motors,(sorry), I'd forget about running the 2X4's, that manifold sucks.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

If NHRA or an old tech guy kept the old guides its all in there. I just threw mine away last Febuary. Now I wished I had kept it. It had everything from the 49 Olds on up. I used it for IHRA's pure stock class and regular stockers since IHRA allowed them for as long as I remember. Oh well........

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Hey Terry, i will have to do some digging but i may have one of the old Red Books that has all the older stuff, plus one of the black books with the engine specs!:cool:

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Don,

There is a '57 Pontiac Safari 2 dr wagon for sale in this months AutoTrader Classic Cars edition that is all original with matching no.'s for $29,495.00. This is the model that looks like Chevy Nomad.
Contact no. is 714-779-7257.

JimR

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Great Woodro. The Red book is what I had and a black binder "old" engine spec. book. I dumped it all when I moved. NHRA should still have their stuff around someplace.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Jim, did you see any intake numbers listed on the '55, '56 or '57 Chevy engine spec sheets?

I didn't, so I'd say yes the #459 Intake should be the accepted piece...
What the heck they're legal on later 283"s, so they might as well be on all 283" and now the 265"s as well.

(those Tri-Power Chieftains were pretty awesome in their time )

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Larry,
No, I haven't looked at any of the specs. I was just doing a comparison in my head on the difference between the 2X4 motor vs. the single 4 motor. Seems like the early 283-220 motor is rated @215, and the 2X4 motor is 245. The carb is smaller on the early engine and it has less compression than the mid-60's version. I feel that the 215 is the best combo for a '57 Chevy. That manifold on the 245 motor is pretty bad IMO.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

FWIW, No modern automatic trans bolts to that 370 block.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

The 4 BBL intake number for the 55 265 is 3711348. Happy hunting!

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Woodro,
I think I have a 60's or early 70's red book.
Cimo,
Looks like you did a restoration on your wagon about 1 year too early!!
Still, a very nice street ride!!

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Thank you for the lead. I will pass it along.

Don

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

I have an old NHRA class guide that covers all American made cars from 1950- 1973.....It includes Studebakers, Hudsons, Desotos, ect...I saved it when Lancaster Dragway in New York decided we should all be bracket racers back in the 70`s

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

One combo that is sticking out is the '57 Corvette W/ 283 / 250 F I w/ 200 metric auto in G/SA @2920 lbs ..........hmmmmmm .

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

I like this combo also but it would have to be with a glide only. It is not a super stocker...But, that thing would haul!!!!

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Good point -- they probably didn't offer the Turbo-glide in the Corvette .............

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Sam, I don't dispute that this might be the correct intake casting for '55, but I don't see any intake numbers published on the NHRA Engine Blueprint Specs. for 55-6-7, so I'd run the 459 until told to take it off.

I think with NHRA that's how stuff gets accepted... Just Do It until told differently!!

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

That is correct......P/G for an automatic only in stock for now. Of course who knows what the 2011 final rule changes will allow. They did it in S/S so whats to say the NHRA wont allow a 3 speed auto in 2011.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

might have a line on one of those 3711348 intake manifolds will get back to you on condition and price in a few days or soon as my guy gets back to me---Comp

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

larry fulton...

currently NHRA does NOT allow me to run the 459 intake > so i do not know why they would allow the 55-59 cars to do so.

i agree im screwed, if the 459 was superseeded due to lack of available intakes one would thinks mine is harder to find !!!

also 3 speed automatic would be available in all FULL SIZE 1957 - 1961 cars with the exception of 6 cylinders and 348 high HP 270 & 315 i believe... i have the info.

jack

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

OK talked to my guy he has TWO of the 55 Chev intakes--- anybody got any interest????Trying to get some pix and more info such as has any porting/machine work etc been done or are they virgin----will keep all informed ---Comp

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

As of now only the 55 to 59 Chevy will be allowed to run. They are the only ones in the class guide, or you might try a 55 to 59 Caddy they are in there to.

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

I've got these Early Chevy 4bbl. Intakes available, let me know if you need one.

(WCFB / 4GC style flange)

#3837109 - C26 (MARCH 2, 1956) - 265 / 283 - NO. 2 - NO P/B VAC

#3731398 - J176 (OCT. 17, 1956) - 283 - GM 2 - NO P/B VAC

#3731896 - E277 (MAY 27, 1957) - 283 - GM 2 - NO P/B VAC

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

The Tri-Fives are a "Little Weak" in the rear end dept. What are the options ? 12 bolt, 9 inch or try to find some 55 to 64 Chevy stuff ? :confused:

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

larry price on 896 ?

jack

Re: Pre '60 Stockers
 

Adapt a 12-Bolt Chev @ o.e.m. width for the vehicle ('5-'6-'57 Chev = 60")