Found a hilarious combo:
 

The '91 and '92 Ford Econoline 150 and 250 vans are listed in the stock classification guides.

Your choice of the 150-horsepower 300(4.9) EFI inline 6 factored at 190 horsepower, the 185-horsepower 302(5.0) EFI V8 factored at 215 horsepower, and the 210-horsepower 351W(5.8) EFI V8 factored at 240 horsepower.

They fit anywhere from "V" all the way up to "O", depending on year, model, and engine choice.

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So what you're really doing is checking out the reaction, before you show up at a Divisional with a van stocker...http://classracer.com/classforum/ima...ons/icon10.gif

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Why not? Dare to be different!! Twin-I-beams handle better than the old leaf-spring suspension. Find a "club" version, or you'll have a heck of a time watching your opponent in the right lane! :D

I wonder if they'd let you use a water-bed for ballast? :eek:

Lew

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You can tow with an open trailer and still have lots of enclosed storage.

I like the idea.

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Although there was an exterior redesign in '92, it may be possible to update and backdate from about '88 (when they switched from carbs to EFI) to '91, and from '92 to about '96 (after which the 300(4.9), 302(5.0), and 351W(5.8) were no longer offered). They apparently got lighter with the redesign in '92, so the '92 is the only one capable of making "O", and the '91 is awful heavy for attempting "V".

There are 1-5/8" headers available for the 300(4.9), 302(5.0), and 351W(5.8), although they are only listed as fitting vehicles up to '91. Even after the '92 exterior design, they were still based on Ford's "VN" platform, so I'm hoping they'll physically fit the '92 also.

The engine and the rest of the drivetrain would be pretty much standard Stocker technology- a C4 with an 8" converter, a proper ring & pinion ratio, lightweight tires and wheels, Meziere makes a water pump for the V8s, MSD boxes are available, and I'm sure Bullet could whittle an appropriate cam. Calvert could probably do up a pair of traction bars for it. There's not much that can be done with the stock TIB front suspension, other than looser springs and shocks. I'm not sure if I'd be able to find lighter brakes for it.

But my biggest concern is that there is apparently zero aftermarket support for the OEM engine computer- these were all speed-density fuel injection systems, which would no doubt have significant problems after installing an appropriate long-duration Stocker cam. I don't see any alternative, other than scrapping the OEM engine computer and replacing it with something like a FAST set-up.

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I was thinking the same thing.

When I first got started bracket racing back in the late '70s, there was a guy that raced a 13-second Chevy cargo van in "Heavy" bracket, and he was pretty easy pickins' at the stripe, for that exact reason. He just couldn't see us coming...

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That aspect had not escaped my notice.

I doubt it would fit inside an enclosed trailer anyway.

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At a race weight of 3770 for the '92, it looks like it would take about 325 horsepower or so from a truck 5.8EFI, just to make the 13.15 O/SA index. And that's a lot of air to push at 100 mph or so. The stock heads are pretty horrific on those things, especially the exhaust port, and I don't see any replacement heads listed for the Stock classes.

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Put shag carpet, port holes, fender flairs and wide tires on it and if its a rockn don't come knockn.

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I looked at that van combo years ago.

The 1991 351W combo looks like a natural Q or R/SA.
Bunch of different ways you can go with a van.

The 1992 models with a 351W has a natural P/SA combo.
Somehow, I believe pushing a brick like that to a 13.45 @ 4,010 lbs. might be a struggle

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Hope this is a joke..as in hilarious.
I suppose it would give new meaning to the idea of "putting a wheel on somebody".
As far as driver position , I can think of much better "vehicles".
Oh, I don't know. Maybe something like a ...Corvette?

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I was looking for a clever-ish way to insert shag carpet into this thread, but you beat me to it. :D

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Yeah, I think it might be easier to make index as a "V" car, simply because it wouldn't have to push that frontal area at as high a speed as an "O" car.

But the 300(4.9) EFI inline 6 is factored 40 horsepower above Ford's claimed horsepower. The 302(5.0) and 351W(5.8) EFI engines are only factored 30 horsepower above Ford's claimed horsepower, and are better-supported by the aftermarket.

On the plus side, you can pretty much get the things for free, and you can sleep four in your race car at the track.

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The funniest part of this, is that those things didn't end up in the classification guides on their own- somebody had to have petitioned NHRA to include them.

And the humor aspect of it is more interesting than the viability aspect of it, but if it was an advantageous combo, I absolutely would consider it. Of course, anything that you and Billy agree on, I would consider.

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Well at least it's aerodynamic...

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Lol.

I think Mark (and others) have already covered that... :D

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You could big mural on the side. 70's style. Also would make a great sponsorship billboard.

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NHRA might need to be in on any murals or advertising....

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"Transcon Medi-Vac" livery would be more likely.

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The NHRA's disappointing treatment of racers, especially sportsman racers, and particularly Stock Eliminator racers, has not escaped my notice.

Things seemed so much simpler 30 years ago...

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Of course!

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On the serious side --- this combo offers the worst front / rear weight distribution AND the worst aero that I can imagine!!! So you can be slowest in 60 feet and at the finish line!!! Makes my Comanche look like a rocket ship!!

1051 R/SA

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Last year I asked for hp off the 300 as 190hp is too high, was denied. I had a 92 f150 with the 300/aod/3.08 rear gear that while slow bracket racing, was deadly consistent and went a LOT of rounds. Instead of my longbox, I thought a short box and gearing/converter/hp off, etc would put it closer to the index/make it viable.

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Yes, the 300 is factored more than the 302 and 351W. The 300 has 40 horsepower added to it, and the 302 and 351W only have 30 horsepower added to them.

I didn't see the F150 in the classification tool. Did I miss something?

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My father-in-law used to own one. What a turd 💩. I used to give him s..t all the time about it. But it would be cool to see a van out there!

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It occurs to me that the lighter cargo version may be viable after all- some of them come with a window in the slider door on the passenger side.

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My internet is ****ting he bed right now, took me 10 minutes to load this answer page, but anyway, look 1993-1994 I forget now but there are a few specs different and I think the 92 was better. For Ford, the only logical combo is a 302 2bbl, but a 150 would be cool. I even looked at the 302 150, that would be easy to find parts for if nothing else.