Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

I never tried to fit one. Anyone have any experience trying to fit one and if so which one actually fits a Stock type chassis?

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Compared to other classes, what percentage of stockers have oiled down tracks this year? Who is bouncing this one around?

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

I have been racing my super stock car for over 40 years and have only oiled the track once in that length of time. I don't think it is necessary in my humble opinion

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Yeah......... I want to see just how they determine just what will be legal when they ( the NHRA BOD) start requiring S/SS Racers to put a diaper/tray under a car with a (relatively) stock frame and engine location.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Suggest racers make a list of concise impacts such a change would make and feed that to your SRAC representatives. Not a tirade, but a detailed impact statement to what changes would be required to your particular car(s) to mount a blanket or belly pan. For some (FE fords come to mind) it would almost require fender exit headers, wow, wouldn’t that look great and then we’d crank up the dB police. In my case with a tie rod spanning the engine bay it would almost require a dry sump system be designed fabricated and tested. In other words I’d no longer compete at NHRA events. While that may be dandy with NHRA since we’re basically a nuisance to them anyway I really don’t think they want to kill the cash cow sportsman racers.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

I only bracket race and it's a 3rd gen F body stock frame. Diaper is tight but it fits and I've got it on there. Mine is a DRE and it's a nice piece. Most full body stock type drag cars today are antiques, and in many cases so are the drivers. I don't want to crash and get hurt or crash and have to fix my car or my opponents. Oiling the track is a concern but down the list from the others.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

x2. My Nova, chassis-wise, is basically a Stocker and I have a diaper on it after oiling the track and feeling lucky to get it stopped safely. It is a DRE with Kevlar panels where the headers get close or touch, and it was made to accommodate the stock motor mounts. It fits like a glove and I'm glad to have it.

Especially considering the nature of S/SS to maximize performance and often run on the edge of the parts' potential, I am surprised those classes have escaped the diaper rule as long as they have.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

I guess I resemble that remark. I would really like a diaper on my car but I am not sure how I would get it on and have it be effective.

If it were not for these issues I think diapers would have been mandatory in most classes by now.

Bill Lamb
4340

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Again, what percentage of stock eliminator cars oiled down tracks this year? The best way to get the diaper rule forced on stock racers is to keep talking about it.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Depends?

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Naturally it will vary from car to car. But I was curious how long it can take to R&R a diaper.....in addition to the time if one had to pull a rod/piston!

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

What percentage flipped or rolled?

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

I don't see the "bouncing around" part of your post anymore. Again, who's bouncing this around.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

I am sure , sooner or later ,....a DIAPER will be required for Stk/SS ....I am hoping for later ...DRE makes an excellent diaper .....

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Fact remains that a diaper will be a slight inconvenience for some (I’ve run them on my full chassis car without hesitation) and a major impact to others.

I’m going to provide an impact statement to my SRAC rep and see what happens. If I determine its cost prohibitive to install a blanket then this car goes to bracket mode with a mild engine.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

[QUOTE=Pat6868;599120]Again, what percentage of stock eliminator cars oiled down tracks this year? The best way to get the diaper rule forced on stock racers is to keep talking

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

This diaper issue appeared about 5 years ago concerning Super Stockers. I jacked up my SS/GT truck and then Div. 1 tech director Bob Lang crawled under. He was in full agreement that there was no room to fit a diaper.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

I don't want it mandatory on my stocker, period.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

After seeing multiple incidents of oil downs over the years, I made the decision to put a diaper on both my bracket car AND my stocker. For me it’s about my own safety. I have personally had an occasion where I wished I had one( popped an oil line and got oil under the tires , saved the car but scary all the same).
I use the generic fit ones from summit/jegs. They don’t interfere with anything and only take minutes to install. I would have to pull my engine for a rod/ piston pull any way.
My friends use the DRE brand on some of their cars. Excellent product.
Safer is not sorry in my opinion. No downside to this accessory for me.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Your tune might change and if you couldn’t fit one. I’d install one of DRE’s without question but unfortunately all chassis/pans/headers are not the same. I’ve even had diapers enable me to make a final when I had a water pump gasket start leaking.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Well I don't think I've ever seen a stocker oil the track. However at the Dutch on Friday afternoon a blue 69 camaro did a moonshot wheelstand and upon landing pitched out what appeared to be the trans blanket. That was something new in my world.:eek:


Mike Z

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

We had a Jr. Dragster oil the track this year. Last weekend it was a Stick car that split the trans case. Numerous rear end explosions, auto trans blowups, oil line leaks and rad hose failures. I'd think engine failures are becoming a lot less with improved and accepted parts.

I'm all for safety but how many Diapers should be on a race car anyway. If you want to run one then fine, but I don't, probably can't fit one and don't think making them mandatory is a good move.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Are you referring to this ?? Blue Camaro was in the left lane. Debris was in the right lane, but may have originated from either car.
Does not look like 1969 Camaro to me, but maybe more than one car pitched its safety gear off mid track.
First time I'd ever seen this happen.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

He said Depends:D

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

That looks like it. Thought it was a 69. Obviously not. Guess I am not a good eye witness.:confused:

Mike Z

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

We had a D1 race where 3 Stockers oiled the track during the first Qualifying shot. I myself have oiled it twice. First when I bought the car I was the first car down the track at No Problem and spit a rod out at bat mid track broke the trans driveshaft and pinion yoke too. Shut the track down for almost 2 hours. So yes it does happen.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

After looking at the B-E body engine, steering, and headers on my stocker, it would be a lot of work and expense. The drag link runs real close to the sump and the bottom of pan, this could be a potential crash if the Kevlar blanket jams the steering. A motor plate would not help the steering situation. A tray might work until a big wheel stand. When that happens on my car it bends the oil pan against the pickup, and bends the transmission pan. The oil pan I have to fix before I make the next run. If new ss headers are needed to complete the ORD I will be done.
All of a sudden cutting bait doesn't look so bad.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Stock eliminator- entry level. Mandatory belts every 2 years, mandatory approved collector tethers, now mandatory diapers? Sad to see the so-called evolution of this class.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

On a Hemi car with the drag link going through the oil pan (some Chevy ll’s also), I do not know how you could fit a diaper effectively. If NHRA allowed an aftermarket K frame, it might be possible.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

I must have done something wrong on my '64 Dodge when I put the engine diaper on it. I have the factory K-frame, steering, and torsion bars. Using 1 3/4" Hooker S/C headers (one tube through fenderwell). I fit a universal Jeg's diaper on the car without issue, though I did have to get creative with some of the mounting points for the support straps to hold it up.

I wasn't real fond of putting it on, but when the rules require it (I ran the car in S/ST a few times...ex-SS car), you find a way to make it work if you want to race.

While the Jeg's diaper doesn't provide the best fit, I can only imagine how much better the job would have been had I used something that was designed for the car.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Larry I love your pink car. And I'm jealous of all the races you get to go to. But if you were to cut bait could Patsy still go and report. Class racing would not be the same without her. Barry

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Excessive RPM's will do it every time. Now you have solid lifters to go along with the killer valve springs and excessive duration cams and roller rockers, etc. ! What else would you expect unless you spend several thousand more dollars to build modified and S/S wanna be engines. You get what you wanted !

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Don't have a dog in this hunt, but never stopped me before.

Steve, I don't have a rule book, but are you saying that S/ST, the entry level class, where the index is only 10.90, requires a diaper?

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Mark, yes an oil retention device is required in Super Street. Believe it would already be in place but the last time they floated it the heard how much of an impact it would be. Strangely enough bracket cars don’t require, likely because they don’t put the Fuel Circus at risk of losing any track time. I’ve already submitted my impact statement to the SRAC. Have a Stefs pan with hole for the drag link to travel through, custom made headers by REF that come very close to pan in several places. Even if one could be custom made it would come very close to the belt drive. As stated earlier if they hand down the rule as mandatory then current car will no longer run in Super Stock

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Correct...that and the flywheel shield were the only two things I had to add to the car for S/ST. I know a lot of tracks were requiring a diaper on Sub-10 second cars as well for their weekly bracket programs. I don't know if I needed the flywheel shield though as the car runs less than 135 mph?

I don't think the diaper should be mandatory...but it's definitely cheap insurance.

For what it's worth...The rulebook does state that a minimal number of slots or holes to "clear frame, steering, or lines" is permitted.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Well guys, There's a way to address the S/ST issue.
No electronic throttle stops , and a 125 max speed (breakout).
In other words, bring it back to entry level.
But why in the hell would they?
Look what they've allowed to happen to Stock.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Why would you think S/ST is supposed to be entry level?

I only go 12x MPH on 9" radial tires, but I like the diversity of the class just the way it is.

I don't care if Stock and SS are allowed to run without a diaper, but the drag link through the oil pan and close-fitting headers are not issues that would prevent one from being used. As I mentioned in my first post, my diaper has holes for the stock motor mounts and has Kevlar side panels where the headers touch.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Tony, is your diaper a custom made piece that retains the SFI certification? I know from long past experience trying to fit a TCI aluminum shield on a 727 in a Duster that some creativity is sometimes required. Asking for a friend....

And I agree that Super Street is far from entry and is one of the most entertaining and diverse (well, except for Comp of course) classes. Witness Nick Vogelsang‘s recent slaying of all comers in D3. 50 mph finish line speed differential is remarkable. Recall long ago when NHRA enacted the “Scotty Rule” and how the class has changed since those days. Fletcher winning his 100th in their Super Street Nova speaks volumes.

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Why? Because NHRA promoted it that way originally . Maybe you weren't around back then?
Divisionals only..No nationals
No national points/ champs
No running S/ST and another category at the same event.
In other words, a simple class for local bracket racers who want to try NHRA racing, locally.

Another case where it looks like the inmates are running the asylum.
Only question is..Who are the inmates here?

Re: Engine diapers on S/SS?
 

Sportsman racers are not required to have SFI-certified diapers; they must only be NHRA-accepted. Never has a tech person really inspected the diaper on either of my cars to ensure that it was a particular "accepted" brand or type.

With that said, I do believe that the custom DRE diaper on my Nova is SFI-certified. The universal-style diaper on my dragster is not SFI-certified.