Whither the 425/427 decicion....

[Harry 6674]

The people that don't want heads are either to lazy to work on their stuff, not smart enough and don't want to learn or are not able to afford it. Thats what started brackets to begin with and thats where they belong not in class racing. But thats just me. I started in the 60s so I've had it both ways.

[herbjr]

Or maybe they dont have the money to build a 50K stocker. I think thats what a good one will cost that is bad *** these days. At least A-F/SA. And I mean BAD *** not 1 second under at Indy.

[SS Engine Guy]

Originally Posted by herbjr

Or maybe they dont have the money to build a 50K stocker. I think thats what a good one will cost that is bad *** these days. At least A-F/SA. And I mean BAD *** not 1 second under at Indy.

50K for a good one is about right if you have someone else build the chassis and drivetrain. As long is it isn't one of the 70k pupose built cars or something very collectable/rare. About half that if you can do the welding/mechanics/testing/set-up yourself.
BAD *** is relative to legal and correctly factored. A LEGAL 1 second under at Indy is pretty good in my book considering you are usually running in 3000 ft. wet air which would translate to around 1.2 under in good air.

I like the idea of class winners and teardowns. Especially teardowns in the rain in a muddy field with flashlights and the headlights from the tow truck while the head of tech is waiting with the heater running in his car. Whats the old saying? What dosen't kill you will only serve to make you stronger. (and better -- and smarter)

I think Harry is pretty much right in his post.

X-Techman did you sleep in the truck at the mall in '78 so you wouldn't loose your place in the tech line?

I would estimate that 75% of my customers don't even install the new/fresh engine that they pick up themselves. I would say that 85% couldn't tell me the metering rod sizes or jets that are in the motor without pulling them. The other 15% are usually in the top 10 at any national that they attend. They work smart and they test smart. They really don't even need me, they just think that they do.

[RJ]

Originally Posted by SS Engine Guy

I would estimate that 75% of my customers don't even install the new/fresh engine that they pick up themselves. I would say that 85% couldn't tell me the metering rod sizes or jets that are in the motor without pulling them. The other 15% are usually in the top 10 at any national that they attend. They work smart and they test smart. They really don't even need me, they just think that they do.

And I would estimate that most of the "checkwriters" run their mouths the most about how fast "they" are.

[Ed Wright]

SS Engine guy, what is your real name? You must have a lot of fast stuff out there, and if you have told who you are I must have missed it.

Not real sure why so many hide behind made-up screen names.

[X-TECH MAN]

[QUOTE=SS Engine Guy;

X-Techman did you sleep in the truck at the mall in '78 so you wouldn't loose your place in the tech line?

.[/QUOTE]

Accually I was on my "HONEY MOON"....lol and I slept at a motel. Its been so long ago that I dont remember if the tech line was at the track or a shopping center as some of the races kind of run together after 30+ years. I do remember running Phil Hardee (a Bobby Warren preped car) in the final. We both had 350 SS/IA (P/G trans) Camaro's and the S/S cars were less radical than the stockers of today (no ported heads, water pump drives, etc.) at that time. If you were there I was in the left lane in a Candy Red 68 that was unlettered that had one of the early prototype ATI trans breaks. Jim Bettie gave it to me to try out. I used the trans break on the final run and at the green it stood up high enough to drag the bumper and rear pannel and I could not see the grand stands on the left. Had I not stood it up I Might??? have won class. We were eye ball to eye ball at the finish line. I believe he ran a 10.97 and I ran a 10.99 ? Pretty good for 1978. That is just one of the fun memories I have of racing back then. Even though I lost class I had a fun time (winning isnt the only good thing about drag racing) and Phil and myself became pretty good friends through the years when we met at the races when he went comp racing and I was working for IHRA we always took time to talk about the good ole days. . Locally I ran pretty good but nationally I got beat up pretty bad....LOL. The Gators that year was not a good race as I was whipped in the first round....lol. I did OK at the "little Guy Nationals" in Va. the year (1977) before. Had the honor of knowing Div. 2 tech director John Bedenkamp(sp?) before he passed from cancer. He was one of the good guys NHRA had working for them. All in all I look back on it as a great time. Would not have missed it for anything.

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

the S/S cars were less radical than the stockers of today (no ported heads, water pump drives, etc.) at that time.

Terry, now THAT IS funny! I'm still laughing with tears in my eyes. Remember when Top Stock allowed ported heads in? Some picked up a bunch, some not at all if my memory is working. (You know we were older than than now and racing that old man's brand of car...)