"Live From" NHRA Gatornationals

[Ken Miele]

West Coast, that's why I posted, I don't want anyone else to go through what I had to.

Chad, thanks for the heads up. The clouds are getting very dark here, we are all button down. We should be fine.

Toby, the shipping was 190.00 the parts were 475.00. It was definitely not something I budgeted for. I guess I will miss a national to make up for the loss.

Rock, and I thought we were friends.

Terry, according to the rule book it says nothing about aluminum center sections. To say it never came with it means absolute nothing. I have a pro trans 6c with 904 parts. My ring gear is lighten, I have aluminum spool. I have 33 spline axles. I have rear disc breaks. I have headers. I have a aftermarket shifter. I have a removable steering wheel. I have wheelie bars, shall I go on?

This is the rule that is in the NHRA rule book for rear end replacement.

"Original rear end may be replaced with another from the same automobile manufacture"

Ford sells a replacement rear that has a aluminum center section, tell me were it says I can not use a aluminum center section. The car is built according to the rule book. I except their decision, but the rule book needs to be changed or they need to let us use parts that we can buy from the manufacture. I thought that was the idea, we race and buy parts from companies that support us.

John, I was not hiding or did I want to hide the fact that I have an aluminum center section. My car is built according to the NHRA rule book.

[Tony Janes]

The same thing happened to at least one stock Ford at the Winternationals, They chose to say nothing about it.

[George Fitzpatrick]

Sorry to Hear that Ken
With the rule written the way it is. Would it have been a big deal to let you run it for this race? I know the rules are the rules, but it does not say “No aluminum”. Plus really is there areal big performance advantage.

[Bob Bender]

YO KEN, Sorry you had to do all that. Keep up all the good reporting

[THE LEGEND]

Ken,
That sucks. I would've gotten on the 2-step over that.
Chip Johnson

[Mike Brogniez]

Agree with Ken that his interpretation of the way rule is currently written should have been valid for allowing it.
BTW NHRA did not allow Jenkins his interpretation of ''space between bell housing and Lenco'' either......
Keep the new parts....the rules are sometimes changed rapidly to suit the interpretation/application......
Most of all enjoy your race Ken and thank you for sharing the experience.

[vic guilmino]

ken
where did you get the gloves

[Duane Eiskant II]

Bull****, thats what it is. Your how many miles from home, PLUS you just raced at Valdosta. You've run the car like that for how many years? Guess you should have used dry ice on the manifold and told them you didnt. LOL, now we know why you can run 9:80's too. Im sure it will be fixed and since the mopars are using the aluminum centers all the fords will also. Time will tell. I'll just put this out there, why dont you order a cj rear with the aluminum center section and get someone to put the spring perches on it? Then you'll be good to go....Right?

[Evan Smith]

Ken, thanks for the heads-up. This is rather interesting, I was also told that even though the rulebook doesn't say you can't have an aluminum center, it doesn't say you can.

The rulebook doesn't say you can have any of the following non-stock parts either: aluminum spool, titanium spool, back-cut ring gear, scalloped axles flanges, or gun-drilled axles. Ironically, those are all part that have a direct effect on performance. Are we to assume these parts are also illegal?

Where is the logic?

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Evan Smith

Ken, thanks for the heads-up. This is rather interesting, I was also told that even though the rulebook doesn't say you can't have an aluminum center, it doesn't say you can.

The rulebook doesn't say you can have any of the following non-stock parts either: aluminum spool, titanium spool, back-cut ring gear, scalloped axles flanges, or gun-drilled axles. Ironically, those are all part that have a direct effect on performance. Are we to assume these parts are also illegal?

Where is the logic?

There are lots of stockers using "Massaged" cylinder heads and intake manifolds not to mention lite pistions, pins, etc. and these parts have a direct effect on performance. Are we to assume these are illegal or legal just because they pass at one race and who knows at the next? Where does it stop? The tech guy in question was 100% right in this case. If the rule book dosent say you can do or use something then you are not supposed to do so. Its the interpitation of the rule book. Just so you all know Im on Kens side with this and think he should have been allowed to use the alum. parts but this is the way the tech guys are supposed to look at things and its been done that way for a very long time in both NHRA and IHRA. Greg X. was noted for doing things like this during his time in the barrel as tech director in Div. 1.
Hang in there Ken......It sounds like this could be your race again.