Advice for new guy getting started

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by 5.9magnumjeep

I want to get started in drag racing, with the aim to run stock. I got the NHRA rule book on its way and have taken the time to read through the book online already. I have built motors for rebuilds (nothing fancy just warmed up a bit from stock). I have been spending some time here reading through some interesting threads.

I currently have a stock 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 limited and a 1992 ford ranger standard cab 4 cylinder manual trans. The Jeep I rebuilt the transmission recently and did a transgo shift correction kit. Other than that, both cars are completely stock.

The advice I need is, which of my two vehicles would you choose to start racing with and why?

I can see that with the Jeep (nhra puts this in the m/s class) it has an advantage of having a 360, trailing arms that act like four bar suspension, coil springs on the rear and it’s a limited slip rear axle. Disadvantage is it’s all wheel drive. That is a lot of friction to overcome to put the power to the ground.

With the ranger, running a slow class would be cheaper and allow more room to learn to drive the track. I know that first thing would be having to swap the rear end as the current axle won’t hold up to anything more that the severely tired 2.3 Lima that’s in it right now.

Thanks in advance.

I should add that I have grown up with family members that are hot rodders, so have been around and researched building up decent v8’s. I just haven’t built a nice motor for myself yet.

Ya know, I have to say this just to get it out of the way, an awful lot of Stocker projects that are started with all good intentions never get finished.

My advice?
Do a project that you know you can get done AND afford to get done.
Don't start a project just because you have the car.
If you want to go fast, don't build a lower class car.
If you want to build cheap, don't build a higher class car.
The Jeep is an interesting combo (and a good one) but it won't be cheap OR easy.
The Ranger could be a good combo but it could get expensive in a hurry if you're not a good DIYer.
There are a good many "starter" combos out there that you should be able to get and finish without getting disgusted and/or broke.