SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024

[Regan Wilson]

Originally Posted by Todd Hoven

Did anyone actually investigate the car that sent the shrapnel into Hildago’s car? Was it a stock flexplate? When is the last time an automatic flexplate has come apart at a race and come out of a car? I’ve seen a trans or 2 explode and send parts out.

For years (before I was born) a steel SFI flywheel has been required for any manual trans combo regardless of manufacturer or performance level.
Now after this they want to employ the rule for automatic cars. The rpm and hp range of these engine have advanced quite a bit in the last 40 years. Probably exceeding the limits of stock parts at this point. There is always exceptions to the rules for combos. If you have to rebalance an SFI flexplate for an external balance I’m sure it can be done legally. Probably splitting hairs at this point with that argument, but that is what we do here.

The Flexplate was inspected and deemed a parts failure by NHRA. No fault by the racer it belonged to as it was within the given rules.

[mike britt]

In this case the flexplate did not break or come out. It was still bolted to the crankshaft. What happened was the ring gear welds came loose and the ring gear started coming apart in pieces. I found one piece about 2 inches long by the accelerator pedal in bills car. It looked like a stock flexplate to me, but the rules did not require the car to have an SFI flexplate.

[Paul Precht]

Originally Posted by mike britt

In this case the flexplate did not break or come out. It was still bolted to the crankshaft. What happened was the ring gear welds came loose and the ring gear started coming apart in pieces. I found one piece about 2 inches long by the accelerator pedal in bills car. It looked like a stock flexplate to me, but the rules did not require the car to have an SFI flexplate.

The ring gear is the issue for sure and yet Mopars that don't have a ring gear or an explosion possibility are forced to be a part of the new rule.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Paul Precht

The ring gear is the issue for sure and yet Mopars that don't have a ring gear or an explosion possibility are forced to be a part of the new rule.

I had a (somewhat) cordial discussion with my DTD at Numidia this weekend and would like to think that I made some inroads into this "all V8s" need an SFI flexplate thing.
I would like to think that this ruling will be aligned with the need for trans and flexplate shields based on E.T.s and not just an arbitrary ruling based off of a "million-to-one" incident.
And I've got a "Billy question" here, since this "issue" involved the starter ring gear and not the actual flexplate itself, are Mopars going to have to have SFI approved torque converters?

[Paul Precht]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I had a (somewhat) cordial discussion with my DTD at Numidia this weekend and would like to think that I made some inroads into this "all V8s" need an SFI flexplate thing.
I would like to think that this ruling will be aligned with the need for trans and flexplate shields based on E.T.s and not just an arbitrary ruling based off of a "million-to-one" incident.
And I've got a "Billy question" here, since this "issue" involved the starter ring gear and not the actual flexplate itself, are Mopars going to have to have SFI approved torque converters?

I wish I brought this up yesterday while we were talking with the Ford guys, what're their thoughts since they have a GM style flex plate.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I had a (somewhat) cordial discussion with my DTD at Numidia this weekend and would like to think that I made some inroads into this "all V8s" need an SFI flexplate thing.
I would like to think that this ruling will be aligned with the need for trans and flexplate shields based on E.T.s and not just an arbitrary ruling based off of a "million-to-one" incident.
And I've got a "Billy question" here, since this "issue" involved the starter ring gear and not the actual flexplate itself, are Mopars going to have to have SFI approved torque converters?

To get this important (to me at least) issue back up top, how do all of you 2V/302 FFFFord guys feel about having to spend time and monies putting an SFI flexplate on your cars that may not be as well built as your 50 year old stock unit? And you Mopar guys who don't even have a "starter ring gear" (the main "issue") to fail? Has a Mopar torque converter ever lost a ring gear?
Does NHRA know that a Div. 1 Racer who will go un-named lost a ring gear off of an SFI approved flexplate in Columbus last weekend? Why is that?
I personally believe that I would rather put my faith (and lower extremities) in a 50 year old GM piece over something imported from China! Especially in a 12.0 or slower car!

And NHRA, if you're going to continue pursuing this, when are you going to start with the SFI approved torque converters for the Mopars? If the ring gears really are the issue then it only seems right!

[Steve Stasko]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Has a Mopar torque converter ever lost a ring gear?

And That's Ironic…this photo was sent to me last week...

Edit...had pic problems.

If it saves one driver or car incident it’s a good rule. Those guys were very lucky..

[jmantle]

And I've got a "Billy question" here, since this "issue" involved the starter ring gear and not the actual flexplate itself, are Mopars going to have to have SFI approved torque converters?[/QUOTE]

Billy, I've never seen a ring gear come off a Mopar converter but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. I have seen the external balance weight come off one, pretty heavy chunk just held on be two spot welds. Made a mess of the case.

[L.Fite]

Billy, I've never seen a ring gear come off a Mopar converter but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. I have seen the external balance weight come off one, pretty heavy chunk just held on be two spot welds. Made a mess of the case.

So... enlighten me, because it never occurred to me, is the counterweight on the converter?...
If so... how do you guys balance your rotating assembly?

Haven't worked on many Chrysler products in my time, last was in the late 70s and not performance stuff...