SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024

[L.Fite]

So... if it's internal balance should be no big deal...
Just something to add to the winter freshen up...
External balance... I bet ATI or TCI or one of the other major manufacturers can match balance one for you if necessary...
It's not that great an expense in the grand scheme of things...
Remember... the toe you save may be you own...

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by L.Fite

So... if it's internal balance should be no big deal...
Just something to add to the winter freshen up...
External balance... I bet ATI or TCI or one of the other major manufacturers can match balance one for you if necessary...
It's not that great an expense in the grand scheme of things...
Remember... the toe you save may be you own...

and you race what?

[Tom Meyer]

On my sons IMCA dirt car with a mini clutch bolted to stock flywheel running hundreds of laps with out failure along with hundreds of other cars .We asked at the parts truck at the race track once after running over a tire infield, he said he never had anybody ask for one. My thoughts are run a sfi one and be safe, things are not made like they used to. Tom

[Mike Schwartz]

Has there been research on failure rates between two-piece flexplates with welded-on ring gears, and one-piece flexplates with "machined" gears?

[L.Fite]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

and you race what?

Since you asked...
Not currently racing, used to run Super Comp and Brackets.
Been around Pro Stock cars, (Pre Jellybean back when local guys could run) Comp cars, etc.

Have always had SFI flywheels on everything, since they became mandatory for what we were running, so I guess I'm used to it.
Never saw a flex plate explode but have seen one spit the weight off and go through the bell.
Saw balancers spit the ring off on the starting line back when stock balancers were still being used.

I've never argued about safety equipment.
All the rules we have, have mostly been a reaction to something bad happening (usually involving a death or serious injury, IE: window nets, 4' belts, blowproof bellhousings, SFI chassis)
Sadly, I've known personally some of the people involved in some of these incidents.

Been doing this since late 70s until life got in the way.
Now I have more time, so slowly trying to get a car put together.
I might not be up on all the latest stuff, but I intend to have fun.
I miss racing, but now we are down to one 1/8 mile track, so there's that...

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by L.Fite

Since you asked...
Not currently racing, used to run Super Comp and Brackets.
Been around Pro Stock cars, (Pre Jellybean back when local guys could run) Comp cars, etc.

Have always had SFI flywheels on everything, since they became mandatory for what we were running, so I guess I'm used to it.
Never saw a flex plate explode but have seen one spit the weight off and go through the bell.
Saw balancers spit the ring off on the starting line back when stock balancers were still being used.

I've never argued about safety equipment.
All the rules we have, have mostly been a reaction to something bad happening (usually involving a death or serious injury, IE: window nets, 4' belts, blowproof bellhousings, SFI chassis)
Sadly, I've known personally some of the people involved in some of these incidents.

Been doing this since late 70s until life got in the way.
Now I have more time, so slowly trying to get a car put together.
I might not be up on all the latest stuff, but I intend to have fun.
I miss racing, but now we are down to one 1/8 mile track, so there's that...

L.Fite, racing what you've been familiar with racing I agree with you're not arguing about safety equipment. I'm not talking about Pro Stock or S/C but I HAVE been talking about Brackets. What I am talking about is High 11/low 12 second and slower Stockers!
My DTD tells me that NHRA is trying to "align" the rules but that is absolutely not the case and not true. They claim to be "aligning" the rules with the Stick classes where a V8 must have an SFI shield and flywheel. As it is written now, a V8 automatic combo needs an SFI flexplate even in a 14 second car! The caveat being that a V8 automatic car doesn't need a transmission shield/blanket until 10.99! And it doesn't need a flexplate shield until 9.99! Where is the "alignment"?
A Bracket car doesn't need an SFI flexplate or any kind of shield until 9.99!
If there is any history of vast numbers of 11/12/14 second Stockers breaking flexplates, I don't know anything about it and I'm a pretty nosy guy.

Hey, get your butt in gear and get something together and come out and play! Time's short!

[ausby]

just ordered a pioneer flexplate for my big block. if i get 2 years out of it before i eat the teeth off im lucky. 65 bucks out of summit. whats a non sfi flexplate cost? 40$?

[Billy Nees]

When you get it please give us a picture of the "official" SFI tag on your flexplate.

[ausby]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

When you get it please give us a picture of the "official" SFI tag on your flexplate.

Looks like any other lol. But here it is.

[Lenny5160_v2]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

A Bracket car doesn't need an SFI flexplate or any kind of shield until 9.99!

General Regulations state that SFI 4.1 transmission shields are required at 10.99.

This thread did enlighten me to the fact that my low 10-second car does not require a current SFI flexplate. I've always kept them in-date.