Flat tappet lifter failure

[Terry Cain]

Originally Posted by 1347

But for every new rule change, such as a roller lifter change, it would bring in a cost that those with money would excel, and those without would be farther behind the gap.

Pretty sure it already has. Can you say Dragpac, Cobrajet, or Copo?

[Rob Petrie E395]

Ok please don’t roast me. I’m just asking/learning. Say you have 2 cars that fall in the same class. One is a factory roller combo. One is a flat tappet combo. If you give the flat tappet guy a roller cam. Didn’t you just give him a way to make more power? A roller cam can run a more aggressive ramp and way more spring pressure. How do you even that out? Please don’t say AHFS. You can’t just pull a number out of your behind either. Because not every combo will pick up the same. So you can’t just throw “X” hp on everybody that switches. Then do you make everybody switch to a roller cam even if they don’t have trouble with flat tappets? Or do you have 2 factors in the book. One for flat tappet one for roller. Or do you knock hp off all the factory roller cam combos. Then again how much? Sounds like a big ol can of worms. Where no matter what someone is going to like it. And others won’t.

For the record. Full disclosure. My junk is slow. I didn’t race it much before I got hurt working and had to stop racing. I didn’t plan to be off this long. But I have bought a BUNCH of parts to get faster if I can ever get back in the car. My combo is a factory roller. But no matter what they decide. I’ll probably get my as handed to me in a heads up race. So it doesn’t matter one way or another for me. So I’ll keep my opinion to myself. But I’ve read a few of these threads now. And I always wonder how you’d make it even.

Just like the approved heads, you’ll pay a penalty. That could be a costly penalty.
Butttttt NHRA has already signaled on this one.

[Rob Petrie E395]

Originally Posted by Barry Polley

Just like the approved heads, you’ll pay a penalty. That could be a costly penalty.
Butttttt NHRA has already signaled on this one.

Ya that’s what I kind of figured. But that’s a lot of different combos to figure out how many hp they get hit with for switching to a roller. Then do they make everyone change or have 2 factors flat &roller. We know NHRA is trying to cut labor costs. Look at tech. My bet is it’s a combination of the complaints that will follow and labor costs. Are what’s stopping them more than letting stock slip away a little more.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Barry Polley

Just like the approved heads, you’ll pay a penalty. That could be a costly penalty.

Yeah, let's take a look at how THAT turned out. The original intent of that ruling was that certain (yes certain not all) combos could use an "approved aftermarket aluminum head" with a 10 HP penalty. However, after the ruling went through "someone" in the NHRA Ivory Tower decided that they should be considered different combos when it came to the AHFS. Now there are combos where the aftermarket head is factored less than the original head. How'd that happen? No more flat 10 HP penalty, different combo.

[Stan Weiss]

It will come down to you have to computer register and answer a number of questions and the computer will give you your HP / weight. Now lets say you hurt that engine and show up with your backup engine which has different heads, cam etc., just imagine the fun when you get to the track and try and change your entry.

Stan

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

It will come down to you have to computer register and answer a number of questions and the computer will give you your HP / weight. Now lets say you hurt that engine and show up with your backup engine which has different heads, cam etc., just imagine the fun when you get to the track and try and change your entry.

Stan

Maybe it'll all come down to the "data loggers" in our cars just "talking" to the NHRA computer through our laptops and everything will be just fine. ;-)

[Coleydog]

And the whole problem can be eliminated by no more heads up racing from same class when 90% or more of the other runs are a dial your own number inside the index. One can put millions of $$ in a car and it will mean nothing but show off. Talk about bringing the costs down here’s the answer. Rome is burning and most are blind to it.

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Yeah, let's take a look at how THAT turned out. The original intent of that ruling was that certain (yes certain not all) combos could use an "approved aftermarket aluminum head" with a 10 HP penalty. However, after the ruling went through "someone" in the NHRA Ivory Tower decided that they should be considered different combos when it came to the AHFS. Now there are combos where the aftermarket head is factored less than the original head. How'd that happen? No more flat 10 HP penalty, different combo.

I agree the head and improvements far outweigh the HP.

[Terry Cain]

Just like the lifter rule change I would like to see because of failure (not because of performance) alot of the Super Stock guys wanted heads that were not leakers and not necessary faster.