Grossi and the Big Block

[Jeff Lee]

What's missing is the fact most racers wouldn't even bring out a new combo if it received an immediate (and assumably high) HP hit from NHRA. Take the 1994 LT1 F body for example. Factory rated at 275 HP, we all knew it would be a killer. We also knew there would be a learning curve on these FI engines. At 275 HP, it was worth the risk and hopefully the rewards would be great to the racer. What are they now? 326 HP or so? Had NHRA assigned 320+ HP to them in the begining, you wouldn't see nearly as many of them as you see today.
So I could make the argument that UNDERFACTORING is good.

I just brought to the attention an engine that's been raced and on the books since the '70's to another racer. He has dismissed the engine for his SS/GT project as "over factored" I brought it to his attention there was a revision to the compression several years ago and I thought it was worth a second look. He did and now he is building that engine. So that's an example of an "over factored" engine that maybe isn't so "over factored". I predict he'll be at the top of his class. But it will take going down the track first. And if it get's AHFS'd, then so be it. But I know sure as shinola he and I wouldn't discuss this engine if it was 20 HP higher based on some "what if" HP assignment by NHRA.

[Dick Butler]

SSDiv6 First I have reread my post and no where did I BLAME the racers. In fact I used the word Hero to describe the user of the classic "underfactor" method of building a new car.
Why limit the motors? No this does not have to do with the TOP/SS racing or TOP/STK racing. The opposite. AA/AH is the LIMITED class. Only Hemi cars..... TOP/SS and TOP/STK are for ALL BRANDS to race HEADS UP like CLASS but with MORE PEOPLE in the CLASS.
Factoring before they reach the track? What do you think a 350 chevy flat top motor with a 400 carb and heads should be if all factors are better than a 300 hp motor. Should it be 25 hp less or even or more?
What about an Injected 305 versus a carb motor? Notice I am speaking of chevy combos that have been overlooked in factor correction before they show up and then the begin to eliminate other motors as they are not agressively factored. That is not totally wrong but costly to keep changing to lower hp stuff...
Jeff. Weaker factor is how NEW cars get to be used by racers to do away with old stuff. Seems Nostalgia racing is regaining though.

[Brian Zenzen]

The heads up between grossi and stinnett was pretty interesting, at about 1700-2000ft da grossi's 9.08 was pretty impressive, but as it was said earlier stinnetts mph at almost 149 is pretty good for a 9.20, i wouldn't be surprised to see frank run a sub 9 second run later in the year

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by Brian Zenzen

The heads up between grossi and stinnett was pretty interesting, at about 1700-2000ft da grossi's 9.08 was pretty impressive, but as it was said earlier stinnetts mph at almost 149 is pretty good for a 9.20, i wouldn't be surprised to see frank run a sub 9 second run later in the year

148-149 MPH equates to an 8.85 to 8.91 right now, not later in the year! Grossi' has his car working right as his 145 and change MPH equates to a 9.05-9.10.

[RPinoski1]

If you look at some photos of Stinnets car on auto imagery.....He sometimes runs a big front spoiler looking thing that is not OEM on the front of his car. He may have had it on and tripped the beams with it....

[Racin Mason]

You are exactly right Rich. Stinnett does run a spoiler (not sure about the non-OEM issue) and he always gets bogus mph readings.

That motor in Grossi's car is SOOOOO underfactored that I bet Grossi will go out and run 8.80s in Pomona, get hit with 13 horsepower and still be the fastest AA car around. If anything, that car may work better with more weight in it.

So, given all the criticism and speculation, is it safe to say that a big block will work in a fwd conversion?

[SPS]

All this comes down to a woefully inadequate tech department. As was mentioned, they don't have a flow bench, dyno etc, nor the manpower to run them or analyze the data.

Hense we have engine combos like this (and the Ford, and LS1) that are allowed to run grossly underrated until and if they are factored.

If the weather stats are close to correct on Drag Race Central, Grossi's 9.073 is an 8.921 corrected. That takes close to 730 hp to go that fast. Talk about soooo underrated.

The tech department has to do a far better job in baselining these factors. This is why I suggested (idealistically) that a head be submitted and tested before a new combo be run.

FJ