Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners

Dick Butler · 04-19-2008, 10:47 AM

Chris, You are correct. If Carbon fiber Pontiac fenders, doors and hoods are legal because they have a mesh basis but recognized as lighter I am sure the reality of allowing Fiber glass subsitiutes for Aluminum parts can be argued fairly... It seems to have been an issue but would be a great upgrade to the rules S and SS as cost and availability problems are not limited to motors or trans parts.... This is a much more severe problem for these great cars....

Bill Belden · 04-19-2008, 11:50 AM

I thought I read somewhere that IHRA allows fiberglass replacements for the aluminum on the mopars due to the rareity

Jeff Lee · 04-19-2008, 01:50 PM

I'm all for steel in lieu of aluminum, i.e., heavier replacement parts, not lighter replacement parts. The problem you run into when allowing fiberglass replacement parts is fiberglass turns into carbon fibre. The argument will be " well it's mesh, same difference". And once you allow this then every fiberglass hood ever produced (T/A Challenger, T/A Pontiac, W-30 Olds, etc.) now has a standard to go by and subsequently can cut hood weight in half. Those racers would then have an advantage over their competitors. I imagine all the SS/AH cars are carbon-fiber'ed instead of fiberglass'ed as per OEM but they have their own seperate class and they only have to deal with each other.
Glad to see NHRA is at least looking at these issues. We had aluminuim (non-OEM) radiators addressed this year, now they're looking at fenders and such, now NHRA should pay more attention to racers with fiberglass front bumpers being used in lieu of the (heavy) endura bumpers their cars had as an option.

Dick Butler · 04-19-2008, 05:55 PM

Jeff, Sorry but tap on the fender of the next Late model Firebird Stocker you see and decide if it is original or Carbon fiber....

04-19-2008, 06:38 PM

I don't see what the big deal is about running steel in place of aluminum. To me it is more original to let them run steel instead of fiberglass. They built 64's with steel not fiberglass. It will always be said that the Hemi's are getting away with more. It has been that way for over 30 years in most peoples eyes and will continue for years to come. As they say people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks! maybe NHRA should look around at non hemi cars!

Paul Precht · 04-19-2008, 07:21 PM

The fact that some of the cars were sold with steel noses and the aluminum parts were avail over the counter says it all, you should be allowed to run either one, Paul.

SSDiv6 · 04-19-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Butler

Jeff, Sorry but tap on the fender of the next Late model Firebird Stocker you see and decide if it is original or Carbon fiber....

Yes, you can tell the difference between Carbon Fiber and Fiberglass in many ways.

Jeff Lee · 04-19-2008, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick Butler

Jeff, Sorry but tap on the fender of the next Late model Firebird Stocker you see and decide if it is original or Carbon fiber....

New one on me! The factory had an impact resistant plastic material, didn't they?

Dick Butler · 04-20-2008, 06:51 AM

Jeff, Yes But....my impression is it wasnt the lightest form of stuff available.The important thing in the end is allow the 64 cars to run steel or glass or but be reasonable about body parts costs as you would be about old heads, carbs or.....The cars must weigh correct wt to run. They are an important part of S and SS.
Dick

chris ok · 04-20-2008, 08:37 AM

no disrespect to the slower cars but hemis, big blocks, vintage race cars et all will help put customers in the stands and turn said customers into fans. regular fans will become fanatics and in turn help keep a most sacred class of drag racing alive and well.
people want to see the fast classes, wheelies and more heads up races. nhra must remember its roots before they are pulled from the ground. hemis thunderbolts cobra jets L88's copos give the racers a way to show these cars, they may help sagging sales to our big 3. fans see their favorite cars brands win on sunday, buy a new or used car or suv on monday. true to their hearts. Last but not least these cars are american history and need to be kept in some spotlight so future generations will appreciate our past.

04-19-2008, 10:47 AM	#1
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners Chris, You are correct. If Carbon fiber Pontiac fenders, doors and hoods are legal because they have a mesh basis but recognized as lighter I am sure the reality of allowing Fiber glass subsitiutes for Aluminum parts can be argued fairly... It seems to have been an issue but would be a great upgrade to the rules S and SS as cost and availability problems are not limited to motors or trans parts.... This is a much more severe problem for these great cars....

04-19-2008, 11:50 AM	#2
Bill Belden Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: York, PA Posts: 241 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners I thought I read somewhere that IHRA allows fiberglass replacements for the aluminum on the mopars due to the rareity __________________ Bill Belden Retired Stock Eliminator [emailSTK1100@comcast.net[/email]

04-19-2008, 01:50 PM	#3
Jeff Lee VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Anthem, Arizona Posts: 2,766 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners I'm all for steel in lieu of aluminum, i.e., heavier replacement parts, not lighter replacement parts. The problem you run into when allowing fiberglass replacement parts is fiberglass turns into carbon fibre. The argument will be " well it's mesh, same difference". And once you allow this then every fiberglass hood ever produced (T/A Challenger, T/A Pontiac, W-30 Olds, etc.) now has a standard to go by and subsequently can cut hood weight in half. Those racers would then have an advantage over their competitors. I imagine all the SS/AH cars are carbon-fiber'ed instead of fiberglass'ed as per OEM but they have their own seperate class and they only have to deal with each other. Glad to see NHRA is at least looking at these issues. We had aluminuim (non-OEM) radiators addressed this year, now they're looking at fenders and such, now NHRA should pay more attention to racers with fiberglass front bumpers being used in lieu of the (heavy) endura bumpers their cars had as an option. __________________ Jeff Lee 7494 D/S '70 AMX

04-19-2008, 05:55 PM	#4
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners Jeff, Sorry but tap on the fender of the next Late model Firebird Stocker you see and decide if it is original or Carbon fiber....

04-19-2008, 06:38 PM	#5
J Oliverio Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners I don't see what the big deal is about running steel in place of aluminum. To me it is more original to let them run steel instead of fiberglass. They built 64's with steel not fiberglass. It will always be said that the Hemi's are getting away with more. It has been that way for over 30 years in most peoples eyes and will continue for years to come. As they say people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks! maybe NHRA should look around at non hemi cars!

04-19-2008, 07:21 PM	#6
Paul Precht Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Elysburg, Pa Posts: 733 Likes: 367 Liked 327 Times in 121 Posts	Re: Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners The fact that some of the cars were sold with steel noses and the aluminum parts were avail over the counter says it all, you should be allowed to run either one, Paul.

04-20-2008, 06:51 AM	#9
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,196 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners Jeff, Yes But....my impression is it wasnt the lightest form of stuff available.The important thing in the end is allow the 64 cars to run steel or glass or but be reasonable about body parts costs as you would be about old heads, carbs or.....The cars must weigh correct wt to run. They are an important part of S and SS. Dick

04-20-2008, 08:37 AM	#10
chris ok Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Long Island, New york Posts: 592 Likes: 131 Liked 46 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Just a heads-up for all 1964 race hemi owners no disrespect to the slower cars but hemis, big blocks, vintage race cars et all will help put customers in the stands and turn said customers into fans. regular fans will become fanatics and in turn help keep a most sacred class of drag racing alive and well. people want to see the fast classes, wheelies and more heads up races. nhra must remember its roots before they are pulled from the ground. hemis thunderbolts cobra jets L88's copos give the racers a way to show these cars, they may help sagging sales to our big 3. fans see their favorite cars brands win on sunday, buy a new or used car or suv on monday. true to their hearts. Last but not least these cars are american history and need to be kept in some spotlight so future generations will appreciate our past.