? for the seasoned veterans out there

[BobUnkefer]

All this chatter about the new Challenger has me wondering about the new Camaro.

GM's early stats show the LS3 with 422 factory HP and a shipping weight of 3913 with an auto in the SS (3860 with a stick). Seems heavy to me, so is the stock Challenger, but the race package is coming in 800# lighter from what I understand.
How does manufacturer shipping weight compare against the numbers that eventually end up in the NHRA classification guide that are used to determien a cars actual class?
I know the engine HP factoring is sometimes subjective at best, but curious as to where this car will end up class wise.
Any thoughts or discussion? I know several of you are ready to roll, just wondering what the thought process is.

Thanks,

Unk

[countrypuppy4865]

Bob,
If the horsepower and shipping weight you stated is correct 3913lbs/422hp = 9.275 (natural C car)
3860/422 = 9.147 (natural C car). So, in both cases with those respective shipping weights and that horsepower rating that would put them as a natural C car.

[Chuck Norton]

Good morning, Bob,

Hope things in Liberty are comfortable this weekend. If memory serves, it might just be warm and a little muggy in God's country today?

As far as I have been able to tell, the shipping weight number submitted by the manufacturer is the one that gets put into the book There haven't been instances in my recollection in which shipping weights are changed. Manufacturer horsepower figures are obviously adjusted but shipping weight seems to have been a constant over the years. There are some questionable figures out there. For example, how many people actually took delivery of a 1997 LT1 Firebird that weighed 3011 pounds?

Most of the time, factory claimed horsepower figures were used at the outset. There was a time when LT1 Firebirds were running as far down the scale as I/SA! There are plenty of examples that illustrate the liberal use of imagination in the submission of engine specs and horsepower ratings to NHRA. Rumor has it that there may even have been some honest mistakes along the way.

c

[Chuck Norton]

Jimmy,

I wouldn't go to the bank on the probability that the engine combinations certified for the NHRA Classification Guide bear more than a passing resemblance to the engines sold in Challengers on the showroom floor in terms of horsepower ratings and equipment. There are so many compromises in a production car besides the weight that it only makes sense to me that they would make improvements in areas such as induction systems and more. For example, I'm sure that the LT1 cars would run more efficiently if the factory had included an option for a single plane intake manifold that put the throttle body over the center of the engine instead of at one end.

Since they're starting with a clean design sheet to make a car specifically for Stock Eliminator drag racing, why not really do it right? That's the way it was done back in 1968 and it worked pretty well.

c

[BobUnkefer]

c

Well, your memory is till working quite well........ warm & muggy has been the call for the last week or so, looking forward to seeing you out west later this year.

Pup,
That's what I was reading into the calculation too, I just wasn't sure if the stated numbers always ended up the same in the classification guide. See you all @ Red River.
BTW, thanks for the feed @ Memphis....whatever it was, it was good!

:-)

Unk

[Dwight Southerland]

Chuck, I know of one instance when Chevrolet changed the shipping weight on the '69 350-255hp equipped cars. The manufacturers used to submit their specifications to the Automobile Manufacturers Association. That included shipping weights. NHRA used to get their weights from that source. The AMA went kinda de-funked in the 1970s so the numbers are now submitted directly to NHRA.

[Chuck Norton]

Dwight,

Just goes to show, never say "never!" Now we know that it has happened at least once.

Talked to my brother in LR this afternoon. Weather where he is doesn't sound much more promising than Liberty, MO.

c

[Dwight Southerland]

Chuck -

Nope. Triple digits the last three days, plus the normal 50-70 % humidity.

Are you coming this way any time soon??

Dwight

[Chuck Norton]

Since I have family in Hot Springs and LR, anything is possible at some point in time. I'd say that this summer is pretty much an outside chance. Some of the reasons for making cross-country trips have lost their luster.

c