Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Do you need the exact year of the seat to match the car. Dodge's and Plymouth racers do you prefer the high back or low back seats?

Herb Jr

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

That issue became a non-issue once NHRA placed it in the rule book as "factory type". That's about as vague as you can get. The seats in my AMX when raced in Stock were from a "Renault Le Car Ralley" as Renault once was a partner with AMC. :rolleyes:

Now that this AMX is a Super Stocker, I have the same seats and they look very similar to a Porche 911 ;)

And I have never sat in a drag race car with a better fitting seat. Found them in a wrecking yard front office for $100 each and the upholstry was great!

Food for thought; I've always thought what looked best was the period correct look. In other words, a '70 Challenger high back just doesnt look right in a '68 GTS and the opposite is true. If your building a '70+ mopar, a cheap very light high back seat is an Omni or other K car. Also take a look at a VW Rabbit or similar. You can pull springs and hardware out of some of these import seats and have a 15#-18# seat with solid mounting (which is legal).

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

so, this american i'm building (for stock) can run a pair of buckets?
i'd love to replace the split bench reclining seats that're in it now....

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

There is a grey area here I think.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Herb,
I'll go along with Jeff on this one. We ran a Nova the last couple years in stock. It had buckets from a mid nineties Camaro in it. Very nice seats with factory type upholestry on them. We took the rule as Jeff did it says factory type. Technically they are a factory seat so should be legal by their definition. We were teched at one national last year and a couple national opens over the last two years and not once did they ever even comment about it.
I like the having the correct seat for the car but if the seat is upholestered with factory type material and the seat isn't made from plastic or aluminum I don't see the harm.

Rick Ryan

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

I don't think they would want to see bucket seats in something like a 2 dr Biscayne, or worse yet ,in a 4 dr. But then again, who knows, nowadays.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

I am building a Dakota stocker and among the questions I asked tech when I called them was about the seats...since some were built with bucket seats they didn't have a problem with any type seat I wanted to put in it as long as it had some type of upholstery on it....

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Here's question for you guys? I'm 6'5" and with helmit on, my head is cocked sideways and up against roof of car. I'm trying to figure out what I'm going todo to fix problem. With factory seat there's not really anything I can do to lower seat. At least I don't think. And I don't recall them having recline seats for camaro.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

What about a seat out of a late model pickup? They go pretty low and most now are 7 way adjustable. Just a thought. Jim

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

I could put some upholstery on a Kirkey, is that legal?

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Ok here is what happened.

We ran our coronet wagon at 3 races with 2 different sets of seats. The car came with a low back seat with a head rest. We put a High back Duster/Dart seat in it with a high back. Below are the weights.

High Back 42 lbs each 84 lbs total
Low back 34 lbs each 68 lbs total

Bench 59 lbs total

We figured the high back was a little safer and since you have a head rest if you did crash well that was our thinking. You could order a Coronet with a Bench or Buckets with a factory center console with a floor shifter. But the bucket was a lower seat.

After a racer told the tech people at Rockingham I had the wrong seats in the car i got approached this weekend at Piedmont and was told to find the right seats. My dad can fabricate anything so a head rest is no problem, I'm running a seat that is heavier than anything else I could run. It would take a die hard mopar guy to know the difference in these seats. I dont care what we run, we have purchased 4 sets of Mopar buckets in the past 3 months anyway, but at 200.00 per seat to get covered this isnt cheap. So know what do you think about your fellow racer that is going to nick pick my stocker. He better bring his gaskets to Jackson and Darlington, Ill double the 500 I wasted having seats redone and see his piston and rod just for the HELL of it. :D

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

If your looking for a set of bucket seats with a head rest, take a look
at a 2004/2005 Dodge Stratus. I picked up a set out of a Stratus
and they are lighter than stock 74 duster seats, they have an adjustable
headrest and even though it is not usable with a roll bar they tilt back.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

On the 67 chevy II we are working on we cut 1/2" out of the front legs and 1" out of the rear legs of the stock tracks and welded them back together. doesnt sound like much but it will get you down in the car some.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

i like the way you think;)

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

The funny thing is I looked at 8 stockers on Saturday and mentioned it to a few racers, only one had the correct year seats for the body type. So who knows what the rule is. I guess I just need to put the low back seat in it.

Herb Jr

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Herb,
I'll bet your dad backs me on this, you need to be a little more assertive. When questioned, throw it back at them. The book says "factory type". To that you respond "it doesn't say correct application for make, model & year" (as do other area's in the book). Really, this is not a grey area. The purpose, I believe, is to keep Kirky or dune buggy type seats out. If you really do have "factory type" seats (which you do), put the one in you want.

I had several racers gang up on my AF/S car because I had to flush the street fuel out of it to pass fuel tech. It didn't help I was taking #1 spot from them. Tech approached me and said I could only tech fuel after a run. I pulled out a rule book, showed them it said "racer may check fuel at any time" and thanked them for their time and asked them to show the rule that everybody could also follow. Gotta know the rule book inside and out!

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Hell,I'd put that ol' bench back in it for the nitpickers.But if it were me,and I wanted to push the "factory look" rule(and I'd want to),I would install a set of Dodge Van buckets from a mid 80's van.Lightweight and A body seat tracks will bolt right up.These usually have a checkerboard pattern,and are light blue or tan in most cases,but I just dyed mine black with SEM vinyl dye.If they weigh 20lbs I would be surprised.

And I like the low back seats better,just my personal preference.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

In the spirit of Stock Eliminator,it is beyond me how rules like this changed over the years.

( I do believe you are definately reading the rulebook correctly,Jeff.)

Logic defies me as to how it would be illegal to use a lightweight seat that was designed for a race car,but it is legal to use lightweight (factory)seats out of a VW Rabbit in a 1970 442 Convertible?

I am more of a purest ,which is why I will never remove my factory bucket seats that were made by Oldsmobile (RIP).They are EXTREMELY heavy,but they did come in the car in 1970.(Stock)

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Ill decide how to handle this with IHRA tomorrow. Probably an email with all pictures. It doesnt hurt that I have a 67 Chrysler parts book with exploded pictures. I can bring my parts books and have fun.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Jr, sounds to me like someone has a hard on for you and lil brother. It is truly a gray area in the rule book. Keep us posted. Mike

Mike Galuk
JOE COOL RACING
STOCK-2000

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

This is B.S. considering how many incorrect parts are allowed. For example, hood scoops from different brand vehicles, wrong year model body panels for year claimed, etc. I've got a set of low back Dodge bucket seats I'll give you if that's what you need to be legal. Call me.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

How about if they start matching serial #'s to what body you are claiming, example= 69 camaro ss body with non matching serial #. (probably was a 6 cyl from factory. 1/2 the cars would be thrown out on just that icluding mine.there are a lot of cars out there that don't match. Makes no diff to me ,but if this nit -picking gets started there will be just a lot of " HIGH DOLLAR " bracket cars.How many real Hemi's do you think are really out there ,not many. I will be looking me a 6 banger to go in mine just to run stock.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

I took out lighter seats to go with something I thought was safer. For whatever reason, I don't feel safe sitting on a bench seat in a race car. Granted we're going a blistering 7.50's at 90mph, but I still don't like it. We went to heavier seats and have people complaining. The funny part, we are not fast for our class. It's not like I'm knocking on the top of the ladder sheet. All of the upgrades we've done to the car, were about safety. If you look at the cage my dad put in this car, you'd swear we're running 5's. It's probably safer than the SS car we have haha. If this were over something that gave a performance advantage, I'd totally understand. We just want to go to the track and have fun. Any board member that has met me knows that is all I care about. I'm not out there trying to qualify number 1 or screw up a factoring.

It won't be hard to figure out who caused all this drama. I can't imagine people outside of my class range are going to care, for obvious reasons. I just wish they would have come up and talked to me rather than being a taddle tale, are we 12 now? Sometimes it is best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

I thought the "He's got the wrong trim on the car!" stuff went away decades ago. :confused: Yah, we don't need Kirkey or Jaz seats in Stockers, or even late-model seats in old cars, but this sounds like it's going a little overboard -- similar era and make of seats sound okay.

I like the stock bench seat in my Volare. I still use the full 5-way harness, so that's not an issue, and it has headrests.

$.02,

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

rather than being a taddle tale, are we 12 now?

this guy said taddle tale.....mike you are crazy....sounds like some people just have to much time on there hands to look at your car..rather than winnig rounds like your doing....its amazing people will do this type of stuff....i could care less what seat someone has in there car...plus i wouldn't know the difference anyway....see in a few weeks mike..

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Herb, Am I reading this correctly? You were using bucket seats in a station wagon?

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Yes we had bucket seats in a station wagon. They made 15 383/4 speed wagons, which I'm 95% sure came with buckets.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Sorry if this is a little off topic, but what about interior color...I know it sounds kinda crazy.

I am building a FWD stocker to run in A/FS, using an Omni GLH Turbo as a starting point, and running the car as a Shelby version (GLH-S)

Now, the Shelby GLH-S only came with one color interior, gray.
Could the car conceivably be bounced if I had, say, a red interior?

Would the guys who tech for NHRA even know it's not correct?

Sorry if I hijacked your thread.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Mike, Without researching this, I'm 95 % certain they DIDN'T come that way. I've never seen a 60's 4dr car, or station wagon with factory bucket seats. Therein lies your problem. If I were teching stockers, not bracket cars, ...I would expect to see a straight, fixed back, bench seat in that car. It seems pretty clear, in this instance, what the rule book means by factory type seats. The book has to be looked at in the spirit of stock appearing automobiles, not any OEM factory seat. How about a Crosley seat then? King Midget?

http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/Cr...et-Series3.jpg

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Mark do you know Galen Glovier, well he is the guy who has decoded all these mopar cars and can tell you exactly how many of each car was made with what. I also have a full set of Mopar Parts books from the early 60's to the mid 70's.

I also have a picture of a wagon with a full center console and buckets. So if we want to get technical then that is fine I really dont care. BUT, why dont we quit the bullshhhhht and start racing.

Herb Jr

BTW, There are a few racers who need to wear IHRA uniforms as much time as they spend in the tech trailer bitching about other racers stuff.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

[QUOTE=Mark Yacavone;120093]Mike, Without researching this, I'm 95 % certain they DIDN'T come that way. I've never seen a 60's 4dr car, or station wagon with factory bucket seats.

Hi Mark,
Sorry, but Chrysler would build whatever the customer wanted back in "the good old days". As a perfect example, there is a 66 Chrysler 300 4 door advertised on the Raleigh, N.C. Craigslist today with factory bucket seats, console, and shifter in the floor. There are excellent pictures of the car and interior. The owner is in Virginia Beach, Va. and his number is 757-348-9924.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Oh,

I thought that you guys where talking about Stock Eliminator type racing, but then I found out that it's IHRA Stock Eliminator type racing.

Never mind,
Bob

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Here are my issues....I purchased my Dakota new in '92 to drag race...they made them legal for stock shortly after so I planned to eventually to make it "class legal"....time and money and a divorce got away from me but I kept racing it and slowly modifying it.....I have called Glendora several times over the years to check legal mods based on Dakota stockers I have taken pictures of over the years....between shock mounting to rear axle assemblies to several other items I don't believe at this point there is one Dakota in stock that according to what I am told is legal by definition, yet they pass tech....Glendora a couple times had to call the field techs to find out how they were policing a couple things and get back to me and tell me NO, I can't do that.....all I want to do is get out and run some divisional and nationals and the last thing I want is to get bounced from tech....there seems to be a sort of " good ole boys " club and if you aren't one of them there is a different set of rules for you, the magnifying glasses come out and you have to bend over and grab your ankles....

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Hey Bob you going to Indy in K/SA. I hope so.


Well lets see I will name the cars that didnt have the right seats that did run the Division One race at VA 2 weeks ago, some ran atlanta and a few are racing Bristol. The racers are going to love you for that comment.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Yep, I've heard of him (it's Govier) , and I'm sure he saw atleast 2 or 3 cars like that. The point is though, most tech people and racers have never seen any. So now you'll have to document those rare cars to make your case .
Why don't you just run the lighter bench seat?
Oh, and BTW, it's not BS to try to save what's left of Stock Eliminator.
Good luck

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

There is almost nothing left of stock. My dad has a Chrysler with 4 buckets, and front and rear consoles. Its a Chrysler 300. The Bench is lighter just a low back thats all.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Herb,

You can put an A-body bench w or w/o head rest and save some weight, A-bodies from the mid 70's offer benches with integral headrests. You will need to make some kind of seat brackets as they sit lower than B-bodies.

Jim R

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

I dont care about weight. The car has alot of weight in it to get to 3745. It will have a 383 in KSA and SSLA by next year.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

That will be a super nice ride with a 383 in it.

Re: Question about seats in a Stocker
 

Hi Herb,

No Indy for us this year (unless my lotto ticket wins) too many money issues.

We always liked going to Indy because that's the place for show & tell.

We are a bunch of old school guys who like class racing, but it's getting more difficult, with the quotas and the economy, to have multiple cars in your class. There are way too many class wins that are singles and that's not the fault of the racer, it's just the system that we race under.

In 2004 when we went to Indy, Topeka & Earlville, we towed a total of 6,400 miles and spent 3 weeks on the road. Now you see why we have to win the Lotto.

Maybe next year?

Bob
A & M Motorsports