Submitting Parts for NHRA Stock/SS

[Sam Capizzi Jr]

I don't think the 4 valve relief piston will fly with nhra because it will make all the 800-1300$ Approved piston sets obsolete...

[FireSale]

There official posted NHRA process always seemed like it was intended for manufacturers to me as opposed to track level racers seeking to get a part on the list. A stock racer I know got a piston approved by sending them one to look over. They sent it back in a torn manila envelope... I'm sure there was a more to the process but CAD drawings and pre production prototypes weren't among them. Call the main office and ask. Then be prepared to call again.

Dale

[James L Miller]

I've reviewed the PDF already and came across this line in Paragraph 2.

"All fees and costs, if any, incurred by NHRA in determining whether to approve or disapprove the proposed changes to vehicle design or vehicle components shall be borne by the party submitting the items for review."

From the old 318s I tore apart years ago, the early ones had the four valve relief pistons. I think as they lowered the piston down the hole, the valve notches weren't needed anymore with the .390" lift cam and tiny duration. I don't think there are many people running the early 2bbl engines. I'm sure the smart guys are running the TQ in the late 1970s 318s. I have a 1969 Barracuda, don't have room for another car. It's an original 340 car, so I don't want to put a roll bar in it, so the 318 should put it in R/SA.
.

[James L Miller]

I also sent an e-mail to Tim White per the last line of the PDF.

"To submit a component for approval or for additional information please contact Tim White at twhite@nhra.com"

Thanks for all the info. If I hear from Tim, I'll post the reply.

[Alan Roehrich]

Good luck. I hope the process is far smoother for you than it was for me.

[James L Miller]

I got an e-mail back from Pat Cvengros. He said to mail the piston to him at NHRA. I'll put together a word document with the specs that Silvolite gave me and send it with the piston when I get it. Pat said there isn't a cost associated with it.

[James L Miller]

I finally got a piston from Silvolite to submit. I had originally requested a drawing (non-enigneering) because the NHRA process said they needed a drawing first and then the part. Silvolite didn't want to release a full engineering drawing, which is understandable, so they didn't send the piston. I e-mailed them back saying that NHRA didn't need the drawing after all.

The piston has four small notches in the top. They seem smaller than the OEM pistons as best as I can recall. I haven't seen an old 318 piston in 30 years, so maybe I remember them being bigger than they were. Not the prettiest piston in the world, but at $180/set they should do OK on a 318 2bbl engine. Now, I need to put all the paperwork together and send them off to NHRA to see if they will approve them. I'm thinking the pistons were used from 1967-1971 with the valve notches. Chrysler lowered the pistons in the bore starting in 1972. I'm thinking that's when they went to the flat top piston.