Ol' Fart's Firebird Fantasy

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by oldskool

Yeah, I know of Wesley, since he use to be a div 4 tech director. But I don't actually know him. Even if he would talk to me, he would probably scare me off with his attention to detail !

I'm about an hour from Monroe.

I sold a couple of 283 stockers to the McIntosh clan form around the Calhoun-Ruston area and the Caldwell family raced for years out of Ruston. There are several others from Monroe, also. You best get accustomed to detail!

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

I sold a couple of 283 stockers to the McIntosh clan form around the Calhoun-Ruston area and the Caldwell family raced for years out of Ruston. There are several others from Monroe, also. You best get accustomed to detail!

I remember the name McIntosh, but right now can't quite remember the car they ran back then. I do know of the Cardwell family in Ruston. In fact I bought a set of used 9" slicks from them for one of my Stockers. Also, they built the '69 Tempest Stocker which I bought back in '09. I was surprised to hear that they built a Pontiac, since they had always run Chevy, as far as I knew.

The guy I bought the car from said they were going to try to race it, but could only get it down to within a tenth of the index, so they decided there was not enuff potential there to flog it any further, and sold it to him. Their choice of engines showed that they were not real Pontiac guys. I think they had always run mostly the 350 Chevy. So, they tried a 350HO Pontiac. But what they did not know is that there are lots of Pontiac engines with more potential because of a more favorable hp factor. The engine made 434hp on the dyno, but was not quite enuff for the combo. But hey, it sounded good and would have made a good bracket car.

That was just a little side trip there, for entertainment purposes.

Now, as for Wesley, I'm not ready for his level of scrutiny yet. When I get down to working out minor details, I may contact him.

The switchboard in the Tempest had Cardwell Motorsports printed on it.

[oldskool]

OK, I been reading the Stocker rules. One working head and tail light, engine/belt driven alternator, electric water pump and fans, all dash components, controls, etc, in place, at least one batt in stock location.

Ya'll check me. Am I correct so far ?

Didn't see wiring harness mentioned. So--question: can all stock wiring be removed from car and new wires added, only to necessary points ?

Thanks !

[Tony Corley]

Correct.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Tony Corley

Correct.

Thanks !

Next question--Subject: Rear End

The Stock section has only 2 paragraphs about the rear end.----Section 10A , page 6

REAR END
... Distance between backing plates may not
be changed. Any gear ratio that fits third-member case or housing permitted. Limited-slip or ratchet-type rear ends permitted. Reinforcement of spring perch permitted. Spools permitted only with aftermarket axles. Aftermarket axles not required for front-wheel-drive vehicles. Larger brakes may be used. Replacement rear end may be narrowed or widened to obtain original rear-end width. Bracing or beefing up the rear- end housing permitted...

It says that limited slip units may be used--axles and C-clip eliminators not mentioned with these.

Then it says spools are legal--only with aftermarket axles. Does not mention mini spools or C-clip elims.

Question: Is this covered in another section, like maybe general safety regulations or ? I'd heard that mini spools are not legal and all C-clip axles must use C-clip elims. So, what's the rule on this and where in the rule book is it found please ? Thanks !

[Tony Corley]

If you look at the bottom of the section you quoted, it refers you to General Regulations section 2:11 You can go there and read the rest of the rules regarding rearends, Basically states welded spider gears illegal, aftermarket axles and safety retention device required anytime spool is used, regardless of ET. Also lists all classes that require aftermarket axles and retention devices..... basically anything 10.99 or quicker. Otherwise C-Clips are legal.

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Tony Corley

If you look at the bottom of the section you quoted, it refers you to General Regulations section 2:11 You can go there and read the rest of the rules regarding rearends, Basically states welded spider gears illegal, aftermarket axles and safety retention device required anytime spool is used, regardless of ET. Also lists all classes that require aftermarket axles and retention devices..... basically anything 10.99 or quicker. Otherwise C-Clips are legal.

OK, thanks ! It appears that as long as you have any kind of posi unit, you can run even stock axles without C-clip elims, in the slower Stock classes.

2:11 REAR END
Welded spider gear rear ends prohibited in all classes. Fourwheel
drive permitted per class requirements. Aftermarket axles
and axle-retention device mandatory on Top Fuel, Funny Car,
Pro Stock, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, Comp,
Super Comp, Super Gas, Super Street, and 10.99 or quicker E.T.
cars; also mandatory on any car (regardless of class or E.T.) with
a spool.

We've run low 12's and high 11's without ever breaking an axle. So do any of you guys in these slower classes run Stock C-clip axles ? Or is it better to at least buy some that are a little stronger ?

I assume that Moser axles are one of the highest priced. I see several axles that are said to be stronger than stock. So, for anybody with a low budget build, what is the cheapest good quality axles that would be plenty strong for a high 12 - low 13 sec Stocker ?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ms...model/firebird

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-700116/overview/

Do all 8.5" ten bolt car rears have C-clip axles ? Anybody know if the 8.5 rear in a '77 Bonneville would have the same length axles as a '71-'81 F-body ? Or maybe a '73-'77 A-body ?

Some say a '77 wagon might have some odd ball rear--not an 8.5. Anybody know for sure ?