Lobby for aftermarket strut rods for stock

[Mark Yacavone]

Seeing that Stock is just a name now, let's see.

(If it was up to me, I would have never allowed any of this stuff)

Wheelie bars..Visible from the stands...Legal

Aftermarket seats...Visible from the stands, if not, from the staging lanes ...Legal

Aftermarket aerospace material lightweight brakes ... Visible through ultra lite wheels from the stands...Legal

Aluminum radiators with electric fans, no shroud, billet / electric water pumps, mini alternators tucked in underneath...Visible in the staging lanes...Legal

Bump steer kits, visible in most off the line shots...Legal

Aftermarket strut rods....not easily visible unless you crawl underneath...ILLEGAL

Tell me again...Who's running this operation?

[Dwight Southerland]

Mark -


If it's just appearance that concerns you, let's do F.A.S.T. racing then.

[MR DERBY CITY]

I hear you Mark, X 2. but remember some of these items are for SAFETY......not lite weight....LOL......M.J.

[Travis Miller]

Originally Posted by Capri

Travis, from day 1, they were approved for Stock and Superstock. It was not just "where someone showed up" with them on a stocker. This goes back to Vegas over 10 years ago.

And just where in the NHRA rulebook under Stock this is stated? Tell me what year it was printed so I can read it for myself. BTW I have the rulebooks back to 1958 and I cannot find where it is allowed in Stock. However I can find in the 2014 NHRA rulebook where, for the first time the S/S front suspension rule states..."Strut rods with heim joints or spherical bearings permitted." Once again, that wording only appears in S/S, not Stock and that wording first appeared in 2014.

[Bill Diehl]

Originally Posted by MR DERBY CITY

Hey guys, don't just settle for aftermarket strut rods. I just sent an e mail asking for rack and pinion for my camaro stocker. I am sick and tired of dealing with this prehistoric front suspension. You know it's getting harder and harder to find parts for these older cars.M.J.

I'd like a rack too!

[Eric Pearson AMX]

Hey guys, just to fill everyone in. The strut rods did not fail, the bushings did not fail, the mounts did not fail, the bolts holding the rear mount broke. We put new bolts in and welded the mount. Now we just need a new fender.

Eric & Scott Pearson

[Paul Wong]

Originally Posted by MR DERBY CITY

Hey guys, don't just settle for aftermarket strut rods. I just sent an e mail asking for rack and pinion for my camaro stocker. I am sick and tired of dealing with this prehistoric front suspension. You know it's getting harder and harder to find parts for these older cars.M.J.

When they combine stock and superstock they can have ported heads / any intake manifold too.

[Michael Iacono]

I had a strut rod break on me a few years back. No control at all and slammed the wall just after the finish line. Thank god I was in the left lane, otherwise I would have taken out the car in the other lane as well. The rod that broke was a replacement piece that was 2 years old. Lobbied for aftermarket rods back then and was told they were not allowed. I even sent the specs on the global west replacements to show what I would be using but they wouldn't let it fly.
It is purely a safety issue and the rule should be amended.

[james schaechter]

I agree that the strut rod should not be that controversial of a request. I would think that anyone that put a higher quality reproduction in place would not be hassled as long as it mounted the same way with the rubber bushing. It is more likely that what is really desired is the heim end for a more free movement up front correct?
If that is the case, is that heim end or spherical bearing front supposed to be what makes this safer or is just to help weight transfer?

We have strut rods on our Nova and they are as old as I am. Our car does not have as much travel in the front end as some and is a lighter car for sure. I would have no problem with aftermarket struts and several years ago, I sent a letter to Pat, but no change. We look at ours and they look ok, but who knows. It is strange where NHRA draws the line sometimes.
It is also curious to me how sometimes people wrap safety around a performance enhancement. I am sure it isn't easy to determine which thing it is from the tech departments view.

In our case, we can live with it either way.
And Tony, I love you man, but I just have to chuckle when you say that day one was only ten years ago....

[Ed Myers]

How about going back to the stock valve springs ? That would solve a lot of problems !!