Super Stock GT... new rules

[Ralph A Powell]

The Corvettes wheel base was to short for S/M!

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

It has never been legal to replace the steering box with a rack in SS/GT cars or change to tubular a-arms.

Incorrect! The old language that they deleted allowed for NHRA to approve aftermarket, NHRA accepted suspensions and read: "or utilize an NHRA-accepted front suspension"

I have seen copies of letters from NHRA allowing their use and even had a copy that I received from Alex Denysenko (RIP) of an NHRA letter allowing tubular arms on a late model Mustang.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

Well, That looks like all those cars that replaced gear boxes with Rack and Pinion steering and tubular lower control arms will be in the Chassis shops this winter.

With a stroke of a pen they basically killed previously approved aftermarket suspensions that NHRA had approved and had issued letters for their use.

[Hacksaw]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Incorrect! The old language that they deleted allowed for NHRA to approve aftermarket, NHRA accepted suspensions and read: "or utilize an NHRA-accepted front suspension"

I have seen copies of letters from NHRA allowing their use and even had a copy that I received from Alex Denysenko (RIP) of an NHRA letter allowing tubular arms on a late model Mustang.

That's news to me. Where is the approved NHRA accepted front suspension list published?

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

That's news to me. Where is the approved NHRA accepted front suspension list published?

There was no approved list. The racer would send pictures of the components, a description form the vendor website or catalog and NHRA would review it and if deem acceptable, they would issue a letter like they have done with many things.

Have you ever seen part numbers for SFI approved wheels on the accepted parts list? There are lots of parts that are accepted that are not on the list such as the Bump Steer ends that are allowed after many racers showed NHRA the danger and the tendency of the wheel of a car to steer itself after a wheelstand.

One of the problems with NHRA is that they perceive any request for the allowance of new parts as a performance advantage.

[Rory McNeil]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

It has never been legal to replace the steering box with a rack in SS/GT cars or change to tubular a-arms.

And yet I have see late 90s - early 2000s Camaro & Firebird STOCKERS that had replaced the OE steering box and linkage with a Ford rack & pinion unit. No idea how that ever was allowed.

[ss3011]

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

And yet I have see late 90s - early 2000s Camaro & Firebird STOCKERS that had replaced the OE steering box and linkage with a Ford rack & pinion unit. No idea how that ever was allowed.

1993 - 2002 Firebirds and Camaros had rack and pinion steering from the factory .

[1347]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

One of the problems with NHRA is that they perceive any request for the allowance of new parts as a performance advantage.

Many items that have nothing to do with safety, are argued as a safety item. I remember not that long ago someone trying to say that certain engine components were not for performance, but for economical and safety reasons. That's probably why NHRA perceives it that way

[Adger Smith]

Because of the R&P on the Gen 4's there were several Gen3's built and approved by a prior Tech group. I had personal experience and argument about it a few years ago.

[SSDiv6]

Originally Posted by 1347

Many items that have nothing to do with safety, are argued as a safety item. I remember not that long ago someone trying to say that certain engine components were not for performance, but for economical and safety reasons. That's probably why NHRA perceives it that way

Duane, I was not referring to engine components; I was referring to chassis components.

Many of the newer cars have stamped front crossmembers/cradles and lower control arms that are weak. The wheelstands will even weaken them more and if you notch them for big pans, they require lots of additional material to reinforce them.

It was a war for a Super Stock racer to get NHRA to approve the allowance of aftermarket bump steer kits for safety reasons and it was not until he showed a Tech Division director a car that was at the verge to have a failure that the tech department changed their mind.