Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

Sad depending on your POV, but very true!

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

Not a Stocker...but, I'll leave this gem here from this morning. The original poster was recently spectating at Heartland Park, and got excited about potentially making his car fit in S/S. Not sure if the commenter even races a Stock/SS car? Sometimes, I think that some of you are your own worst enemy to sustainability though.

Props to Daren and Jeff Lee for trying to *actually* help this guy though...

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

I was a gear head that enjoyed cars way before I could drive..My mentor was "Sunday Sunday Sunday! Now a days you have no clue there is a dragstrip near. No advertizing and most race cars stay in a travel case white box these days. I'm sure like most commenting here, at 20 you had plenty of get up and go. I also wasn't thinking retirement at that age.

Paul

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

This is a well-timed post. I remember a thread years ago where a guy was looking at building a 305 Camaro stocker. It devolved into "you need this, you need that, it's $30k for a competitive engine and you'll probably still be dead in a heads-up race against the Butchers, etc..." I'm guessing he never ended up building a stocker.

There's something to be said for ensuring Joe Newbie knows what he's getting into. But obsessing over the exorbitant costs of the tips and tricks that take a -0.50 stocker into a -1.20 stocker is ultimately detrimental. That's no knock on my heroes that relentlessly pursue those few extra hundredths - the point is simply that many Joe Newbies will certainly read overly-negative posts like that FB comment and decide "screw it, I'm just gonna buy the 88mm turbo LS setup that PozQB wrote about, that's a better idea and sounds like more fun!"

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

Joe NB was back at work today, after missing a day to nurse that bump on his head, after hitting the deck.

Hey VR, I got some good news today. There's an old timer at work that used to do a bunch of Stocker heads back in the 70's. He said he'll do my 520 T's for me . He's still got all the stones to put a nice 3 angle valve job on them.
VR> Sorry kid, but you'll need to take them to someone with a Sunnen or Serdi valve and guide machine, that has all the cutters to do the job that's now legal. That Kadar guy will do a good job for you.
NB> What does he need cutters for?
VR> Well, now they allow any cuts that come off the guide centerline, like down in the valve pocket , along the edge of the chamber, and even the valve seat can be as wide as you want , with however many angles you want. Basically, the rules are now, the chamber size can't be under spec, the ports can't be over the spec size, and you can't mill the intake side as far as the valve bolt holes, to reduce the intake port volume.
Of course , you can't leave any evidence of " enhancement" ;-)

NB> "Enhancement" ?

VR> Let me tell you a little story.
About 30 some odd years ago, some guys started to use acid to make the ports bigger, for more air flow. Some would actually hand port the head ,and then sand blast the ports so you wouldn't see any grind marks.
Some of the racers felt that this was getting out of hand, fast, and it would just drive up the cost of building a Stocker and keep new guys , such as yourself from building their own entry level cars.
A veteran tech man from Louisiana, one of the best they had, wanted to put a stop to this stuff, and develop a chemical test to detect acid work in the ports and intake.
NHRA said no way. They didn't want to get involved with any judgement calls , for fear of a lawsuit. So, they came up with the port spec , and no grind marks deal.
I don't think I've ever heard of anyone getting tossed for port work, in many years.

NB> Wow. Do all the fast guys have these enhancements?
VR> I ain't sayin' nothin' about nobody!
NB> That doesn't sound like "stock" to me.
VR> Now yer catchin' on, kid. It's just a name out of the distant past...

TBC

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

Nick, That's a valid point. But those who know me, realize that I usually call 'em like I see 'em. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything, just to get new guys hooked into Stock Eliminator.
I didn't create these "rules". I just want to make newbies aware of them.

I've made several posts on the dime rockets threads, encouraging guys to build their own T 200s, fill their own blocks, build their own headers, etc.

Billy will also tell you that many of these guys that we've tried to guide,..well, you never hear from them again. My guess is the realized how deep they were getting in, and had to back out.

After I wrap this up, we'll have plenty of time to kick it around.
Thanks

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

Of course! Never meant to dispute the "rules" or the honesty - I guess this was aimed at the FB comment above. It doesn't provide any critical thought or present any reason to pursue getting into S/SS. There's a difference between being helpful and honest (such as "Mr. VR") vs. being negative and exaggeratory.

Anyway, carry on - I'm enjoying the novel so far!

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

This thread reminds me of the autumn green stick nova build. Now I believe cost was not an issue but would love to hear their thoughts and feedback on jumping into stock with a new build. The cost involved and all the issues they ran into and of course why she lost interest….

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

Jump to end of story: Racer NB finally decides to build the same car into a bracket racer that's quicker than the car would be in Stock at 2/3 the cost and goes on the circuit chasing $5 to 10000-to win purses at the same entry fees. Whether he feels the same satisfaction remains to be seen.

Re: Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023
 

NB has been busy lately. He buys a gallon of pure white acrylic and hardener from Summit. The bodyman at work offers to spray the Chevy in his home spray booth

VR has been assembling the 283 during after work hours.

NB gets a cash advance on a credit card and buys a used open trailer from Craigslist

He takes apart his original 4GC carburetor and cleans all the parts.
He stops by VR's place after work..
Hey buddy, I found these pics on the net, The first one looks just like mine, but the second one is different down inside. What's legal to do to these things?
https://i.postimg.cc/59wKZYn8/cid-CAM00305.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/284QkMtt/1209em...-283-chevy.jpg
VR> Glad you asked. You used to have to run the original 66 boosters, or venturi clusters as they're sometimes called. The exact same part number. The ones with the small center hole in the pressed in tin horn..Now they don't check any of that stuff.You can use any booster that you might find in another make of GM car.
The only rules are the throttle bore size, the venturi size, and oh yeah, the boosters can't be "too shiny" .
There are some guys that are real good with these, like Deano, but I think you're doing the right thing by learning them inside and out. If you have to work on the carb at the track, you want to be familiar with them.

NB will be picking up his T 200 soon, from another racer that lives north of Phoenix. He does a great entry level transmission ;-)

We're moving right along now. NB might be able to test this thing in a couple of month, if Wild Horse re-opens.

TBC