Originally Posted by oldskool (Post 460275)

Yeah, I think I understand what you are saying. See if I got it right. You feel that EVERYTHING has got to be absolutely legal, including the exact width of the rear end, even to run at a division level race, or don't even take it to the track.
Is that accurate ?

I have a question for you. I've read about the acid ported heads, and the new process that the top name Stocker head shops use to open up the Stock heads for the high dollar Stock racers. I read that many of the quickest cars use these heads and get by with it. So do you consider these heads illegal, even tho the tech guys pass 'em ?

Do you think it's fair for guys running these heads to win their class at a National event, or set a National record, or win any of the big races ?

Do you think it would be worse for me to run a rear that was a couple of inches too short, in order to save some $, than for these guys to win with modified heads ?

If you were racing at the same race I was, would you protest my car or tell one of the tech guys that my rear end was 2 inches too short, and suggest that they measure it to see ? I personally would not care what rear end you had, or how wide the housing was. It would be fine with me if you wanted to run a 9" Ford or a Dana 60.

Hey, if I understand the rules correctly, except for heads up runs, both Stock and SS now run breakout bracket rules. So what difference does it make how wide your rear end housing is ? You think that might be the reason the tech is a little slack at division level races ?

Which item has a performance advantage ?-- the bogus heads or the shorter rear end housing ? If I go to the expense of having a stock housing lengthened 2 inches, and buying new axles to match, how much slower will I go ? :confused:

I

Originally Posted by oldskool (Post 460275)

Yeah, I think I understand what you are saying. See if I got it right. You feel that EVERYTHING has got to be absolutely legal, including the exact width of the rear end, even to run at a division level race, or don't even take it to the track.
Is that accurate ?

I have a question for you. I've read about the acid ported heads, and the new process that the top name Stocker head shops use to open up the Stock heads for the high dollar Stock racers. I read that many of the quickest cars use these heads and get by with it. So do you consider these heads illegal, even tho the tech guys pass 'em ?

Do you think it's fair for guys running these heads to win their class at a National event, or set a National record, or win any of the big races ?

Do you think it would be worse for me to run a rear that was a couple of inches too short, in order to save some $, than for these guys to win with modified heads ?

If you were racing at the same race I was, would you protest my car or tell one of the tech guys that my rear end was 2 inches too short, and suggest that they measure it to see ? I personally would not care what rear end you had, or how wide the housing was. It would be fine with me if you wanted to run a 9" Ford or a Dana 60.

Hey, if I understand the rules correctly, except for heads up runs, both Stock and SS now run breakout bracket rules. So what difference does it make how wide your rear end housing is ? You think that might be the reason the tech is a little slack at division level races ?

Which item has a performance advantage ?-- the bogus heads or the shorter rear end housing ? If I go to the expense of having a stock housing lengthened 2 inches, and buying new axles to match, how much slower will I go ? :confused:

I

Originally Posted by Tony Corley (Post 460279)

Why go into a build with the idea that you are going to start out being illegal?

Originally Posted by oldskool (Post 460284)

I reckin it's just a matter of your point of view. Mine is that if a part like the width of a rear end housing is not going to give me an unfair performance advantage over other cars, then what the heck difference does it make, especially since it will only be for maybe one division race per year. It looks to me like you guys are trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill, and calling me a cheater, just because I don't have enuff $$ to spend to buy the exact correct length rear end housing, or have someone modify a stock one for me.


I'm not making you out to be a cheater, YOU are doing that! There are rules about rearend width for tire clearence issues and suspension geometry.


I wish I had plenty of $$ to just buy a perfectly built car that would run a sec under and pass tech at any race. But I don't. I reckin I read too much into that $1000 dime rocket thread. Seems that just a legal rear end will cost way more than $1000 by itself.


You apparently didn't read enough out of the dime rocket thread! if you can't afford to get what you want to get, then improvise! But that might mean that you're not going to get the bodystyle that you might want or the best parts!


I'm just in the planning stages of trying to figure out what year and body style I might could run, and I'm already getting negative feedback from you guys. It seems on the surface that you guys are sort of an exclusive club and you don't really want any more Stockers built.


We ARE an exclusive club! And if you can't play by the rules or don't want to play by the rules, then don't play!


I had in mind trying to build what I can afford and then working on improving it as I go. Ya'll seem to be saying build it perfect before you even take it to a track, or don't even try. Well, unless I win the lottery, I can't afford to build it perfect, so maybe this was just a bad idea from the very start. Oh well, thinkin about it and planning it was fun for a while. Thanks to all you guys for all the advice. And good luck with your racing season. :)

Originally Posted by oldskool (Post 460273)

Yeah, I read that. So are you saying that you think the tech guys are actually going to measure the rear end at a division 4 race, when I'm just barely running my index ? I can't see a performance advantage, that would make a difference to anybody.

Again, that's just country boy thinkin. I've never raced a Stocker at the division level. But I've recently read that unless you set a National record, there are no tear downs. So, I reason that if no tear downs, certainly they wouldn't care if your rear end was a couple of inches too short. Is that a reasonable assumption ?

Originally Posted by Todd Hoven (Post 460308)

I'm sure if the rear end housing is slightly off width wise you will be ok. Especially if the car is a 77 Bonniville, who the hell would know that, or come to the race with that info. If you had a Camaro or a Mustang it should be right, and it would be easy to tell by the rim offset and tire placement . As long as the tires fit correctly you should be fine.
.

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone (Post 460319)

There ya go,Todd

Now everybody here knows about , so we can't do that.
Have to move on to the next idea...
This could go on forever, with no actual racing..
Maybe that's the plan after all....

Originally Posted by oldskool (Post 460275)

Yeah, I think I understand what you are saying. See if I got it right. You feel that EVERYTHING has got to be absolutely legal, including the exact width of the rear end, even to run at a division level race, or don't even take it to the track.
Is that accurate ?

I have a question for you. I've read about the acid ported heads, and the new process that the top name Stocker head shops use to open up the Stock heads for the high dollar Stock racers. I read that many of the quickest cars use these heads and get by with it. So do you consider these heads illegal, even tho the tech guys pass 'em ?

Do you think it's fair for guys running these heads to win their class at a National event, or set a National record, or win any of the big races ?

Do you think it would be worse for me to run a rear that was a couple of inches too short, in order to save some $, than for these guys to win with modified heads ?

If you were racing at the same race I was, would you protest my car or tell one of the tech guys that my rear end was 2 inches too short, and suggest that they measure it to see ? I personally would not care what rear end you had, or how wide the housing was. It would be fine with me if you wanted to run a 9" Ford or a Dana 60.

Hey, if I understand the rules correctly, except for heads up runs, both Stock and SS now run breakout bracket rules. So what difference does it make how wide your rear end housing is ? You think that might be the reason the tech is a little slack at division level races ?

Which item has a performance advantage ?-- the bogus heads or the shorter rear end housing ? If I go to the expense of having a stock housing lengthened 2 inches, and buying new axles to match, how much slower will I go ? :confused:

I