CLASS RACER FORUM - View Single Post - Joe Newbie, 20 Builds a "Stocker"' in 2023

Mark Yacavone · 08-16-2023, 11:54 AM

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

08-16-2023, 11:54 AM	#35
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,815 Likes: 2,903 Liked 5,120 Times in 1,951 Posts	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 __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers Last edited by Mark Yacavone; 08-16-2023 at 11:58 AM.