Where are the pre 1960 stockers?

[Bobby Zlatkin]

It's been a year now since they've been reinstated. Has anyone built one?

Or are the HP ratings too unrealistic, compared to the slicker, newer bodies, to be competative pushing those big shoeboxes down the track.

I would think that it would generate some spectator interest for stock elim., one of the newer factory race cars chasing down a crowd favoriate oldie.

Or, are the guys that would have been interested in building one just too old to care anymore?

[John Kelley]

Finding all the correct parts could be a holdup !
And finding a decent body could be a pain.........
I think there should be some coming out in the next year......I HOPE !

[Mike Carr]

I know of one, that has been raced in my races and IHRA since 2009. The Hurley Family from Maryland have a P/SA '55 Chevy, they raced it this year at the Atco LODRS and an IHRA race or two, plus Hagerstown. Daughter Shelby usually runs it.

[Jeff Teuton]

Bobby, watch how you throw that term 'too old' around. However I think some old stuff would be real neat. Picture a new Drag Pak chasing a 57 Chev 270 HP, Bel Air, Red with black interior. Too Cool.

[dahkahuna]

I have all the parts and pieces to build my 1955 belair htp. but NHRA has not decided to lower the HP factor to a reasonable number, 205 hp is way to high for the 180 hp 265. the AHFS committee seems to think 25 hp over a factory rating somehow is justified, but a supercharged mustang factory rating was ok to leave alone. Its obvious the letter I wrote fell on deaf ears and NHRA has made the choice to limit older vehicles to run in Super/Stock I guess. For the record Val Hedworth set the Jr.Stock record @ 14.13 @ Fremont Dragstrip in Northern California about 1971 it was a T/S at that time, in a direct comparision a P/SA of today is the same weight break 16.00 lbs. the index is 13.45 in P/SA now, Jr. Stock rules allowed custom lite wt. dyke ring pistons in those days also, so how NHRA can hang this penalty of 25hp on this 265 180 hp engine just isn't logical................. Just my 2 cents

[dahkahuna]

RE: 1955 Chevy 265 cu in 180/205 Horsepower factor review for STOCK ELIMINATOR

I am submitting request for a Review of Horsepower factor which involves specifically the Chevrolet
Engine from the year 1955. This engine described here and further referred to as the 1955 265 cubic inch
180 horsepower/factored 205. The reasons for this request will be shown by existing performances as recently as a LODRS event @ Cecil County Dragway Aug 19-21-2011 and Atco Dragway Aug 5-7-2011 driven by Carsten Wendlandt and Shelby Hurley respectively. Shelby Hurley received a BEST ENGINEERED CAR AWARD proving the commitment to this combination and ultimately also showing a first class effort for performance. Hurley's car was built by her father Steve Hurley who competes in SUPER/STOCK again proving that a very credible effort was built to run well. Both Wendlandt and Hurley ran in the P/SA class and both showing above the P/SA index of 13.45, performing in the 13.80's significally above the index and therefore NOT
COMPETITVE as the classification now stands 180/205 factored. This 265 engine the 180 hp./205 factored was the first V-8 Chevy built so some inherent performance limitations were attached with this the 180/205 engine, the intake manifold #3711348 is one off design like no other on its comparison of other small Chevy intakes which sports a very small port design comparatively to other later castings. The Carter wcfb carb is a very small cfm rating around 400 cfm and the camshaft lift is the shortest of all the small chevy
engines @ 334/334 lift. Intake port design and its cc volume of 120/55 Intake and exhaust brings truth to the fact that this was not a performance orientated engine design, with every aspect of its design being of LOW PERFORMANCE genre. I forgot to even to mention the 8 TO 1 COMPRESSION RATIO, EIGHT TO ONE REALLY how low can low performance go the 265 cu inch 180 hp small block chevy is a grocery getter engine and a 205 hp factor is absurd at best. I believe as with other car/engine combinations horsepower factoring should be used based on information based facts not a "guesses”. The AHFS is in place to correct dominate car/engine combo's this the 1955 chevy 265 cu in 180 hp engine was factored prior to anyone even building this vehicle for competition. The commitment and financial outlay for any race car project built to run N.H.R.A. should always be protected by the N.H.R.A. to insure a equitable and unbiased place to race and build any combo at a competitive basis. For a further comparison I would like the horsepower lowered to the original 180 hp which will reclassify this combo to a much more equitable class but definitely may still have a reservation as to its final horsepower rating citing the 1960 chevy 283/230 hp factored @ 215 showing that a 205 factor on the 265 cu in 180 hp engine is just not justified. See below a comparison with the former RECORD HOLDER for U/SA a 1960 Chevy Wagon 4dr sedan and the 1955 Chevy Belair 2dr Htp with factor of 205 being reclassified to 165 hp.

1960 Chevy Brookwood Wagon (former record holder) 1955 Belair 2dr Htp

283 cu in 230/215 factored hp PWF 20.00 265 cu in 180/165 factored hp PWF 20.00
9.5 compression ratio U/SA 8.0 compression ratio U/SA
Hyd flat tappet cam 399/399 lift Hyd flat tappet cam 334/334 lift
4 bbl carter wcfb 434 cfm 4bbl carter wcfb 400 cfm

heads- intake valve 1.725 heads- intake valve 1.725
exhaust valve 1.500 exhaust valve 1.500
port volume CC intake 140cc port volume CC intake 120 cc
exhaust 60cc exhaust 55 cc
transmission 3-speed t-350 transmission 2 speed powerglide

The above comparison shows where these 2 vehicles would classify with the current PWF of the 1960 Chevy Wagon and the new 165 hp PWF for the 1955 Belair, so in conclusion please receive my request for a review of 1955 Chevy 265 cu in 180 hp engine and lower the horsepower to at the very least the factory rating of 180 hp, but most likely to have any chance should be lowered to 165hp 15 hp below the factory rating like the 1960 chevy 283/230 hp factored @ 215 hp engine with 18 cu in more, bigger cam, 9.5 to 1 cr, and a WCFB that is more CFM the argument should be for even a lower factor than the 180 hp requested but to be fair 165 hp would be more in line with what the 283 cu.in 230/215 was factored.


This was the letter I submitted to the AHFS committee ,to try and lower the hp on the 1955 265 180 hp engine............Just my 2 cents

[Wade Mahaffey]

It would be so sweet to see some of these cars out there. I would even like to see some photos of some being prepared. To anyone building....good luck

Wade Mahaffey

[Stocker 2]

Originally Posted by dahkahuna

RE: 1955 Chevy 265 cu in 180/205 Horsepower factor review for STOCK ELIMINATOR..............

Looks like the committee thinks 205 is the correct horsepower since they denied the request.

[Bunkster]

There is a 1956 265 with a factory rating of 205 and a current NHRA rating of 205.

Perhaps they believe the 1955 265/180 and the 1956 265/205 are the same?

(I was too lazy to research all of the numbers.)

[dahkahuna]

Paul, thats exactly the point the index is 13.45 for P/SA the 2 cars running now from my info is that they run 13.80's now I dont know if games are being played, has anyone seen or talked to Steve Hurley he sounded on this post like its a legit deal (no Games) and the car runs 13.80's. If NHRA wont reduce a factor until it runs the index like was said why the heck do we have a AHFS system in place for it only drives up the cost of racing a Stocker when a car is hit with weight the whole combnination has to be adjusted maybe a cam change, gear , and so on..........Just my 2 cents