SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I had a (somewhat) cordial discussion with my DTD at Numidia this weekend and would like to think that I made some inroads into this "all V8s" need an SFI flexplate thing.
I would like to think that this ruling will be aligned with the need for trans and flexplate shields based on E.T.s and not just an arbitrary ruling based off of a "million-to-one" incident.
And I've got a "Billy question" here, since this "issue" involved the starter ring gear and not the actual flexplate itself, are Mopars going to have to have SFI approved torque converters?

To get this important (to me at least) issue back up top, how do all of you 2V/302 FFFFord guys feel about having to spend time and monies putting an SFI flexplate on your cars that may not be as well built as your 50 year old stock unit? And you Mopar guys who don't even have a "starter ring gear" (the main "issue") to fail? Has a Mopar torque converter ever lost a ring gear?
Does NHRA know that a Div. 1 Racer who will go un-named lost a ring gear off of an SFI approved flexplate in Columbus last weekend? Why is that?
I personally believe that I would rather put my faith (and lower extremities) in a 50 year old GM piece over something imported from China! Especially in a 12.0 or slower car!

And NHRA, if you're going to continue pursuing this, when are you going to start with the SFI approved torque converters for the Mopars? If the ring gears really are the issue then it only seems right!

[Steve Stasko]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Has a Mopar torque converter ever lost a ring gear?

And That's Ironic…this photo was sent to me last week...

Edit...had pic problems.

If it saves one driver or car incident it’s a good rule. Those guys were very lucky..

[Billy Nees]

Barry, right now the "issue" seems to be that the "new SFI replacements" are failing at a higher rate than the "old OEM" units!
This is automobile racing not cornhole. NHRA can't control every possible situation and they shouldn't be trying to. It just, bit-by-bit, pushes it further beyond the average Racer's grasp.
Now if NHRA is concerned mainly about spectators which is the message that I'm getting then they should be getting them away from the starting line/burnout box!

Understand your point 100 %.
The offshore garbage is an issue. That’s an SFI issue and not NHRA?
As pointed out to me;,stick cars have had SFI for a very long time so it’s only fair flex plates follow. We’ve had SFI flex plates show separation between welds in the ring gear. The starter tipped us off. You could hear the difference cranking. That was 6 years ago ( or more) and we’ve replaced flex plates / brands since then.
Stock flex plates weren’t designed to see 6 K time after time let alone 7500 or 8.

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Barry, right now the "issue" seems to be that the "new SFI replacements" are failing at a higher rate than the "old OEM" units!
This is automobile racing not cornhole. NHRA can't control every possible situation and they shouldn't be trying to. It just, bit-by-bit, pushes it further beyond the average Racer's grasp.
Now if NHRA is concerned mainly about spectators which is the message that I'm getting then they should be getting them away from the starting line/burnout box!

And by no means am I saying anyone is being cheap!
I understand what this rule means for everyone.

[L.Fite]

So... if it's internal balance should be no big deal...
Just something to add to the winter freshen up...
External balance... I bet ATI or TCI or one of the other major manufacturers can match balance one for you if necessary...
It's not that great an expense in the grand scheme of things...
Remember... the toe you save may be you own...