Did you get caught and what happened?

Originally Posted by Travis Miller

So you have come up with a new way of engine building. Thanks for the tip. I was under the impression that boring bars and CK10 hones usually work all the way from the top of the cylinder. Maybe in teardown we should start measuring cylinder bores at the bottom with all the pistons removed, strictly to gather data for future rule changes if ever needed.

It never ceases to amaze me how innovative racers can be

Travis Miller

(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by me on this forum are exactly that, my opinions.)

No, thank you Travis for being a real technical staffer! As a specialty aerospace cnc engineer/machinist, I know it can be done. They have me do some of the craziest stuff at work and, I have to think outside of the box more than I care to...lol...

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

Should we have a thread about "what you have done that bent or broke the rules and were not caught"?

Adger, I'll ASSume that you're not insinuating anything!
Let me start this by saying that the head of Sportsmen tech has told me on a number of occasions, "You're one of those people that asks for permission instead of begging for forgiveness".
I was going to save this all for a book but I'll give you my top 3!
3. Tossed for .002 too much valve lift (I was protested) because I didn't have my "checking lifter" and was forced to use a (tech supplied) solid lifter. At the next race we measured my lifter and it was .070 shorter than theirs. They now have an adjustable lifter that they use. My bad.
2. Natl. event teardown was "almost" tossed because my stroke was too short. First time tech guy measured my stroke and came up with 3.263 (stock is 3.25) and said that I was out because my stroke was supposed to be 3.400. So I said to him,"so you mean if I let you throw me out at this race I can show up at the next race with a 3.400 stroke and be legal?" When I said that he went and rechecked the specs and found that he was looking at the specs for a Buick V6. I have a Chevy straight 6.
1. Teardown for a record, I gave the Tech my head minus a valve and he didn't like my "valvejob". The seats were pounded so badly that there were litterally no top and bottom angles left. After talking to the other Techs he told me that I could have the Record but the next time he sees that head it had better have a proper valvejob done because he doesn't know what I'm doing but he knows that I'm cheating!
Adger, on more than one occation I have told NHRA Techs,"You give me your rules, I will play by your rules, YOU remember your rules!
Enough said.

[JSLRacing]

So I'm assuming that when you get tore down they just leave you with a bunch of parts to throw back together when they are done?

I better help my engine builder in assembling my engine so I know how to put it back together..

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by JSLRacing

So I'm assuming that when you get tore down they just leave you with a bunch of parts to throw back together when they are done?

I better help my engine builder in assembling my engine so I know how to put it back together..

And you get to bring your own tools and gaskets too!

[JSLRacing]

NHRA even uses YOUR tools WTF?

[Bob Pagano]

No, you use your tools to take it apart and put it back together, all they do is tell you what head they want and you bring the head, intake and carb to them.

[Adger Smith]

Billy,
Nothing A**umed... HA! See how interesting your input was!!
I would enjoy more... say a lengthy preview of your book.
Billy, you said tech told you: "You're one of those people that asks for permission instead of begging for forgiveness".
Well, isn't that the way it is done, esp. by out of the box thinkers?
Isn't that how the Box gets expanded?
I included 3 names in my post because I consider them all very creative in using the rules they are given to work with. There are more names that could be added to the list, but time and space are limitations. I was lucky to be able to spell those correctly. Did I? :~)

JSL Racing I would suggest you go to a race and follow someone through a NHRA teardown. If you have never been through one or understand what could await you, you need to see one.
It is your job to provide the parts that NHRA tech requests that prove you are running legal.
I might also suggest you get to know your Div. Tech inspector (s).
Be able to ask questions about the rules. What and Why!!

[Charlie Ford]

"Many" years ago, when I raced my old '68 CJ car, we weren't allowed weight boxes, fuel cells, etc., so I had to run the car full of fuel to make weight. If you don't know, the gas tank had a short snout with a 90 degree neck that turned out between the tail lights. When the car would leave, it would dump a little fuel out. After the starter complained several times, at different races, I tried a shop rag, and other ingenious applications to stop the flow. Nothing seemed to work, so I had come to the point where I needed to come up with a logical solution or cheat by hiding weight somewhere in the car. After consulting the rule book I decided to do this. I took the 90 degree fitting off and put a short straight piece of radiator hose and another gas neck and cap on that. In other words, you opened the trunk and there was a gas cap and filler so you could put the fuel in. Problem solved. No more dumping fuel. At my first Div. race following my new invention, the tech person was shocked when he told me to open my trunk. His words were something like "Charlie, are you crazy? You can't do that" I didn't panic, I just asked him to show me in the rule book where it wasn't allowed. He left and returned quickly with a rule book. He turned to a certain page and pointed out the part that stated "Gas tank outlet must be in stock location". I pointed out that area we were discussing is where you put the gas in, therefore it would be the inlet, and there was no mention of the gas tank inlet in the rule book. A short time later they made me put a sheet metal partition between the car interior and the trunk for safety reasons.

[Larry Munk]

Billy should remember this. Tore down for the record at Delmar (1999?) had the approved unmodified pistons in the car. Almost got tossed because the dish was the wrong depth. Argue it was thier piston approved by Danny. (It tunrs out to be correct volumn but diff depth and diameter dish.) It went all the way to Glendor for approval. Got the record and was allowed to race. Thanks to Billy for the help on that one.

[Billy Nees]

Larry, do you remember the "Do you know Billy?" massacre from Del-Mar?