Consolidating Classes

[Owen S Quirion]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Owen, I'm running a 3.73 (4cyl J car) planetary in my car now...it's been so long since I changed it over from the factory 2.7-2.9 6cyl factory planetary the car came oem with...would my current gearing be too much? As for that set you have, I'll keep that in mind, but I'll also have what Mark spoke of in mind too (especially if it's cheaper)? Right now I'm dealing with some other looming possibilities for 2011, and my funds are focused on that. Furthermore, my car and I are over 900 miles apart, and it's getting snowed on...however I'd prefer that to being outside in the summer-time temps and wind/dust storms we had the previous 2mths.! Thank you, and you too Mark, for some options that will get me those highly appreciated 4tenths I will greatly appreciate the next time I race at a humid track like Topeka!!!

Gary, The 3.73 ratio in your transaxle is accomplished using a 3.33 planetary final drive differential unit and a set of 33/37 drive chain sprockets. Both combine for an effective ratio of 3.73, the best ratio available using factory parts. So you will be fine with that diff. I currently have a set of 33/41 sprockets for a ratio of 4.14 and will be moving to a 29/41 set next year for the 4.47's. That is the limit of the available room inside for the 41 tooth driven sprocket. Like I said, next year I will be testing to make sure that the input shaft of the transaxle can handle the increased torque input before I sell anyone a set.

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Owen S Quirion

Gary, The 3.73 ratio in your transaxle is accomplished using a 3.33 planetary final drive differential unit and a set of 33/37 drive chain sprockets. Both combine for an effective ratio of 3.73, the best ratio available using factory parts. So you will be fine with that diff. I currently have a set of 33/41 sprockets for a ratio of 4.14 and will be moving to a 29/41 set next year for the 4.47's. That is the limit of the available room inside for the 41 tooth driven sprocket. Like I said, next year I will be testing to make sure that the input shaft of the transaxle can handle the increased torque input before I sell anyone a set.

Good Luck with that Owen, and keep me posted please. Since we don't have the aftermarket support that the rwd's have, anything someone like you (and Mark, etc.) with more mechanical savy than I have (which probably is a bunch), will be greatly appreciated! Sometimes I wonder why I'm racing a car in the fuel injection era, when my level of mechanical knowledge/training was circa 1979.

It sure was easier to take 2sec.'s off of my '76 Vega that I raced 31yrs ago, than it was this car. I had a chance to buy it back, but since my original engine & tranny were swapped out for a Pontiac motor & a 4spd, I would've had to hunt for the originals and I felt that in the early 90's that would've been tuff to do hence this car. However, I still like the challenge out there to try and do something no-one has done this century, or since Mark Yaccavone's national event win, and the guy who won the one and only fwd stocker divisional race as well, which is why I'm glad I have this car. Furthermore, unless Billy Nees did it when he raced a fwd car (or Art, Mark, Linda, or Steve), I'm not sure if any fwd stockers ever finished in a divisional (much less national) Top Ten in Stock Eliminator points standings? Those quests are still out there waiting for those of us who take the road less traveled with regards to our racing vehicles, and I'm game for the challenge (the primary reason I chose this car)!!!

[Dennis P Chapman]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Good Luck with that Owen, and keep me posted please. Since we don't have the aftermarket support that the rwd's have, anything someone like you (and Mark, etc.) with more mechanical savy than I have (which probably is a bunch), will be greatly appreciated! Sometimes I wonder why I'm racing a car in the fuel injection era, when my level of mechanical knowledge/training was circa 1979.

It sure was easier to take 2sec.'s off of my '76 Vega that I raced 31yrs ago, than it was this car. I had a chance to buy it back, but since my original engine & tranny were swapped out for a Pontiac motor & a 4spd, I would've had to hunt for the originals and I felt that in the early 90's that would've been tuff to do hence this car. However, I still like the challenge out there to try and do something no-one has done this century, or since Mark Yaccavone's national event win, and the guy who won the one and only fwd stocker divisional race as well, which is why I'm glad I have this car. Furthermore, unless Billy Nees did it when he raced a fwd car (or Art, Mark, Linda, or Steve), I'm not sure if any fwd stockers ever finished in a divisional (much less national) Top Ten in Stock Eliminator points standings? Those quests are still out there waiting for those of us who take the road less traveled with regards to our racing vehicles, and I'm game for the challenge (the primary reason I chose this car)!!!

Gary
Bill O'conner won div 7 points race in the 90s and I thing Michael Beard finish top 10 div 1 about 10 years ago.

[Mark Yacavone]

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Dennis P Chapman

Gary
Bill O'conner won div 7 points race in the 90s and I thing Michael Beard finish top 10 div 1 about 10 years ago.

Well that's good to hear about Bill, however I checked the div. 1 Stock standings from '99 to '06, and I digress that I didn't see his name in any of those years standings, so he either did it more recently, or prior to '99? Either way, congrats to you Michael, and I look forward to knowing when it was done, because there's still this centuries unchartered waters to tap into...

[Dennis P Chapman]

Originally Posted by GarysZ24

Well that's good to hear about Bill, however I checked the div. 1 Stock standings from '99 to '06, and I digress that I didn't see his name in any of those years standings, so he either did it more recently, or prior to '99? Either way, congrats to you Michael, and I look forward to knowing when it was done, because there's still this centuries unchartered waters to tap into...

Gary
Maybe 11 in points not top 10 Michael is on here he can clear it up. Getting old crs Lol.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Dennis P Chapman

Gary
Bill O'conner won div 7 points race in the 90s and I thing Michael Beard finish top 10 div 1 about 10 years ago.

Didn't Rusty Canfield win a points meet at Maple Grove?

[Dennis P Chapman]

Originally Posted by art leong

Didn't Rusty Canfield win a points meet at Maple Grove?

Art
I think he was runner up.

[Mike Carr]

I believe Michael was 11th in 1999 NHRA Div 1 points.

I was able to finish eighth in IHRA (the Jr Circuit LOL) Stock D-1 points in '03 and '04 with Billy's HF/SA.

[Michael Beard]

Yep, 11th in NHRA Div. 1 in 1999, my first full season. Missed the Top 10 by 1 round, if I recall. I didn't get a full slate of races in, as I skipped Lebanon Valley knowing that I wouldn't run the index, and I couldn't return to the Atco make-up date after winning first round (just like this year). Had a semi at Cecil County, and a semi at the Dutch my second race out, in '98.

Looking back on the logbooks now, the car was horrible back then, simply because it wouldn't repeat 60's... we had a 6" tire on it and way too much air. Since we went to the 8" tire and dropped the air pressure, it's become a killer little piece! This year, it won a 7-round bracket race and a Race of Champions, Semi'd at two S/SS Combo races, won the Perfectly Strange Award at Atco, and consistently gone rounds at all the other races. My wife drove it a couple times this year (first time she's EVER raced), and whacked a track champ her very first round of eliminations in her career.

Bill O'Connor was always good for going rounds, as was Mark Poole. Polhill had a great outing at Indy this year! Billy Nees had two or three finals this year bracket racing the Turbo Sunbird (BF/S)

I've got some Mickey Thompson ET Fronts on the way to replace the heavy back tires. Been having a lot of fun tinkering with the car!