Where are the pre 1960 stockers?

[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

[Mike Carr]

Shelby Hurley's P/SA '55

[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.

[Steve Hurley]

All combinations should start at the advertised horsepower. 205hp does not work. Or maybe I am not sharp enough to make it work.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Steve Hurley

All combinations should start at the advertised horsepower. 205hp does not work. Or maybe I am not sharp enough to make it work.

Steve....when I worked with IHRA I pulled the 1955 180 HP combo BACK to 180 HP. I used all of the factors from the OLD NHRA "RED" class guide. Check with Hank Blankenship or Danny Waters. If it went back to 205 HP (S/S factor) I dont know when or why it was done. In my opinion that was the WRONG thing to do. We had a couple of '55 Chebies running with IHRA in stock and pure stock about 10-12 years ago.

[442OLDS]

Sounds like this is a bad combo for winning class,winning heads ups,and setting records.

(Welcome to my world)

Aside from that,isn't it possible to build one to run the index at the current horsepower rating?

As we are always reminded on Classracer....its just a bracket race.(Providing you can run the index)

[Charley Downing]

Just play the HP game it's not that hard if you can read and follow rules. The 273ci mopar combo ran -.40 something under the index twice at one national event. These were the only two runs for this half of the season.
According to the NHRA posted HP reduction rules it received a 1.25% hp reduction. End of story just like my 281ci SS combo in the first half.

Did the 1955 265ci combo run index?

The combo MUST at least run the index to be eligible for a HP reduction.

If any car makes one run over -.85 under the index that combo is ineligible for a HP reduction.

[pauldilcher]

Doug , I ran 13.80`s with this combo in 1971 . Set the National Record at 13.90 .

[Tom Moock]

Charley, it is -.85 under for one run and two runs of .65 under you go to the average`s. Tom