Where are the pre 1960 stockers?

[Carl Libucha]

I am in the process of building a 1955 Bel-Air 2 dr hdtp for Stock Eliminator. I raced the car from 1980 to 1992 in SS/PA, then retired it in 1992 after winning Super Stock at both the IHRA Nitrous Nats and the North American Nats at New England Dragway in Epping NH in1992. The car sat outside covered up for 19 years and at the end of 2010 I decided to go racing again in Super Stock. Then I heard NHRA was allowing the 1950's cars back again in Stock, so I'm going for the challenge. The car will run in P & Q/SA at the present 205 hp.The car is back to stock configuration, body work and paint complete. The engine isn't complete yet, but with all the information known right now, on paper the car will not run the index. When the engine is dynoed, that will tell the real story. The factory 180hp peaked out at 4600 rpm's. Hopefully, with all the latest technology in cams, hyd lifters & springs, the rpm's will be much higher. What NHRA has to do, is lower the hp so every 1955 body style will drop down at least one class. This way, the cars should be able to just run the index or a little under. For an example, AT 205 hp, my car has to weigh 3655 lb min weight with driver for Q/SA (13.80 index). If the hp was lowered to 188 hp, my car would be right at the top of R/SA at 3548.4 lb min weight with driver (14.05 index). I hope NHRA will lower the hp down to 180 hp, otherwise, not too many racer's are going to build these cars. I'm a 1955 Chevy nut, I've always raced a 55 chev. From 1968 to 1971, I raced a 1955 Chev Conv in R/S, then from 1972 to 1979, I ran a 1955 4 dr 210 wagon in SS/U, then the Hdtp in SS/PA from 1980 to 1992.
NHRA, DO YOUR THING, I'M COUNTING ON YOU.

[Robert Simpson]

Originally Posted by Tony Janes

The 57 150 is a N/SA, O/SA and P/SA. You forgot the powerglide weight. I would use the Rochester carb not the wcfb.. It will compete very well in O/SA at 3395 pounds

The 57 150 with a 1 4bbl 283 with a T200 trans is a good combination. I would build it if I was starting from scratch and wanted a 55-57 car. I would like to see this. The bottom line on the 265 combo is NHRA has the "stock" HP listed wrong it should be the stock 180hp to start with then go from there as cars are run and prove themselves

[treessavoy]

Like I said, only benefits tri-5 chevys.

It would cost $75k to $100k to fully develop my '58 Pontiac Chieftan Tri power to a competitive Stocker, same to the rest of the cars......no parts are available unlike the tri-5's which have all the parts available.

JimR

[X-TECH MAN]

Best bet is to run IHRA "Pure Stock".Similar to the old pre 1971 rules. Softer indexes to run off of. Use the old NHRA "Red" class guide to find the correct wt. break. Classes are in full lb breaks from 8 to 16 lbs per. Stick and auto run together but who cares.

[vic guilmino]

Like I said, only benefits tri-5 chevys.

It would cost $75k to $100k to fully develop my '58 Pontiac Chieftan Tri power to a competitive Stocker, same to the rest of the cars......no parts are available unlike the tri-5's which have all the parts available.

i have the tri power for the 58

[bill dedman]

One of the benefits of this new rule (Stockers back to '55) is the variety that could result from racers ressurecting comething OTHER than just Chevys, but that isn't going to happen if they're not in the Class Guide.

I was excited when I first heard about this new "old race car" rule, but my excitement turned to dismay when I found out that, unless things change at NHRA, I won't be seeing any '57 Pontiacs, Suprercharged '57 Ford Y-Blocks, '58 dual-quad Golden Commando Plymouth 350's or 1957 327 Rambler Rebels in the mix.

What a shame...

[Aubrey N Bruneau]

Is it completely impossible to get an unusual car accepted ?
3 decades ago, at a youg age, I made a very amateur attempt at a Stocker. It was a 1963 Pontiac Parisienne hardtop, 300HP 327 4 speed. It wasn't in the guide. I contacted NHRA, explained what the car was... and they said, no problem... we'll classify it as an Impala ( which of course is logical ).

I have quite an assortment of factory service manuals. These are very detailed with specifications. Armed with this information, couldn't a person with a car not on the list, quite simply provide NHRA with the info they need ?
Geez.. this almost makes me want to try it !

With my stupid 409, I have found NHRA very receptive and understanding.

[ss wannabee]

Lew S....you asked a good question..."Why did NHRA reinstate the pre-1960 Stockers?" Has there been that much of a demand to have them back?

Historically, the "New Stock Elim"...the one we have now...was created for the 1972 season to allow ONLY the more recent combos...I believe it had to be a 1965 model year or later...Didn't you have to "drive" the entry to the track...or something like that?

The rules remained that way for a few years..until it was pushed back to allow 1960 and later year models...which allowed the Max Wedge Mopars to run...a few 1960 and '61 Chevies...(also a '64)... to run...and if you dared...maybe a 409? That requirement..."1960 and later models" ....was the norm for many years....

A good question...."Why reinstate"...and more importantly..."Why NOW?"

There's a fair amount of Tri-Five cars in SS...is it getting cost-prohibitive to run there?

One more question....WHY only back to '55? I THINK there is a 1950 or '52 Olds out there waiting to RUN again? And why does it have to be in the current book?

Bill D. had a good point...why JUST the early Chevies....so it seems?

I personally was hoping SOMEBODY would bring out...let's say...a '59 Edsel Ranger....I would pay $$$ to see that rig LUMBERING down the 'quart...against a CJ or DP.....what'ya think guys?

[Lew Silverman]

My consternation concerning the new regulations was that just opening up the eliminator to 1955 and up vehicles WITHOUT updating the Stock Car Classification Guide made very little sense. As many have pointed out, the only vehicles this change helped were 1955-57 Chevrolet's, because the guide hasn't been modified to include any other pre-1960 vehicles (except for Cadillac).

How many people would build a '57 Chieftain or '57 Fairlane or an Edsel Ranger? We probably won't know until the guide is changed, or at least until Stock Eliminator is opened up to include any street-legal vehicle manufactured after 1955 that was available to the general public through a recognized dealer network. This will not only benefit the older vehicles, but also a large number of later models that have somehow been forgotten.

Just my opinion!

Lew

[treessavoy]

Originally Posted by vic guilmino

Like I said, only benefits tri-5 chevys.

It would cost $75k to $100k to fully develop my '58 Pontiac Chieftan Tri power to a competitive Stocker, same to the rest of the cars......no parts are available unlike the tri-5's which have all the parts available.

i have the tri power for the 58

Vic,

I've got a black '58 tri-power Chieftan with 29k original miles, it's exactly as new with only one repaint. Say I decide to race the car in the new classes: where do I get my camshaft, my headers, lifters, rockers, ignition, etc. Since everthing has to be scienced out then built by hand and in very limited numbers, how much do you think it would cost to make it just run the index much less be competitive?

If you have a tri5 chevy all that work is done already. A phone call to Jegs will buy most everything to build the car......call Hooker and ask for a set of headers for a '58 Tbird with the optional 430 Mercury engine.

JimR