Pure Stockers New Camshaft Rule !!!

[gbur]

Keep cam and springs OEM. Random ck of a few springs no big issue. IHRA should require everyone(not some to photo part # off factory cam and submit via notorized copy. No wasted time on techs behalf

[Lyn Smith]

I ran Pure Stock for a number of years.I was torn down once,but i bet there has not been 5 Pure Stock racers torn down in the history of the class.Just accept the new rules and be done with it.Trying to check the duration and overlap on a new car would be a pain.

[Dwight Southerland]

I see no problems with the camshaft duration. Valve springs are another story. Opening up the valve springs will put too big a gap between those who purpose build cars and those who are trying to enter into the class race scene.

[Dan Fahey]

Been a busy day.
Had to get my Dad to the Hospital yesterday.
He is doing better so it was a good day.

Got a few emails from racers and appreciate the good words.
As stated earlier, Yeah, I did become the unelected liaison of Pure Stock.
Just hope I am making a positive difference.
All in favor say AYE !!

Guys keep posting. Keep the ideas coming.
This is an opportunity for everyone to make a difference.

BTW like the KISS principle idea: Keep it Sweet and Simple !

D

[X-TECH MAN]

Just to clarify my LOL posting. I thought long and hard about making a reply. In the best interest of the Pure stock class and the racers who run it I figured what the heck.
First off I rolled the cams on more than 5 cars in my time with IHRA as Lynn Smith said. Between working with Greg and Marty Barrett at the NHRA races in the very early 70's and the IHRA races I have checked a load of cams. Some turned out good and some turned out bogus. When the rule required the OEM cam I took readings right off the lobe instead of measuring from the retainer. I could easily tell if a reground cam was in the engine when I did this.
After the class was patterened after the old Jr. stock rules I went back to checking from the retaner giving more leway. Greg X form Div. 1 NHRA and Marty Barrett tought me how to do all of this. I was interested in it and learned and studied what they showed me.
I tried many times to teach some of the IHRA officials this process. The few who really wanted to learn have now pass on to their maker.
I told Jim Woods I would show him as he dosent live that far from me. Maybe he didnt get my email??????
As the years rolled on the manufacturers stopped sending in the duration and overlap specs along with the valve spring pressures. I doubt many "Pure stockers" are running legal stuff today if they are newer cars. My old spec books stop showing these specs back around 1985-1986 when NHRA went to any duration and overlap and those killer valve springs that eat parts. This also brought about the expensive acid ported heads of that era. More air flow and higher RPM. The NHRA had to allow aftermarket rods or there would have been a lot more blown engines. One change brought about many more. After awhile the IHRA valve spring tester (RIMAC) disappeared from the tech trailer and I sure as hell wasnt going to bring mine to the races to diappear also. They coast to much to replace. I used to work for the dept. of the navy in a calabration lab before I retired so all of my tools that I did bring and use were up to snuff and accurate.
I didnt post the LOL to chastize anyone or make fun. I love stock and Super Stock racing as much as anyone could and still do. I just didnt stop to think about what else I could say at the moment. Times change and things move on. Good or Bad.
Its a shame the rule will turn this class into another stocker deal with a very few differences.
The problem I see for Mike Baker (dont blame him......He is a good guy) is that the specs are not being supplied by the manufacturers and the tech crew isnt up to how to do the checking and a lot dont even care to do this as it IS a lot of work and time consuming. I doubt very many of the NHRA crew (if any) can check a cam the way it was done back before 1985 and in the Jr. stock days today either. NHRA hasnt done this type of cam checking since 1985. The time constraints in todays IHRA racing just dosent leave a lot of time for any or many tear downs. If a record is set then yes it could be done on a Friday afternoon or evening but what does a record today give you except a sheet of paper and bragging rights. Ive been out of it for almost 12 years now and Im old. Ive moved on to my Harley and street rods just because its cheaper and a lot less work. Its still not as exciting as racing but I do meet new friends just as when I raced back in the 60's and 70's. Gas was a lot less expensive then also.
Any way I hope you can come to an agreement of some kind with IHRA on this. Racing pure stockers its about as cheap as you can get if you want to class race. Good Luck to you and Merry Christmas to all.







Merry Christmas to all of you.

[AJ Laferty]

I'm thinking the cost of racing is high for everyone in this economy so maybe IHRA should be going THE OTHER WAY on modifications, making them more restrictive, not less to TRY to contain costs.

[gbur]

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Just to clarify my LOL posting. I thought long and hard about making a reply. In the best interest of the Pure stock class and the racers who run it I figured what the heck.
First off I rolled the cams on more than 5 cars in my time with IHRA as Lynn Smith said. Between working with Greg and Marty Barrett at the NHRA races in the very early 70's and the IHRA races I have checked a load of cams. Some turned out good and some turned out bogus. When the rule required the OEM cam I took readings right off the lobe instead of measuring from the retainer. I could easily tell if a reground cam was in the engine when I did this.
After the class was patterened after the old Jr. stock rules I went back to checking from the retaner giving more leway. Greg X form Div. 1 NHRA and Marty Barrett tought me how to do all of this. I was interested in it and learned and studied what they showed me.
I tried many times to teach some of the IHRA officials this process. The few who really wanted to learn have now pass on to their maker.
I told Jim Woods I would show him as he dosent live that far from me. Maybe he didnt get my email??????
As the years rolled on the manufacturers stopped sending in the duration and overlap specs along with the valve spring pressures. I doubt many "Pure stockers" are running legal stuff today if they are newer cars. My old spec books stop showing these specs back around 1985-1986 when NHRA went to any duration and overlap and those killer valve springs that eat parts. This also brought about the expensive acid ported heads of that era. More air flow and higher RPM. The NHRA had to allow aftermarket rods or there would have been a lot more blown engines. One change brought about many more. After awhile the IHRA valve spring tester (RIMAC) disappeared from the tech trailer and I sure as hell wasnt going to bring mine to the races to diappear also. They coast to much to replace. I used to work for the dept. of the navy in a calabration lab before I retired so all of my tools that I did bring and use were up to snuff and accurate.
I didnt post the LOL to chastize anyone or make fun. I love stock and Super Stock racing as much as anyone could and still do. I just didnt stop to think about what else I could say at the moment. Times change and things move on. Good or Bad.
Its a shame the rule will turn this class into another stocker deal with a very few differences.
The problem I see for Mike Baker (dont blame him......He is a good guy) is that the specs are not being supplied by the manufacturers and the tech crew isnt up to how to do the checking and a lot dont even care to do this as it IS a lot of work and time consuming. I doubt very many of the NHRA crew (if any) can check a cam the way it was done back before 1985 and in the Jr. stock days today either. NHRA hasnt done this type of cam checking since 1985. The time constraints in todays IHRA racing just dosent leave a lot of time for any or many tear downs. If a record is set then yes it could be done on a Friday afternoon or evening but what does a record today give you except a sheet of paper and bragging rights. Ive been out of it for almost 12 years now and Im old. Ive moved on to my Harley and street rods just because its cheaper and a lot less work. Its still not as exciting as racing but I do meet new friends just as when I raced back in the 60's and 70's. Gas was a lot less expensive then also.
Any way I hope you can come to an agreement of some kind with IHRA on this. Racing pure stockers its about as cheap as you can get if you want to class race. Good Luck to you and Merry Christmas to all.







Merry Christmas to all of you.

Yes ,hope there is a mediam

[X-TECH MAN]

Just had a brain fart and suggestion.......Have Mike Baker limit the valve spring pressures to no more than 150lbs lbs closed and no more than 350 lbs open (no higher) for every brand, HP, and year. Not enough to turn the hi RPM's or wear out lobes and lifters but enough to follow the cam lobe without all the exotic junk and you can still drive it on the street. Just have to check some of the spring pressures in tear down and cam lift. Not a hard or time consuming job. Makes everyone on a same same basis if the duration and overlap rule is tossed out.

[Michael Beard]

I admittedly don't know enough about engine building to know if that would give one combination any kind of advantage over another, but this sounds like a great baseline compromise. Nice!

Is there such a thing that the spring pressures could be related to the camshaft lift and/or cubic inch, or other easily known specs? ie., what would the effect of the rule be on 350 Chevy vs a 302 Ford? Old carb'd 350 vs newer EFI 350?

If it "has" to change, that's the best proposal I've seen. Thanks for your insight, Terry.

[X-TECH MAN]

I went thru my books and the heaviest spring listed is on the 1969 six pack 440 and 70-71 426 Hemi Dodge and Plymouth. Its listed at 150 lbs on the seat and 320 lbs on open pressure. Only the 66-67 426 Hemi has a higher seat pressure by about 16 lbs. Use something like that and it would keep the square lobe cams and shubeck style lifters out of pure stock and limit RPM's along with worn out and busted parts . Even the Boss 429 Ford has less pressure on the seat but how many Hemi's (Ford or Chrysler) have you see racing pure stock anyway......LOL. Any combo in the books should be able to live with that kind of pressures. .