SFI flexplate mandatory in all v8s Jan 2024

[Steve Stasko]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Has a Mopar torque converter ever lost a ring gear?

And That's Ironic…this photo was sent to me last week...

Edit...had pic problems.

If it saves one driver or car incident it’s a good rule. Those guys were very lucky..

[Billy Nees]

Barry, right now the "issue" seems to be that the "new SFI replacements" are failing at a higher rate than the "old OEM" units!
This is automobile racing not cornhole. NHRA can't control every possible situation and they shouldn't be trying to. It just, bit-by-bit, pushes it further beyond the average Racer's grasp.
Now if NHRA is concerned mainly about spectators which is the message that I'm getting then they should be getting them away from the starting line/burnout box!

Understand your point 100 %.
The offshore garbage is an issue. That’s an SFI issue and not NHRA?
As pointed out to me;,stick cars have had SFI for a very long time so it’s only fair flex plates follow. We’ve had SFI flex plates show separation between welds in the ring gear. The starter tipped us off. You could hear the difference cranking. That was 6 years ago ( or more) and we’ve replaced flex plates / brands since then.
Stock flex plates weren’t designed to see 6 K time after time let alone 7500 or 8.

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Barry, right now the "issue" seems to be that the "new SFI replacements" are failing at a higher rate than the "old OEM" units!
This is automobile racing not cornhole. NHRA can't control every possible situation and they shouldn't be trying to. It just, bit-by-bit, pushes it further beyond the average Racer's grasp.
Now if NHRA is concerned mainly about spectators which is the message that I'm getting then they should be getting them away from the starting line/burnout box!

And by no means am I saying anyone is being cheap!
I understand what this rule means for everyone.

[L.Fite]

So... if it's internal balance should be no big deal...
Just something to add to the winter freshen up...
External balance... I bet ATI or TCI or one of the other major manufacturers can match balance one for you if necessary...
It's not that great an expense in the grand scheme of things...
Remember... the toe you save may be you own...

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by L.Fite

So... if it's internal balance should be no big deal...
Just something to add to the winter freshen up...
External balance... I bet ATI or TCI or one of the other major manufacturers can match balance one for you if necessary...
It's not that great an expense in the grand scheme of things...
Remember... the toe you save may be you own...

and you race what?

[Tom Meyer]

On my sons IMCA dirt car with a mini clutch bolted to stock flywheel running hundreds of laps with out failure along with hundreds of other cars .We asked at the parts truck at the race track once after running over a tire infield, he said he never had anybody ask for one. My thoughts are run a sfi one and be safe, things are not made like they used to. Tom

[Mike Schwartz]

Has there been research on failure rates between two-piece flexplates with welded-on ring gears, and one-piece flexplates with "machined" gears?

[L.Fite]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

and you race what?

Since you asked...
Not currently racing, used to run Super Comp and Brackets.
Been around Pro Stock cars, (Pre Jellybean back when local guys could run) Comp cars, etc.

Have always had SFI flywheels on everything, since they became mandatory for what we were running, so I guess I'm used to it.
Never saw a flex plate explode but have seen one spit the weight off and go through the bell.
Saw balancers spit the ring off on the starting line back when stock balancers were still being used.

I've never argued about safety equipment.
All the rules we have, have mostly been a reaction to something bad happening (usually involving a death or serious injury, IE: window nets, 4' belts, blowproof bellhousings, SFI chassis)
Sadly, I've known personally some of the people involved in some of these incidents.

Been doing this since late 70s until life got in the way.
Now I have more time, so slowly trying to get a car put together.
I might not be up on all the latest stuff, but I intend to have fun.
I miss racing, but now we are down to one 1/8 mile track, so there's that...