Are COPO's, CJ's and Drag Packs good for our sport?

[6t5frlane]

Originally Posted by NewHemi

Not good for the sport, unless they are all equal.

Supercharged vs Naturally aspirated?????

When did that become equal?

It only became legal when Ford became a sponsor and started sucking on the NHRA's tailpipe. And it is no coincidence that Ford was the only one with a supercharger running in Stock and later in Super Stock.

They got the "Make Your Own Air" edge.

And then Chevy was next. A supercharged Copo. And suddenly the Fords had a little real competition. But they had already owned the playground, and ruled the roost for quite a while, so who could now object to a bow tie winning a few races. It only seemed fair. And another supercharged car competed with naturally aspirated cars.

Chrysler was NOT allowed to put a supercharger on the Drag Paks. Why? Because if they had, both Ford and Chevy would have had to compete with innovation, rather than just turn the screw for more horsepower.

But Chrysler will have to continue trying to do with cubic inches and the last great push rod engines, with what Ford and Chevy do with hair dryers.

But the question was not, are supercharged cars in Stock, and Super Stock fair.

So here is my answer:

Generally, the new technology cars are good for the sport because the crowds (the twelve to eighteen people, who show up for stock, and super stock) enjoy them.

David
The New Hemi Guy

Rumors of the 2015 Hellcat Hemi Challenger are around. How owuld they fit in NHRA ? Drag Pack?

[Ken Miele]

Ford Racing placed an ad in this weeks National Dragster, I though its pretty cool that they show support for not only the new cars, but the old ones also.

kdanner, I don't know why your having issues locating parts. PM and I will locate all parts that you need. They are available from Ford Racing. I assume when your talking about a zip tube, you mean the air intake. There is no air intake on the 5.0 N/A like they have on the supercharged combo. The part number for the COBRA JET 5.0L 4V INTAKE MANIFOLD M-9424-M50CJ*, and its the same as the as factory cars.


Jim, I assure you the parts will be around for a long time. You can build a clone CJ, 5.0 N/A or 4.6 for the same money you would spend I any similar older combo. You can pick up 2010 Mustang fairly cheap these days.

[kdanner]

Originally Posted by Ken Miele

kdanner, I don't know why your having issues locating parts. PM and I will locate all parts that you need. They are available from Ford Racing. I assume when your talking about a zip tube, you mean the air intake. There is no air intake on the 5.0 N/A like they have on the supercharged combo. The part number for the COBRA JET 5.0L 4V INTAKE MANIFOLD M-9424-M50CJ*, and its the same as the as factory cars.


Jim, I assure you the parts will be around for a long time. You can build a clone CJ, 5.0 N/A or 4.6 for the same money you would spend I any similar older combo. You can pick up 2010 Mustang fairly cheap these days.

Ken I've already had that particular intake manifold since March and it is NOT the same as what came on the 3 factory built cars. Those had 3D printed intakes, not this multiple parts glued together with huge gaps on the inside like they are now selling. And, the 2013 NA 5.0 absolutely had an air intake AKA zip tube, see pic below which also shows the different manifold.



Finally, regarding your comment about parts being around for a long time, multiple 2010 CJ part numbers have already been turned off for some time now.

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by SStockDart

I, for one, believe that they are good for drag racing....You have all heard the reasons....Especially, "Win on Sunday" sell on Monday. As an old timer, and in my case, really, how many 1968 Dodge Darts or 1969 Roadrunners drag cars are going to help sales for the dealerships? At best, the spectator will say, "wow, they really had some cool cars 45 years ago"....but realistically, the new cars can generate sales/profits for the manufacturer and dealers.....Maybe that will create additional financial interest in our sport.

I believe that once the horsepower deals get worked out.....the new cars will help our sport....Your comments are welcomed.

Yes they are good for the sport, especially the additional $ that they require to be track ready. That $ and new methods learned by the engine, tranny, clutch, electronics, chasis shops is all benefitial to the sport......that said, I would have also liked/would like to see the big 3 submit their street cars to the guide just like in the past. More innovation and creativity would follow......think Nees with a rental 2013 6 banger challenger entered into stock eliminator.driven to and from the track like it used to be done.....I'd do it too....I don't need to go 130+ to have fun! Drama free fun, is pretty additive too. The Copo's, CJ's and Drag Paks are all nice pieces that look great in a garage parked next to their older fathers....But what do you think is a bigger fan draw? A 09 Dragpak, or a 77 Gremlin....the Gremlin hands down.....yes the new cars are good for the sport, but more new cars than just the super cars would be even better at least in my eyes.


Eric

[Rich Biebel]

I was parked next to a 2012 Mustang CobraJet SS car at E-Town....

I met the owner and his crew and also worked on the car a little on Sunday when they had some trouble.

The owner is a very accomplished and successful business man and those business's were all aftermarket automotive products most any car guy has bought and used. We could hardly have raced without most of them. The man has quite a life story and he shared some of it with me and I was very impressed.....and he also is and was always a huge supporter of the Sportsman racers in general..

This was my first hands on experience with one of these cars and trust me when I say they are pretty awesome in looks and build quality and the performance out on the racetrack. I have also seen a COPO up close and personal and up on a lift.......Nice...

The Mustang drew a lot of attention is all I can say and a lot of people took pictures and really seemed to be attracted to it especially on Sunday......

Although I lost early in S/C on Saturday.......... overall I enjoyed the heck out of meeting the owner and working on his car a little and the race was a great one to me because of it....

It definitely is a good thing that these cars are out there for the added shot of enthusiasm they bring.

I love '69 Camaro's......Always have....always will....but we need to see something new and adjust as needed to make it work....

[Ed Wright]

Just fix the bogus HP ratings and they will still be awesome. Just won't be raping older cars in heads ups. Indy shoot out qualifying should tell you how far off they are.

[Rich Biebel]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

Just fix the bogus HP ratings and they will still be awesome. Just won't be raping older cars in heads ups. Indy shoot out qualifying should tell you how far off they are.

I agree 100% with you on this Ed....

[david ring]

I like Eric M's point about more than just the super cars in the guide-I don't know if ithey are, but I'd love to see someone bring out a new Camaro v-6 or a mustang v-6 etc. I'm for any cars with less than eight cylinders.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by david ring

I like Eric M's point about more than just the super cars in the guide-I don't know if ithey are, but I'd love to see someone bring out a new Camaro v-6 or a mustang v-6 etc. I'm for any cars with less than eight cylinders.

Last year I was told by an NHRA official that Ford had zero intentions of ever giving them specs for any car newer than '08 or '10 that was not a Cobra Jet race car. In other words, no real production street cars in the guide from Ford.

They are nice cars, and there are good people who own them. But they belong in their own class, or at least their own sub classes. They do not belong in the same class or classes as real production street cars that were sold new with valid VINs, and all the equipment necessary to operate legally on public streets.

Can they be good for the sport? Sure. Have they really yielded all of the attention from the media or attendance from fans we were assured they would? Not even close. Will they? Probably not, the way things are being done at this point.

[Jim Bailey]

Yes they are. Around 1967/1968 there was a story in one of the major magazines, Hot Rod, Popular Hot Rodding, or Car Craft ...I don't remember which, but the story was titled, " ARE THE FACTORYS RUINING HOT RODDING?" It's sad to say, but history does repete itself, and the 1960s muscle cars / Factory Race Cars did not ruin hot rodding or drag racing. Neither will the new "Factory Hot Rods." Additionally, 3 years ago, Bruce, Travis, Danny, and others, completely revised the AHFS. It would have brought the HP Ratings in check much faster. But because of lobbing by the "Older under factored combos", your SRAC members voted it down. So suck it up, find more HP, play the lower the HP game, or buy a new Factory Hot Rod. JB.