Lil IHRA classification help please!! Newbie Alert!

[KennyAnderson]

"Yeah, pretty much they have. I have "most" of the pieces to put a SBC crate car together. Lack of time and motivation have kept me from pursuing it. I have a set of Parson's heads and the matching intake. Comp Cam and new Sherman lifters. Ross Pistons and a couple sets of good rods both stock and super stock. A legal carb that I got from Jeff Ross, built by a reputable person. The car already has a prepped rear with all Strange parts. Cal tracs and mono leafs. Have the pucks in the front subframe, need to rebuild the rest. Got the wheels and tires. Roll bar and frame connectors, just need to get them set up and welded in. Got a good 4 bolt main block with a steel crank, a donor from an old truck to build the engine from. They'll probably abolish the class before I finish the car.

Bruce told us we could expect to have $1600 or so in the block and crank work. I imagine with extras that figure will close to double. I gave him my modest expectations of what I expected the car to run. He laughed and said, if the car was set up at all, he didn't feel we'd have to worry about going that slow!"

Robert forgive me for being naïve but exactly what is "crate motor" about this build? If I was going to this trouble it would be a legal motor.

[KennyAnderson]

" I hope its true also about the rumors. "

Daran if the rumors you are talking about are what I think, its looking REAL good! I am on a committee at Palm Beach. The owners of Palm Beach also own IHRA, Memphis, and SIR as Im sure you know. Anyhow we had a meeting last night to discuss among other things next years schedule. Looks good for us to do less traveling next year!

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Yeah, pretty much they have. I have "most" of the pieces to put a SBC crate car together. Lack of time and motivation have kept me from pursuing it. I have a set of Parson's heads and the matching intake. Comp Cam and new Sherman lifters. Ross Pistons and a couple sets of good rods both stock and super stock. A legal carb that I got from Jeff Ross, built by a reputable person. The car already has a prepped rear with all Strange parts. Cal tracs and mono leafs. Have the pucks in the front subframe, need to rebuild the rest. Got the wheels and tires. Roll bar and frame connectors, just need to get them set up and welded in. Got a good 4 bolt main block with a steel crank, a donor from an old truck to build the engine from. They'll probably abolish the class before I finish the car.

Bruce told us we could expect to have $1600 or so in the block and crank work. I imagine with extras that figure will close to double. I gave him my modest expectations of what I expected the car to run. He laughed and said, if the car was set up at all, he didn't feel we'd have to worry about going that slow!

I love the PS concept. It's what Stock USED to be. My little FWD car won't fit into Pure Stock. Wish they pushed the same number of weight breaks as regular stock.

From my limited experience in Pure Stock running both a LT1 and LS1 car it's my observation that it's easier to make those run near or under the index without going into the engine. Things like gears, converters, headers, tune, etc. will get you there without having to even remove a valve cover. I have no first-hand experience with racing a carbureted SBC but I would guess you would have to have head work done as well as fancy lifters, a cam, good carb. etc. to run with the late-model fuel-injected cars. Are the new cars making more power or perhaps put in classes with soft indexes? I don't know ... maybe both. I do think that if someone was to get serious about a FI race engine with all the bells and whistles in Pure Stock it would be pretty easy to go well under a second under the index. Heck, our car in good air will be a second under now and will easily set a National Record however I've never had a head off and don't exactly know how to on this particular car and definitely don't want to learn for the first time in a teardown barn on the road.

Originally Posted by KennyAnderson

"Yeah, pretty much they have. I have "most" of the pieces to put a SBC crate car together. Lack of time and motivation have kept me from pursuing it. I have a set of Parson's heads and the matching intake. Comp Cam and new Sherman lifters. Ross Pistons and a couple sets of good rods both stock and super stock. A legal carb that I got from Jeff Ross, built by a reputable person. The car already has a prepped rear with all Strange parts. Cal tracs and mono leafs. Have the pucks in the front subframe, need to rebuild the rest. Got the wheels and tires. Roll bar and frame connectors, just need to get them set up and welded in. Got a good 4 bolt main block with a steel crank, a donor from an old truck to build the engine from. They'll probably abolish the class before I finish the car.

Bruce told us we could expect to have $1600 or so in the block and crank work. I imagine with extras that figure will close to double. I gave him my modest expectations of what I expected the car to run. He laughed and said, if the car was set up at all, he didn't feel we'd have to worry about going that slow!"

Robert forgive me for being naïve but exactly what is "crate motor" about this build? If I was going to this trouble it would be a legal motor.

I think the original intent of Crate Motor Kenny was to actually buy a crate motor from GM, Ford, etc. and then do the necessary modifications on that long block to get it to run under the index. However, the only thing necessary on a "crate motor" to be legal ... let's say a Fast Burn for instance, would be the legal heads. When you buy a complete engine from GM you change the rods, put in a Stocker cam, add a single plane intake, etc. Everyone has access to a SBC block, crank, and then can add aftermarket rods, legal pistons, intake, etc. for well under what the factory charges for the long block ... most of which you won't use if you really want to be fast. He'll still be legal but is just gathering parts instead of buying the engine complete.

[KennyAnderson]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

I think the original intent of Crate Motor Kenny was to actually buy a crate motor from GM, Ford, etc. and then do the necessary modifications on that long block to get it to run under the index. However, the only thing necessary on a "crate motor" to be legal ... let's say a Fast Burn for instance, would be the legal heads. When you buy a complete engine from GM you change the rods, put in a Stocker cam, add a single plane intake, etc. Everyone has access to a SBC block, crank, and then can add aftermarket rods, legal pistons, intake, etc. for well under what the factory charges for the long block ... most of which you won't use if you really want to be fast. He'll still be legal but is just gathering parts instead of buying the engine complete.

Im with you, I just think this is not the most economical way to go. If Im piecing together a motor like this why not just build a legal motor to run either sanctioning body. I would expect to spend 10k for a good legal setup building it myself. I figure on buying a used ZZ4 and going through it to the tune of around 5k. Hopefully when Im ready the guy I alluded to in an earlier post has some stuff still. Right now he has a fastburn motor fresh carb to pan for 3k. I completely understand you CAN spend a ton if you like, I love that you can compete without doing it.

PS Would love to see IHRA do a Crate Motor SS deal.

Originally Posted by KennyAnderson

Im with you, I just think this is not the most economical way to go. If Im piecing together a motor like this why not just build a legal motor to run either sanctioning body. I would expect to spend 10k for a good legal setup building it myself. I figure on buying a used ZZ4 and going through it to the tune of around 5k. Hopefully when Im ready the guy I alluded to in an earlier post has some stuff still. Right now he has a fastburn motor fresh carb to pan for 3k. I completely understand you CAN spend a ton if you like, I love that you can compete without doing it.

PS Would love to see IHRA do a Crate Motor SS deal.

Yes, you're absolutely correct. If you're going to spend big dollars then build one that can run NHRA too. There are from time to time affordable turn-key crate motors that come up for sale (like the one you talked about) that can be dropped into a chassis that's sorted out and will run the index and let you go racing and have fun for a small amount. We didn't go that route because due to the popularity of the crate motor classes you're likely to go heads-up in eliminations with one of the killer fast cars and it would be like bringing a knife to a gun fight. However, that doesn't happen often and also won't keep you from having fun at class races and being able to bracket race too. In Pure Stock though (since we are fewer and seem to be more spread out) the chances of having a heads-up race is less. I'm not aware of any B/PS car west of the Mississippi so I'm likely not going to see any in Texas, Oklahoma, ...

[KennyAnderson]

Completely agreed. A few PS cars down here but not many.There are some C/M cars I looked at turnkey just couldn't find the right one. Plus I want the kids to get an education as we progress through this. There is a 3rd gen Camaro C/M car down here for sale that goes pretty far under the index for $7500. Its just waayyyyy to rough for me. A bud bought a Malibu wagon C/M car that goes 4 tenths under in the heat for $5k TURNKEY!!! Wish I found that one first and I have asked for dibs when/if he ever tires of it.

Originally Posted by KennyAnderson

Completely agreed. A few PS cars down here but not many.There are some C/M cars I looked at turnkey just couldn't find the right one. Plus I want the kids to get an education as we progress through this. There is a 3rd gen Camaro C/M car down here for sale that goes pretty far under the index for $7500. Its just waayyyyy to rough for me. A bud bought a Malibu wagon C/M car that goes 4 tenths under in the heat for $5k TURNKEY!!! Wish I found that one first and I have asked for dibs when/if he ever tires of it.

Yes, no sense in investing in something that's not clean and worth the money. It may not be right thinking but my thought process has always been if the body/interior is rough was the drivetrain done well and is it safe? It's just my personal preference but I'd rather go slower in an above average clean car that's safe.

[Dan Fahey]

Originally Posted by Tar Heel

Yes, no sense in investing in something that's not clean and worth the money. It may not be right thinking but my thought process has always been if the body/interior is rough was the drivetrain done well and is it safe? It's just my personal preference but I'd rather go slower in an above average clean car that's safe.

HOWEVER.. have an additional advantage..

We can put on our wide wheels and tires and go Road Racing or Auto Crossing.

Which NO Stocker or SSer can do...

D

Originally Posted by Dan Fahey

HOWEVER.. have an additional advantage..

We can put on our wide wheels and tires and go Road Racing or Auto Crossing.

Which NO Stocker or SSer can do...

D

Wide wheels on the front? I'm completely confused ...