Small Block Chevys & NHRA Reactions or lack of:

SS Observer · 04-08-2007, 02:32 PM

As an observer who has followed the 350/300 engine over the last several years I'd like to make several comments.

1. Everyone is gripping about Fogle and his vehicle being too fast and the question of his legality but when you look at the facts....

a. Combustion chambers...back when this exploded @ Indy or was it Atlanta...I did a rough count here...out of 10 players with that combination only 8 had chambers that were not modified. Yet many cry and finger point. (No names mentioned just the facts) I overheard one racer say yaeh but "ours aren't as modified as his". This does not include the 327 and other heads that are modified.

NHRA's answer...Allow combustion chamber modifications instead of the corrective action of tossing them all.

b. Connecting rod journal size...350's never...never...came with the small journal diameters (327 size) used on the big end of rod. There was no clear definition by NHRA as to how much a journal could be cut undersize and the rule was open.

NHRA got wind of the situation and stated that all large end of rod's must be OEM stock diameter +/- .025. Smart move on their part to limit rediculous undersizing of journals. Did not take far enough and limit amount of undersize perm,itted on journal.

c. Spacer bearings...Fogle torn apart again (Bristol) and found to have correct rods in motor and spacer bearing. Good for Gulius and his creative thinking unlike west coast and kentucky racers who ran the smaller journal rod illegally because they did not know about spacer bearings. (Not OEM - is an argument that is long past so dont start crying again now).

d. Fogle protested again...Now this is interesting. Fogle got money, west coast racer x has money, west coast racer y has money and those who dont will struggle to maintain.

God bless the racers who live race to race and run equipment on shoe string budgets who are in the ball park.

Quote from one of those who can not run with Fogle @ gainesville "We were at minimum weight and couldn't run with him" so implied was "he has to be cheating"

Shame on NHRA for allowing the racers to harrass Fogle.

Shame on Andy...grow up you're 25. If you're going to play then you gotta pay and life sometimes ain't fair. Should of showed them you were legal and then went out and gone 1.40 under and make them really cry...

I wonder if i can borrow fogle's engine.

Shame on the west coast boys and kentucky/ohio players (includes you too NHRA tech man in div 3) and their engine builders. Find out how to build an engine that will run with them and use your resources for something productive.

Petitioning NHRA to allow the smaller rods because you're not legal isnt the answer.

NHRA's response......Give in again?

Lets hear it.

SS Engine Guy · 04-08-2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

NHRA's answer...Allow combustion chamber modifications instead of the corrective action of tossing them all.

Now there is a really good question. Why weren't they all tossed? Rule book plainly stated at the time that there were to be NO modifications at all in the combustion chambers. Not a grey area, easily understood, printed in black and white. These were not disquised modifications or judgement calls, these were complete reworks of the shape of the chambers. Not simple unshrouding of valves. I don't care about the arguement that others had passed tech with them. That was wrong in itself and whoever passed any should have been tossed too.

If you are going to have a rule book and not follow it when rules are plainly written in most cases. Why spend the money to print and distribute it? The cross breeding of parts is another story all to its self. I can't count the number of times over the years that I have been told, and have it in writing, that if a motor didn't come out with small journals in a certain year then it was in violation of this rule and would be disqualified and penalties to follow.

SS Observer · 04-08-2007, 04:32 PM

And did i make the point that 350/300 racers are now requesting NHRA to allow the small connecting rod to be a replacement for the larger journal.

Do the math. 1 engine combination and catering to a limited number of players rather than the overall group or mass isnt too sound.

stockracer · 04-08-2007, 04:50 PM

And because the motor in question in so great and legal, they chose to take a vacation over teardown...come on...

04-08-2007, 02:32 PM	#1
SS Observer Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Small Block Chevys & NHRA Reactions or lack of: As an observer who has followed the 350/300 engine over the last several years I'd like to make several comments. 1. Everyone is gripping about Fogle and his vehicle being too fast and the question of his legality but when you look at the facts.... a. Combustion chambers...back when this exploded @ Indy or was it Atlanta...I did a rough count here...out of 10 players with that combination only 8 had chambers that were not modified. Yet many cry and finger point. (No names mentioned just the facts) I overheard one racer say yaeh but "ours aren't as modified as his". This does not include the 327 and other heads that are modified. NHRA's answer...Allow combustion chamber modifications instead of the corrective action of tossing them all. b. Connecting rod journal size...350's never...never...came with the small journal diameters (327 size) used on the big end of rod. There was no clear definition by NHRA as to how much a journal could be cut undersize and the rule was open. NHRA got wind of the situation and stated that all large end of rod's must be OEM stock diameter +/- .025. Smart move on their part to limit rediculous undersizing of journals. Did not take far enough and limit amount of undersize perm,itted on journal. c. Spacer bearings...Fogle torn apart again (Bristol) and found to have correct rods in motor and spacer bearing. Good for Gulius and his creative thinking unlike west coast and kentucky racers who ran the smaller journal rod illegally because they did not know about spacer bearings. (Not OEM - is an argument that is long past so dont start crying again now). d. Fogle protested again...Now this is interesting. Fogle got money, west coast racer x has money, west coast racer y has money and those who dont will struggle to maintain. God bless the racers who live race to race and run equipment on shoe string budgets who are in the ball park. Quote from one of those who can not run with Fogle @ gainesville "We were at minimum weight and couldn't run with him" so implied was "he has to be cheating" Shame on NHRA for allowing the racers to harrass Fogle. Shame on Andy...grow up you're 25. If you're going to play then you gotta pay and life sometimes ain't fair. Should of showed them you were legal and then went out and gone 1.40 under and make them really cry... I wonder if i can borrow fogle's engine. Shame on the west coast boys and kentucky/ohio players (includes you too NHRA tech man in div 3) and their engine builders. Find out how to build an engine that will run with them and use your resources for something productive. Petitioning NHRA to allow the smaller rods because you're not legal isnt the answer. NHRA's response......Give in again? Lets hear it.

04-08-2007, 04:32 PM	#3
SS Observer Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	And did i make the point that 350/300 racers are now requesting NHRA to allow the small connecting rod to be a replacement for the larger journal. Do the math. 1 engine combination and catering to a limited number of players rather than the overall group or mass isnt too sound.

04-08-2007, 04:50 PM	#4
stockracer Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 79 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	And because the motor in question in so great and legal, they chose to take a vacation over teardown...come on...