NHRA Rules: A Lot To Swallow?
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NHRA Rules: A Lot To Swallow? First off let me state that I am in no way bashing or making gripes against NHRA. The whole point of everything they require is safety, which is I understand. I am on the path of making my car NHRA legal since this is what most big drag races require, but notice that some of the requests leave me scratching my head. 
I run high 10s and am wondering what other people have done/think regarding the "aftermarket harmonic balancer" and the "tranny shield" since these CAN get pricey and what is wrong with the stock parts? And, I am thinking the tranny shield will encourage the heat in the tranny to stay there longer, right? 
All my requirements are in the Super Stock Class. (10.90) Also, if my Kirkey light-weight seat is about 6 inches from my roll bar but protects the back of my head because it is so tall, do I still have to weld some rigged-up metal bracket to connect the two? And how many tracks actually enforce the 95 decibel limit? I think the TA is much louder than that. 
Thanks for the comments and experiences are appreciated!
I run high 10s and am wondering what other people have done/think regarding the "aftermarket harmonic balancer" and the "tranny shield" since these CAN get pricey and what is wrong with the stock parts? And, I am thinking the tranny shield will encourage the heat in the tranny to stay there longer, right? All my requirements are in the Super Stock Class. (10.90) Also, if my Kirkey light-weight seat is about 6 inches from my roll bar but protects the back of my head because it is so tall, do I still have to weld some rigged-up metal bracket to connect the two? And how many tracks actually enforce the 95 decibel limit? I think the TA is much louder than that. Thanks for the comments and experiences are appreciated! Unless you race Super Stock use the ET rules. The tranny shield is only to protect your feet, and I have seen the stock balancers come apart. Most people dont check their balancers to see if they are still good so NHRA had to put a rule in.
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All though I agree with you to an extent the other side of me disagrees. Let me point out some of the things I disagree with you. R
Stock parts- were just that. Not made for racing. Can a t56 take a 200 shot out the hole? Yes. Would you want to have your legs right next to it unprotected? Not I.
Balancer- SFI approved. 90% of all parts that spin at high rpms need to be a proven part under extreme conditions (hence SFI).
Tranny shield- Completely disagree. If you have ever witnessed the destruction of a tranny/clutch its not pretty. When it breaks, fragments of the clutch/tranny become high speed projectiles which could easily enforce major damage to your legs. You do like walking right? Life would be very different without them. Even though the t56/TH400 are strong trannys you always side on caution.
Seat/cage requirement- Yes the seat needs to be braced to the cage. Just weld up some thick brackets.
Noise level- Don't know of any tracks here in FL enforce this rule but I do know that Englishtown does cause its close to housing.
The rules are always changing...well updates to the rules are usually done due to the season prior and incident occured which the rule didn't cover whether there was an injury or not. Again they are always gonna go with the side of caution. I do agree that it sucks spending a lot of money on parts that don't make you go faster. -Mark
Stock parts- were just that. Not made for racing. Can a t56 take a 200 shot out the hole? Yes. Would you want to have your legs right next to it unprotected? Not I.
Balancer- SFI approved. 90% of all parts that spin at high rpms need to be a proven part under extreme conditions (hence SFI).
Tranny shield- Completely disagree. If you have ever witnessed the destruction of a tranny/clutch its not pretty. When it breaks, fragments of the clutch/tranny become high speed projectiles which could easily enforce major damage to your legs. You do like walking right? Life would be very different without them. Even though the t56/TH400 are strong trannys you always side on caution.
Seat/cage requirement- Yes the seat needs to be braced to the cage. Just weld up some thick brackets.
Noise level- Don't know of any tracks here in FL enforce this rule but I do know that Englishtown does cause its close to housing.
The rules are always changing...well updates to the rules are usually done due to the season prior and incident occured which the rule didn't cover whether there was an injury or not. Again they are always gonna go with the side of caution. I do agree that it sucks spending a lot of money on parts that don't make you go faster. -Mark
I don't understand the balancer.
What goes wrong? how do you know when something is wrong with it?
How do you check it?
We were just talking about the tranny shield:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-racing-tech/678909-nhra-question.html
What goes wrong? how do you know when something is wrong with it?
How do you check it?
We were just talking about the tranny shield:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/drag-racing-tech/678909-nhra-question.html
Originally Posted by brandonppr
There was a guy last year at my local track that works at the track doing the burnouts.
A car was I think coming out of the burn out and blew the trans. Fragments went thru the SFI shield and came out and hit the guy helping with the burnout and went thru his I think elbow and out his shoulder. he got hurt pretty bad but it could have been worse.
I can't imagine what it would have done with no shield could have hit some people in the audiunce and hurt them. I can't remember but I think this was a rear engine dragster so the trans was away from the driver.
But that is a scary thought. If it can go thru that shield your floorpan would be nothing to go thru.
A car was I think coming out of the burn out and blew the trans. Fragments went thru the SFI shield and came out and hit the guy helping with the burnout and went thru his I think elbow and out his shoulder. he got hurt pretty bad but it could have been worse.
I can't imagine what it would have done with no shield could have hit some people in the audiunce and hurt them. I can't remember but I think this was a rear engine dragster so the trans was away from the driver.
But that is a scary thought. If it can go thru that shield your floorpan would be nothing to go thru.
Originally Posted by kp
Not as scary as seeing a 50lb manual trans flywheel explode and nearly cut a car in half.
Most flexplate failures are from the converter/crank/belhousing bolts coming loose or something being misaligned. When guys were first putting the JW bellhousings on these they didnt realize the rear cover bolts were not letting the bellhousing sit flush to the block and it was tearing up flexplates. On a TH350/400/powerglide conversion on one of these there is no reason not to check all the bolts once in a while especially if the car is street driven. A trans/flexplate shield is a last ditch effore to stop something that a lot of times could have easily been prevented to begin with so it important to keep an eye of stuff and ears open for noises that werent there before coming from the trans/flexplate area..
Most flexplate failures are from the converter/crank/belhousing bolts coming loose or something being misaligned. When guys were first putting the JW bellhousings on these they didnt realize the rear cover bolts were not letting the bellhousing sit flush to the block and it was tearing up flexplates. On a TH350/400/powerglide conversion on one of these there is no reason not to check all the bolts once in a while especially if the car is street driven. A trans/flexplate shield is a last ditch effore to stop something that a lot of times could have easily been prevented to begin with so it important to keep an eye of stuff and ears open for noises that werent there before coming from the trans/flexplate area..
Originally Posted by brandonppr
I agree.
Just shows how much danger there is for the empoyees working the starting line. Not that it happens all the time but you just never know and it does happen. We need to check this stuff for our saftey and theirs.
Not just that but it is a good idea to have a checklist of bolts to recheck on a schedule so they are not overlooked.
Every time I check mine I find something that has found its way loose.
Also if you are hearing a noise from anywhere that you have not heard before. Its not going to fix itself and there is something wrong so its a good idea to take care of it before you run.
Just shows how much danger there is for the empoyees working the starting line. Not that it happens all the time but you just never know and it does happen. We need to check this stuff for our saftey and theirs.
Not just that but it is a good idea to have a checklist of bolts to recheck on a schedule so they are not overlooked.
Every time I check mine I find something that has found its way loose.
Also if you are hearing a noise from anywhere that you have not heard before. Its not going to fix itself and there is something wrong so its a good idea to take care of it before you run.
Trans blanket is cheap, they fit with no problem, dont have to worry about a flexplate/shield until you hit 9s.
The balancer rule came about in the early 80s when people would beat a 20 year old stock damper on with the sledgehammer and take their small block chevy to 10,000rpm and it the rubber was so old it just fell apart and the whole thing blew apart.
Since LS1s are fairly new and the outer ring/bonding seems to do pretty well they havent blown apart yet. Even though I have seen a couple C5 damper outer rings where the belts are move forward enough to hit the rack. Since most LSI underdrive pulleys are SFI and 'legal' at least you get a little performance for the safety..
Most tracks these days dont even check for blankets and balancers anyhow. Wheel studs, driveshaft loop, catch can, secure battery, helmet and seat belt dates are about it until you get in the 9s.
The balancer rule came about in the early 80s when people would beat a 20 year old stock damper on with the sledgehammer and take their small block chevy to 10,000rpm and it the rubber was so old it just fell apart and the whole thing blew apart.
Since LS1s are fairly new and the outer ring/bonding seems to do pretty well they havent blown apart yet. Even though I have seen a couple C5 damper outer rings where the belts are move forward enough to hit the rack. Since most LSI underdrive pulleys are SFI and 'legal' at least you get a little performance for the safety..
Most tracks these days dont even check for blankets and balancers anyhow. Wheel studs, driveshaft loop, catch can, secure battery, helmet and seat belt dates are about it until you get in the 9s.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
And here I tought you were going to cover the biggest talked about rule this year...The Engine diaper rule.
All the stuff you mentioed is not that bad OR that expensive.
Man the track you guys run at must not have insurance or some thing. You race in Division Six you better have your paper work and prepare to be inspected! If you are not legal just load up and leave
All the stuff you mentioed is not that bad OR that expensive.
Man the track you guys run at must not have insurance or some thing. You race in Division Six you better have your paper work and prepare to be inspected! If you are not legal just load up and leave
The NHRA track I race at Tech is just signing a paper.
every now in then they check someones car but not very often and it is usually a street car that runs 10-11 second 8th miles and they get them for something wrong with there hood pins or something like that on there honda civic.
I never seen them check race cars.
division 2 here
every now in then they check someones car but not very often and it is usually a street car that runs 10-11 second 8th miles and they get them for something wrong with there hood pins or something like that on there honda civic.
I never seen them check race cars.
division 2 here
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My car is 100% legal to 8.50, certified and I have a license but no one here (not even NHRA tracks) ever has even looked at the car on a T&T day Except for Commerce. 'Real' events are a different story and a couple 1/8 mile tracks want a roll bar faster then 6.99.
Now in Chicago at the NHRA tracks they looked at everything but around here you can get away with just about anything unless you do something stupid.
It all has to do with getting cars in the track, if tech is too tough most people around here will just hit the outlaw tracks..
Now in Chicago at the NHRA tracks they looked at everything but around here you can get away with just about anything unless you do something stupid.
It all has to do with getting cars in the track, if tech is too tough most people around here will just hit the outlaw tracks..
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Alright, so I need a tranny blanket and SFI Harmonic Balancer. So if I go to tech and do not pass because of something minor, does that mean I get my $200 entry fee back, because this is what it costs for 1 racer and 1 pit crew. I heard Houston was a little tough, and I am in Division 4. Yea, I guess most things are affordable, but it just seems like a lot of requirements!
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Originally Posted by Bitemark46
All though I agree with you to an extent the other side of me disagrees. Let me point out some of the things I disagree with you. R
Stock parts- were just that. Not made for racing. Can a t56 take a 200 shot out the hole? Yes. Would you want to have your legs right next to it unprotected? Not I.
Balancer- SFI approved. 90% of all parts that spin at high rpms need to be a proven part under extreme conditions (hence SFI).
Tranny shield- Completely disagree. If you have ever witnessed the destruction of a tranny/clutch its not pretty. When it breaks, fragments of the clutch/tranny become high speed projectiles which could easily enforce major damage to your legs. You do like walking right? Life would be very different without them. Even though the t56/TH400 are strong trannys you always side on caution.
Seat/cage requirement- Yes the seat needs to be braced to the cage. Just weld up some thick brackets.
Noise level- Don't know of any tracks here in FL enforce this rule but I do know that Englishtown does cause its close to housing.
The rules are always changing...well updates to the rules are usually done due to the season prior and incident occured which the rule didn't cover whether there was an injury or not. Again they are always gonna go with the side of caution. I do agree that it sucks spending a lot of money on parts that don't make you go faster. -Mark
Stock parts- were just that. Not made for racing. Can a t56 take a 200 shot out the hole? Yes. Would you want to have your legs right next to it unprotected? Not I.
Balancer- SFI approved. 90% of all parts that spin at high rpms need to be a proven part under extreme conditions (hence SFI).
Tranny shield- Completely disagree. If you have ever witnessed the destruction of a tranny/clutch its not pretty. When it breaks, fragments of the clutch/tranny become high speed projectiles which could easily enforce major damage to your legs. You do like walking right? Life would be very different without them. Even though the t56/TH400 are strong trannys you always side on caution.
Seat/cage requirement- Yes the seat needs to be braced to the cage. Just weld up some thick brackets.
Noise level- Don't know of any tracks here in FL enforce this rule but I do know that Englishtown does cause its close to housing.
The rules are always changing...well updates to the rules are usually done due to the season prior and incident occured which the rule didn't cover whether there was an injury or not. Again they are always gonna go with the side of caution. I do agree that it sucks spending a lot of money on parts that don't make you go faster. -Mark
What oil filter and how many quarts do you run in your car on race day? I saw you at Dale last Thursday all over the rev limiter in 2nd gear in the burnout. Im asking because I want to help prevent something before its too late.
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Originally Posted by fasttagurl
I see where you are coming from and I never thought about it that way. So not really any trouble with heat disapation?
-Mark Guest
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On the tranny sheild. Ask Big Daddy Don Garlits (sp?) if he wish he would of had one when his clutch exploded and took off part of his foot.
Whats the rule on bracing the seats to the cage?
I found out last night that all cages have to have a window net regardless of how slow the car is. Thats the only SILLY rule I have found.
Whats the rule on bracing the seats to the cage?
I found out last night that all cages have to have a window net regardless of how slow the car is. Thats the only SILLY rule I have found.
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Originally Posted by V6 Bird
What oil filter and how many quarts do you run in your car on race day? I saw you at Dale last Thursday all over the rev limiter in 2nd gear in the burnout. Im asking because I want to help prevent something before its too late.
Originally Posted by kp
My car is 100% legal to 8.50, certified and I have a license but no one here (not even NHRA tracks) ever has even looked at the car on a T&T day Except for Commerce. 'Real' events are a different story and a couple 1/8 mile tracks want a roll bar faster then 6.99.
Now in Chicago at the NHRA tracks they looked at everything but around here you can get away with just about anything unless you do something stupid.
It all has to do with getting cars in the track, if tech is too tough most people around here will just hit the outlaw tracks..
Now in Chicago at the NHRA tracks they looked at everything but around here you can get away with just about anything unless you do something stupid.
It all has to do with getting cars in the track, if tech is too tough most people around here will just hit the outlaw tracks..
It's just like insurance...I hope I, nor anyone, would ever have to test out their safety equipement, but if I do, I feel much better that I have a roll cage that went beyond the rules (extra rocker and frontal bars, etc.), have a HANS device I race with (which next year, all sub 10.0 cars will need one or another SFI approved heck & neck restraint), and so on.
If I had a guarantee that I'd never cut a tire down at speed, get another car in my lane, get out of the groove, etc., I'd rip my cage out, run in shorts, heck, maybe "nekkid" to save some more weight, and not worry about it. More likely, it's my two sons and wife that have changed my perspective a bit to say the least.
I have added less than 200#'s in safety equipment (cage, helmet, trans blanket & shield, window net, driveshaft loop, etc.). I'll take a 0.2-0.25 hit in my ET. Not trying to start any arguments, just stating that, in my opinion, it was money well spent, and that, in fact, I should have gone all the way sooner than keep running so fast without all the required gear.
Safe racing and travels to all. Take care. Dave
Originally Posted by RUQWIKR
Like kp, I am also NHRA licensed and the car is approved down to 8.50. What I laugh at is how many of us and so many people I see at various tracks that have 10's of thousands of dollars into their cars to go fast, but at the same time, they have the biggest POS helmet, maybe a 5-pt roll bar, old seatbelts, etc.
It's just like insurance...I hope I, nor anyone, would ever have to test out their safety equipement, but if I do, I feel much better that I have a roll cage that went beyond the rules (extra rocker and frontal bars, etc.), have a HANS device I race with (which next year, all sub 10.0 cars will need one or another SFI approved heck & neck restraint), and so on.
If I had a guarantee that I'd never cut a tire down at speed, get another car in my lane, get out of the groove, etc., I'd rip my cage out, run in shorts, heck, maybe "nekkid" to save some more weight, and not worry about it. More likely, it's my two sons and wife that have changed my perspective a bit to say the least.
I have added less than 200#'s in safety equipment (cage, helmet, trans blanket & shield, window net, driveshaft loop, etc.). I'll take a 0.2-0.25 hit in my ET. Not trying to start any arguments, just stating that, in my opinion, it was money well spent, and that, in fact, I should have gone all the way sooner than keep running so fast without all the required gear.
Safe racing and travels to all. Take care. Dave
It's just like insurance...I hope I, nor anyone, would ever have to test out their safety equipement, but if I do, I feel much better that I have a roll cage that went beyond the rules (extra rocker and frontal bars, etc.), have a HANS device I race with (which next year, all sub 10.0 cars will need one or another SFI approved heck & neck restraint), and so on.
If I had a guarantee that I'd never cut a tire down at speed, get another car in my lane, get out of the groove, etc., I'd rip my cage out, run in shorts, heck, maybe "nekkid" to save some more weight, and not worry about it. More likely, it's my two sons and wife that have changed my perspective a bit to say the least.
I have added less than 200#'s in safety equipment (cage, helmet, trans blanket & shield, window net, driveshaft loop, etc.). I'll take a 0.2-0.25 hit in my ET. Not trying to start any arguments, just stating that, in my opinion, it was money well spent, and that, in fact, I should have gone all the way sooner than keep running so fast without all the required gear.
Safe racing and travels to all. Take care. Dave
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When it comes to safey I have a WOLFE 10 point in the car, 5 point a brand new full face G-Force helmet, and race seats about to go in and picking up a window net and jacket.
Right now the car runs 13's...........
This year it will run A LOT faster (single digets)
Its like the guys that built thousand plus horse motors then do the suspension later.... just don't understand it...
Right now the car runs 13's...........
This year it will run A LOT faster (single digets)
Its like the guys that built thousand plus horse motors then do the suspension later.... just don't understand it...
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Originally Posted by JUICED96Z
When it comes to safey I have a WOLFE 10 point in the car, 5 point a brand new full face G-Force helmet, and race seats about to go in and picking up a window net and jacket.
Right now the car runs 13's...........
This year it will run A LOT faster (single digets)
Its like the guys that built thousand plus horse motors then do the suspension later.... just don't understand it...
Right now the car runs 13's...........
This year it will run A LOT faster (single digets)
Its like the guys that built thousand plus horse motors then do the suspension later.... just don't understand it...
I have done all my safety mods in between making the car faster, so I think I have given both equal attention. I sure do miss my comfortable leather seat though!!
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From: Tampa, FL
Originally Posted by JUICED96Z
When it comes to safey I have a WOLFE 10 point in the car, 5 point a brand new full face G-Force helmet, and race seats about to go in and picking up a window net and jacket.
Right now the car runs 13's...........
This year it will run A LOT faster (single digets)
Its like the guys that built thousand plus horse motors then do the suspension later.... just don't understand it...
Right now the car runs 13's...........
This year it will run A LOT faster (single digets)
Its like the guys that built thousand plus horse motors then do the suspension later.... just don't understand it...
-Mark
Your converter balooning & sticking tranny would make me WANT a shield. The worst part of the tranny blanket is getting the top center bolt installed. Otherwise it's no big deal. My temps didn't go up at all with the blankie, or so little I haven't noticed. But I do run a B&M 24k cooler. (& don't waste your $ on a 700r4 shield - they don't fit)
As for the balancer, the stock ones have been known to fail on certain cars. And any peice weighing that much coming off at 6,000 + rpms can be dangerous. My car is good to 10.0, but nobody has ever looked at anything, not even the ds loop. I have all the SFI #s written down in my book & all they ever look at is my helmet.
As for the balancer, the stock ones have been known to fail on certain cars. And any peice weighing that much coming off at 6,000 + rpms can be dangerous. My car is good to 10.0, but nobody has ever looked at anything, not even the ds loop. I have all the SFI #s written down in my book & all they ever look at is my helmet.