After having two operations in 2025, going into 2026 feeling better than I have in a long time, so trying to finish up my new build, 73 nova, 6.0, D1SC Procharger, 4l80e, stock rear for now. Waiting on the vinyl roof material, soon as I finish that move it to the lift, then rock & roll on the fuel system, brake lines, all the underneath stuff. I did the body work to make it look like a 68-72, get rid of the big bumpers, lol.

 

For 2026 I'm hoping to put my car on E this year but at worst get it running and everything working (lights/windows/etc.) on the Haltech and run the meth kit for another year or two.
Really gonna depend on money, E will definitely happen if I can sell some parts.
If the meth kit doesn't sell, is there any benefit to just leaving it on the car when running E85?

 

It definitely will be a benefit, as it will cool the intake charge further.

 

I was at 14*, but have a table to pull timing once the IAT gets over 250…

Enjoy Nola.

 

Last time I was there, a local buddy and I went out to eat and then drove over to the the Pad, famous street racing spot. Good times.

5.30 is really big in my area, two separate series (GLD, Byron) cooperating on the rules.

 

Win the powerball!!!!!
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Oh, were we still talking about vehicles? Id put 500k in my truck and have the baddest 8 second daily driver silverado riding around Louisiana, until I left the state of course.

 

I wish we had lil gangsters around here.

 

Might pop up, I'd say its the fastest growing class right now.

Kev and I talk on a regular basis, we were talking about the Cecil "slower" class, they changed up the rules. Kinda reads like a high mid 7s 1/4 class. Some of the regulars from last year would have preferred a class that wouldn't push them into doing a 25.5 and some doing want to run 170+ in the 1/4.

 

The cost of getting a cage these days is bonkers too.
I was looking at doing an 8.50 cage for mine, $2,000 for the cage and $4,000 for the install is silly.
Can't even imagine what a proper 25.5 cage would run.

 

Why do you think I'm going outlaw and running no cage? I'm well past the cut off and neither track I go to has said a word about it. Although that may change, as both tracks have picked up different sanctioning bodies.

 

Outlaw for the win, I have no plans of putting a cage in my truck.

 

Both my local tracks are NHRA tracks so they use the NHRA rulebook so for NHRA or public events I'm limited to 10.0 or slower.
Now with that said, evidently, they are much more lenient during private rentals or private events.
NW Nights is a local group that hosts a roll racing / 1/8-mile event at Bremerton raceway, and their only criteria is a helmet and a jacket and some of those boys are extremely fast.
Some gents I know do private rentals and are running deep in the 8's, some in the 7's and I know for a fact they don't have all the safety requirements covered.
So that's my plan anyways lol.

 

Ive never been to a track that wasn't NHRA, I thought majority of them were?

 

For years Bremerton was not but it is now.
I really think it depends on the tech inspector, I've been going to SIR (Pacific Raceways) for decades and had some guys go over the car with a fine-tooth comb and others not even open the hood.

 

Labor sounds high.

 

oh no the tracks I go too arent like that, you pull up and fill out your tech card and show them you have a helmet and your good to go. I was running the daily driver class with a transbrake and fender exit and didnt get told anything.

 

yeh thats really high

 

I'd think labor prices will vary by region. I think my buddy in NJ charged a guy 3 grand labor to weld in a 8.50 cage into a Nova.

 

my tuner builds cages occasionally, its not his preferred cup of tea but he does it and i know he wouldn't charge me anywhere close to that if i needed one.

 

The average shop labor rate up here is $200/hr., figure 24 hours or 3 days labor for one guy to install a pre-cut/bent RSM cage puts him at $145.00/hr. which was lower than everyone else.
If I could find someone cheaper that'd be great, I paid $2,000 for a custom bent chromoly cage w/ swingouts and all the fix ins for my 1970 Camaro 20 years ago so I'm a bit out of touch lol.