4892stk
Active Member
Here are pictures of 1978 Dodge Aspen we acquired a couple of weeks ago. After giving some thought about what to do with the car I finally elected to build the car into a NHRA/IHRA Stock Eliminator race car. Originally a 318 2bbl car we have decided to run it with the 318 engine with factory horsepower rating of 155 and factored to 230hp @ 13.73 pounds per rated horsepower which puts the car in L/SA 3275 lbs with the driver in it. We are allowed to add or remove weight to move up or down a class and may if we see there is a need to. The NHRA national record is now set at a minimum 0f 12.20 second in 1/4 mile and 8.01 seconds in the 1/8 mile as no one has tried to set a record in either distance in several years. The NHRA class index (which is used as a performance basis in qualifying, etc.) is a 12.70 in NHRA. The IHRA 1/4 national record for L/SA is 12.21 @ 106.40 by Danny Waters, Jr. in a 283 powered 1966 Chevrolet Chevy II.
Here are the engine rules which are very strict and you are subject to teardown inspection at any time.
Here are the engine rules which are very strict and you are subject to teardown inspection at any time.
REQUIREMENTS & SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE: 1
AIR CLEANERS
Optional. If used, air cleaner must be OEM automotive or retain
OEM configuration. Air-cleaner base may be cut or trimmed, but
welding, bolting, riveting, epoxying, or any other form of fabrication
is prohibited. Ram tubes, velocity stacks, or non-stock-type base
plates or ducting prohibited. Cooling holes prohibited in radiator
side panels, etc. Factory air cleaners and/or scoops that fit through
hood must be affixed to carburetor as per OEM only.
BLUEPRINTING
Permitted per NHRA Specifications available from NHRA Technical
Services Department headquarters. Stock factory OEM
components (unless otherwise specified) must be retained and
remain unaltered (i.e., connecting rods, pushrods, crankshaft, etc.).
CAMSHAFT/LIFTERS
Camshaft must retain stock lift for horsepower claimed per NHRA
Technical Bulletins. Front-wheel-drive vehicles and stock trucks,
maximum lift is limited to .430-inch or OEM, whichever is greater.
Aftermarket OEM-type replacement lifters permitted. Lift checked at
valve retainer, with zero lash. Hydraulic lifter cam will be checked
with pushrod and rocker as run, plus solid lifter, at zero lash.
Plunger height of checking lifter will match extended height (no
preload) of hydraulic lifter. Hydraulic lifter may not be plugged or
bottomed. Aftermarket gear drives/belts prohibited. Aftermarket
timing covers permitted as long as OEM-type timing gears are
used. Adjustable pushrods or adjustable OEM rocker arms (not
both) permitted; must be same or greater weight as stock. Pushrod
guide plates permitted. Cylinder head may be clearanced for largerdiameter
pushrods.
CARBURETOR
Must be correct year, make, and model specified for car’s engine;
fuel or air bleed passages may be resized. Drilling idle holes in
primary throttle blades permitted. Other modifications prohibited.
Sandblasting, grinding, flash removal, dry film coating, or any other
modification to carburetors prohibited. Replacement carburetors
permitted provided they are same model, type, throttle bore, and
venturi size. Computer carburetors use latest model non-computer
carb for engine application.
CONNECTING RODS
Stock OEM or NHRA-accepted aftermarket rods permitted. NHRAaccepted
aftermarket rods must meet specifications as found on
the then-current NHRA Stock & Super Stock Replacement Rod
Acceptance List. The combined weight of the piston, pin, rings, and
connecting rod must be equal to or greater than the Minimum
Assembly Weight as found on the then-current Stock Replacement
Piston Acceptance List. Accepted replacements are published in
National DRAGSTER and on NHRARacer.com. Grinding and
polishing permitted on beams only. Shot-peening of connecting
rods permitted. Length must be stock +/- .025-inch center to center.
ENGINE: 1
AIR CLEANERS
Optional. If used, air cleaner must be OEM automotive or retain
OEM configuration. Air-cleaner base may be cut or trimmed, but
welding, bolting, riveting, epoxying, or any other form of fabrication
is prohibited. Ram tubes, velocity stacks, or non-stock-type base
plates or ducting prohibited. Cooling holes prohibited in radiator
side panels, etc. Factory air cleaners and/or scoops that fit through
hood must be affixed to carburetor as per OEM only.
BLUEPRINTING
Permitted per NHRA Specifications available from NHRA Technical
Services Department headquarters. Stock factory OEM
components (unless otherwise specified) must be retained and
remain unaltered (i.e., connecting rods, pushrods, crankshaft, etc.).
CAMSHAFT/LIFTERS
Camshaft must retain stock lift for horsepower claimed per NHRA
Technical Bulletins. Front-wheel-drive vehicles and stock trucks,
maximum lift is limited to .430-inch or OEM, whichever is greater.
Aftermarket OEM-type replacement lifters permitted. Lift checked at
valve retainer, with zero lash. Hydraulic lifter cam will be checked
with pushrod and rocker as run, plus solid lifter, at zero lash.
Plunger height of checking lifter will match extended height (no
preload) of hydraulic lifter. Hydraulic lifter may not be plugged or
bottomed. Aftermarket gear drives/belts prohibited. Aftermarket
timing covers permitted as long as OEM-type timing gears are
used. Adjustable pushrods or adjustable OEM rocker arms (not
both) permitted; must be same or greater weight as stock. Pushrod
guide plates permitted. Cylinder head may be clearanced for largerdiameter
pushrods.
CARBURETOR
Must be correct year, make, and model specified for car’s engine;
fuel or air bleed passages may be resized. Drilling idle holes in
primary throttle blades permitted. Other modifications prohibited.
Sandblasting, grinding, flash removal, dry film coating, or any other
modification to carburetors prohibited. Replacement carburetors
permitted provided they are same model, type, throttle bore, and
venturi size. Computer carburetors use latest model non-computer
carb for engine application.
CONNECTING RODS
Stock OEM or NHRA-accepted aftermarket rods permitted. NHRAaccepted
aftermarket rods must meet specifications as found on
the then-current NHRA Stock & Super Stock Replacement Rod
Acceptance List. The combined weight of the piston, pin, rings, and
connecting rod must be equal to or greater than the Minimum
Assembly Weight as found on the then-current Stock Replacement
Piston Acceptance List. Accepted replacements are published in
National DRAGSTER and on NHRARacer.com. Grinding and
polishing permitted on beams only. Shot-peening of connecting
rods permitted. Length must be stock +/- .025-inch center to center.