Chassis tech on 23 T Bucket bracket car

[metermatch]

I recently picked up a 23 T bucket type of car to bracket race. Non-certified, it has a very mild 327 Chevy/Powerglide, and I plan to slow it down slightly to run low 12's at about 115 mph. (it is currently running 7.3's in 1/8 mile). I like to run the Summit series in Sportsman and Pro, and would also run ANRA open wheel, and park my 1979 Mustang.

My problem is I just read the latest version of the rule book (yes, I know, dumb), and I am looking at the chassis specs, and it appears the certified chassis specs for Altereds, Roadsters, and Dragsters, are required on all cars 10.00 sec and slower. These specs were in the rule book in the past, but my understanding was that they were enforced for cars that needed to be certified (9.99 and faster).

My car is a 23 T Bucket, with 4 link rear suspension, front suspension from probably a kit car 23T bucket (but spring removed, solid susp). Frame is 1 1/2" x 3" rectangle steel, probably .125 wall. Cage is very very large (32"w x 42"h) 1 5/8" by probably .120 wall steel. Per the rule book, it is missing a few diagonals. Floor is 1/8" plate. The vertical members of the cage structure go down, curve 90 degrees, and are welded to the side of the 1 1/2 x 3" frame. The very front cage bar does not slope 25 degrees back. It is nearly vertical. The car is close to what you might see as a street legal T Bucket, but this one has never been street legal.

My questions are:

1) Is this car an Altered, Roadster, or Dragster for rules purposes?

2) Are all the chassis rules in the book applicable for this 12 second car, or am I missing something?

3) Based on the limited info above, what can be done to save the chassis for my intended purpose?

I understand different tracks can be easier or harder to get a car through tech. I plan to race at many tracks, and I want a car that won't raise any eyebrows anywhere. Sure, the easy answer is do what is necessary to get it certed. I was wondering if there was an easier way. I'm guessing major surgery would be necessary to get it certifiable.

If anyone needs pictures, I can email. I don't know how to post here.

I was hoping to have this car running for the October finals.

Thank You,

Jeff

[metermatch]

After a little research online, I have a pretty good idea of what my car is:

It looks like a T bucket kit car, probably the one being sold by Speedway Motors. It has a few modifications, such as rack and pinion steering. The rear of the chassis has been extended, and a Competition Engineering 4 link setup added, with coil over shocks, Ford 9", spool, axles, and 4.56 gears. Wheelbase is now 124". It was raced back East for about 8 - 10 years.

It has a regular kit car fiberglass bucket for a body. Car builder then built a cage out of 1 5/8" tube, that pretty much fills the inside of the body. Cage is a bit wider than the frame rails, which is why it doesn't go straight down to the top of the frame rails, but curves 90 degrees and is welded to sides of frame rails.

My question is still what problems am I going to have trying to race this 12 second car? Any modifications that I should make to the car?

Thank You for any input,

Jeff

[FEDowner]

I think they key is E.T. as far as chassis certs are concerned. I would call NHRA tec dept.
NHRA Tech
2035 Financial Way
Glendora, CA 91741
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

[dmoseley]

On the 23T.. If it runs 10 sec.OR FASTER then you need a chassis cert.. It would probably be concidered an altered. But with the ET you say, no cert required. Just build it with all the safety stuff required..And your belts up to date.....

[metermatch]

Thanks for the replys so far, guys.

I already have a call into NHRA. I will chase them down this week.

As for the chassis cert only being needed if you go faster than 10 seconds, I agree with what you said.

I bought my T bucket, to run 12 seconds, and figured it would be a piece of cake to get teched. Pretty much the same as my 13 second Mustang.

But I was reading the new rule book, and it has chassis requirements for altereds, roadsters, and dragsters, that clearly state for cars "10 seconds and slower". These were the chassis specs that I thought were to cert a chassis 9.99 and faster.

The way I read the rule book, if my T bucket ran an 18 second 1/4 mile, the NHRA could enforce the same chassis requirements that are required for a certified chassis. But I wouldn't actually need to get a certification.

I am used to seeing rules that say something like: at 13 seconds you need this, at 12 seconds you need this and this, etc.

I am guessing a lot of this is up to the tech guys at the track. I would hate to drive a long distance to a race, only to find a tech guy on a bad day. I am usually pretty careful about not breaking the rules, and have never failed a car tech.

Thank You,

Jeff