47
Rookie
Posts: 15
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Post by 47 on Apr 13, 2012 16:34:39 GMT -5
I am involved in promoting demos in the southern MN, and northern Iowa area, I help inspect, and work with multiple promoters throughout the year. I try very hard to understand what some of these "new school" products do, and there unintended consequences.  . I am interested in peoples thoughts about what effect the engine cradle/dist protector/tranny protector has on the cars bending, and how to make it fair for those who don't run them. |
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Post by derbyguyf16 on Apr 15, 2012 11:25:47 GMT -5
Allow cradles and nothing else. Atleast the cradle will save the engine mount holes and allow a engine that has a broken bolt hole or 2 to still be useable. All the rest are nothing more then kickers.
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Post by dirtworker on Apr 15, 2012 13:28:10 GMT -5
If you don't want it used as a advantage allow either a dist protector or the cradle. The cradle will only allow a small advantage without the dp. And if they try to use the dp without the cradle the will end up with a broke block. Just my .02
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Post by hitparade on Apr 18, 2012 11:53:24 GMT -5
The original use of a DP or any other protector may not have been a kicker but that is what are most are used for these days. Even if it wasn't designed to be, people still use them that way. A person can build mounts that don't protect anything and still hold everything in place. most guys don't want that though. They want to use these parts as kickers. There are three simple answers that I have come across. One, allow every and all protectors out there. if you choose this route you will still have complaints from people that don't have the money to buy parts or the ability to build parts. Two, allow nothing that could contact the firewall. This method will bring to light the true builders and thinkers. Who can keep everything together and running without kickers/protectors. Three, allow kickers from the dash bar to the frame behind the a-arms. With these who cares what else is allowed. If a guy wants to put a grand into protectors then let him. If a guy doesn't have the money to buy all that stuff he can surely come up with two pieces of pipe or tubing to weld from the dash bar to the frame.
Later
Brandon
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Post by scottgropp on Apr 18, 2012 13:52:39 GMT -5
Distributor protectors are necessary as a trade-off to huge holes in the firewall. This is a safety issue, not a strength issue. Keeping as much of the "firewall" (exactly as the name implies, in case some folks have missed that) in place as you can helps from spraying trans fluid, anti-freeze, and gives a driver more time if there is a fuel or oil fire under the hood.
The original ones, like mine, were meant to do that, not act as kickers. I built the hoop around the carb to keep the headers out of the carb/air cleaner/valve covers and prevent damage and fire. I first used them in an un-tilted vic many years ago.
With safety at issue, the DP keeps things safe, and wouldn't be a kicker at all if the lower mounts were left alone. The lower mounts will bend, and much of the time the stock cups wouldn't break block ears with stock lower mounts. With the cradle making the engine act as the meduim to connect the DP to the firewall/dash bar, then you have strength.
I like distributor protectors for fire safety, and nothing else up there - if you are looking to get back to stock shows. I believe this is where we are headed in the next couple of years.
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Post by dirtworker on Apr 18, 2012 16:32:51 GMT -5
I agree with Scott other then the breaking blocks parts. I've broke three or four with no protectors of any kind and stock cups. BUT if you don't want your stuff broke, DON'T derby.
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Post by scottgropp on Apr 18, 2012 16:53:11 GMT -5
I agree with Scott other then the breaking blocks parts. I've broke three or four with no protectors of any kind and stock cups. BUT if you don't want your stuff broke, DON'T derby. Just curious - were you breaking them with both the stock cup and stock rubber lower mount? I'm not doubting you may have, but I was just trying to make sure. I had quite a few customers using the stock upper cups, but putting them on pieces of 4x4 square tubing and those were tall and went up into the cup area, so the cup never actually could bend, if that makes sense. I saw blocks in those break a fair amount. Just wondering if that was the setup you broke most? |
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ghost61
Heat Winner
Rod Hankins / JYD #61
Posts: 63
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Post by ghost61 on Apr 18, 2012 17:42:51 GMT -5
I broke a few ears off SBC with stock mounts, seemed like a 50/50 chance it would break the bolts or the block. I'm all good with front lower cradles, and even pully protectors, but not full engine protectors, trans bellhousings, braces, solid mounts ..... that really limits where the cars can bent if built right ...... and lets face it, the crowd likes to see bent cars, not bumper cars. without the crowd, no prize money ....
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Post by pourdown437 on Apr 18, 2012 21:51:15 GMT -5
I got a lot of money in my motor and im all for putting 200lbs+ of steel on my motor
BUT I KNOW ITS "legal" CHEATING i personally like running the more "built" shows but i dont see the issue with letting guys run their full engine protectors just make them cut the firewall out behind the dp and NO CHAINS can come off the motor to frame anywhere you could even go as far as making guys run a factory replacement rubber frame mount
If you cant run the chains, solid mounts or a firewall you can have all the steel you want on a motor and its doing nothing
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Post by dirtworker on Apr 19, 2012 17:11:10 GMT -5
Scott every bit of it was stock. Stock cups and stock lower mounts. I can remember breaking two of them and my wife has broke at least one this way.
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Post by yousoldout on Apr 20, 2012 9:54:16 GMT -5
the ole 'crowd wants to see cars bend argument'
adam sandler movies make $$$ at the box office....people go to watch them....it sure as heck doesnt make it a good movie lol
dane cook sells 20K seat arenas....doesnt make him funny
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Post by scottgropp on Apr 20, 2012 10:43:54 GMT -5
Maybe every Adam Sandler movie needs 8 lug rears, kickers, and whatever else it is you seem to put in almost every post you make.
That would make you happy, right?
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Post by chevyman422 on Apr 20, 2012 10:44:42 GMT -5
If you dont let ppl protect their investment they won't want to run your shows. That's the issue our local track is having. I have a hard time not putting a brace on a rearend that's worth about $1500 to run a 1000 show and risking a set of $600 Mosier axles laying on the track. Drivers want their cars to last and their equipment to last even longer... Imo
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Post by 686racing on Apr 20, 2012 10:58:29 GMT -5
I have never broke a block with the stock uppers and lowers.. not saying its not been done.. mostly my lower rip and then i am left with the engine twisting which ever way the trans is going.. I now have a DP/ cradle/PP and halo.. i run mostly GM stuff and my DP will not go back to the firewall without major mods to the steering or taking off the Pulley protector.
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Post by yousoldout on Apr 20, 2012 11:22:19 GMT -5
Maybe every Adam Sandler movie needs 8 lug rears, kickers, and whatever else it is you seem to put in almost every post you make. That would make you happy, right? why do you gotta be so mean i didnt say anything to you |
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