John has been plagued with many teething pains in his quest for an LSR record. Not only engine but body rules too. His frame alterations of late were once never allowed and may prove to be a big help. It’s a big truck.
An observation on LSR competition and rule book led me to what I chose for an engine when I started in competition in 1975. I could have done better with the body chosen but that would come later.
When I started there was only “X” and “XX” and a limit of 325 cubic inches and no breaks. I naturally looked to the biggest engines, Hudson 6, Buick 8. GMC 6, and Chrysler 8, to not want to give up too much. Flathead Ford-Merc just gave up to much even tho there was mixture in the records at the time. I chose the 302 GMC 6 which I was most familiar and have been very competitive over the last 45 years. The class was later split. Ford Mercs in XF and everything else in XO, the “O” was for other, as I was at the meeting.
Today with the costs of cars to start it’s tougher to decide but I can tell you from experience “ smaller is better” whether in a modified body class or in a production class. For the most part this is very true in all SCTA classes. I for one have found many places where I can improve parasitic load reduction whenever I can because I can no longer alter the vehicle I’m using but sometimes the choice of vehicle was too much to over come. As an example: if using a 53-56 Ford pickup. The last one anyone would choose is the 56….look at the windshield to top line. The mid 70’s GM Monza body style still hold records for a reason…
I really admire and love to see the differences when I go to Bonneville which one of the last places where “cookie cutter cars” don’t seem to be. I wish everyone good luck