Thread: NHRA Tech Question for Techinspector or Anyone

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I will soon be plumbing the Spyder. The simplest route for the various runs of tubing is straight down the top corners of the large transmission tunnel. Running it down the inside of the frame rails will put everything in very close proximity to the mufflers and definitely require heat shielding. Running it down the outside of the frame rails is pretty much a no-no too.

I'm pretty sure that NHRA won't allow any plumbing in the driveshaft area no matter how well you armor it. If they won't, I doubt any other racing organizations will either. Am I correct on this? I may never have to pass NHRA tech, but I figure their recommendations have good foundations.

I do plan at least 1 driveshaft hoop (most likely 2) and could fab a protective shield that is virtually bullet proof (literally). I may also look into extra steel around the bellhousing area since my feet will be right next to it.

I'm not really planning on racing the car seriously, just an occasional "run what you brung" drag race or auto-X.

Any thoughts on this?

I think the bellhousing and flywheel / clutch are the easy ones, Use a complete SFI rated setup and keep the paperwork to prove it.
The lines and wiring that have to run the length of the car will need some type of shielding - so I'll be curious as to what Tech says as well.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I think the bellhousing and flywheel / clutch are the easy ones, Use a complete SFI rated setup and keep the paperwork to prove it.
The lines and wiring that have to run the length of the car will need some type of shielding - so I'll be curious as to what Tech says as well.

Tech has left the building and I doubt he'll be back. Like me he has a hard time suffering fools, idiots, stupidity and progressive liberals.

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

Tech has left the building and I doubt he'll be back. Like me he has a hard time suffering fools, idiots, stupidity and progressive liberals.

That's a real shame.
He's a totally clued-up/switched on sort of bloke that could explain things in words of one syllable that even dummies like myself could understand.

I learnt a lot from that man.

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

Tech has left the building and I doubt he'll be back. Like me he has a hard time suffering fools, idiots, stupidity and progressive liberals.

Come on Dude!! Lay off the name calling and the politics!! Tech has to get some thicker skin!!, who cares what I or anyone else thinks!!, This is a car forum and Tech has a wealth of knowledge and experience to give if anyone does not want to listen or use His advise then shame on them, If I say something stupid then let it roll off for there are 100 people that will benefit from Him! And as Robert Blake used to say,You can take that to the Bank! Pete

Originally Posted by prpmmp

Come on Dude!! Lay off the name calling and the politics!! Tech has to get some thicker skin!!, who cares what I or anyone else thinks!!, This is a car forum and Tech has a wealth of knowledge and experience to give if anyone does not want to listen or use His advise then shame on them, If I say something stupid then let it roll off for there are 100 people that will benefit from Him! And as Robert Blake used to say,You can take that to the Bank! Pete

DUDE, I don't know who you are and I damn sure don't care and DON'T jump my ass over something that is obvious to even the most casual of observers.

Edited out as it was poorly wordred

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Easy to say when you're not on the receiving end.

It's human nature to have a breaking point, and reach your fill.

Then there is the old adage, "Cast not pearle before swine" - quoted from The Secret of NIMH

I personally don't give a damn which end you're on, it is what it is, leave it at that.

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Edited out as it was poorly wordred

Hey No worries!! I knew your were addressing my statement,That is how things can go wrong with these forums, we sometimes miss interpreted from one post to another. And yes your are right when we are the focus of a personal attack. We are supposed to be adults and should act accordingly but temper sometimes overcomes us!! We are into cars thats why we are on this forum anything else there are other forums for that. Pete

When I built my Vette, I was friends with one of the local track's NHRA tech's. He told me that absolutely no fuel was allowed to run through the cabin area of the vehicle. I had to run mine under a cross member ahead of the LH rear tire and it follows inside the frame rail to a regulator on the fire wall. It always freaked me out because I thought if it ever got a hole put in it I'd be skating. But every tech passed it every where it went and got tech'd. Even if you read the rule book there are gray areas so it would have been nice to get Tech's ideas on this.

Yeah, I would never run any fuel through the passenger compartment.

Tech may answer yet. I definitely respect his knowledge and opinion.

I guess I missed his exit. I usually just quit reading when the conversation gets too heated over opinions or politics. Way too much stuff to stress over that I have little control over to get stressed over a web argument.

Although, I will say that I can sympathize with anyone that calls it quits. There is a T-bucket site that I used to go to every day. Site changed hands and the new owner allowed a previously banned person back on after he ordered several hundred dollars worth of stuff from his business. After he implied that anyone that tried to build a safe T-bucket was stupid and was never called down on it by a moderator or administrator, I left and never went back. Not the kind of place I want to hang out in. Life's too short to put up with that kind of childish crap.

Do you have enough room to lower the trans tunnel but keep what you have built now? If there was a lower tunnel, then you could run your tubing in between the top and bottom tunnels and your tubing wouldn't be in the drive line tunnel. Plus it would be protected as well. Just thought of it and figured I'd throw it out there.

Mike, run nothing in the driveshaft tunnel. It gets ugly when the shaft fails because although you can kill the motor and stop the front part of it, the rear half of it is still being driven by the pinion until the car comes to a stop. I have seen fellows run two loops to add some insurance.

Wiring and fuel lines can be run along the outside of the frame or extreme edge of a unibody underbody, managed with insulated Adel clamps every 12 inches. They are available in many different sizes. Check Ace Hardware. Self-tapping sheet metal screws work well, just be aware what you're drilling through.
Adel Clamps | eBay

"In place of a crossmember, in the vicinity of the front universal joint, all cars in competition using open driveshafts must have a retainer loop 360 degrees of enclosure, 1/4-inch minimum thickness and 2 inches wide, or 7/8-inch x .065-inch welded steel tubing, securely mounted and located within 6 inches of the front universal joint for support of
the driveshaft in event of U-joint failure."

These driveshaft loops are available commercially or you can make your own from 1/4" x 2" steel stock.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g7900

Consult PM for my phone number if you want to talk.
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Nothing in the tunnel is pretty much what I thought. Sure would have made my job a lot easier, but I haven't done anything easy on this car yet, so why start now!

I am surprised that outside of the frame is OK. I've always ran them along the inside of the frame rails for extra protection, but if NHRA is fine with it, I'm not going to argue. That's most likely the route I will take since it gets the lines away from the exhaust.

I really appreciate the answer. I knew you would have the tech info. I'm not a racer, just a guy that builds street cars. I learn something new all the time. I'm not sure if I'll ever have to pass a tech inspection, but you never know.

Sorry Mike, inside the frame is fine too. Don't know why I didn't say that.
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