Hot Rods The ALTERED thread

Wonder what happened to those old bodies. Ship me the Lakeside Dairy car

 

What difference would have been between an A or B altered?

 

The weight-to cubic inch difference. The B/A car needs to carry more weight for every cubic inch of displacement than an A/A.
Weight breaks changed over the years and by sanctioning body.

 

Thanks, so it was just cubic inches? Weight was brought in too.

 

Indeed this made for an interesting concept:
Is it better to build a small displacement engine and put it in a light car or build a larger engine and find a heavier car to use???

Let's say you have a mnimum rule of 6 pounds per cubic inch.
Should you build a 300 ci engine and put it in a 1800 pound car(car and driver > [6 x 300 = 1800#]) or build a 400 ci engine and put it in a 2400# [6 x 400 = 2400#] car?

There are advantages and disadvantages to either path.
The smaller engine has less internal motoring friction - GOOD! but a lighter car still has to push through about the same amount of air and spin similar drivetrain pieces making aero and drivetrain friction losses somewhat equal regardless of engine size - BAD! A smaller engine will require less fuel and hence make it easier to keep up with fuel demand - GOOD! but will likely be harder to handle or less consistent due to less weight on the slicks - BAD!

The larger engine will make more power - GOOD! but motoring friction losses are higher (due to things like increased piston speed / drag and more oil pan windage losses, etc.) BAD! A heavier car also has the advantage of more weight on the tires - GOOD! but will probably be prone to breaking stuff - BAD!

Arguments for either option have gone on for decades and successful cars utilizing each concept exist, somewhat dictated by evolutionary advancements in things like tires, clutches, engine components etc.

I think the evolutionary trends in many classes tended to favor the smaller engine / lighter car school of thought.
This aspect of the sport I find to be extremely interesting. I used to pore over the rules and rule updates when the rule books came out. More fun than reading Shakespear in Lit class which I was supposed to be doing.

 

Thanks for the explanation. The other day I saw a bogus streetrod, SBC with a blower, in a Model A coupe. He had AA/A painted on it, which I would think is wrong. Probably should have been a gasser, no setback, etc. It made me start to think just what were the rules. I read them but that was almost 60 years ago. Thanks for your help.

 

I dig the body setback on this one. Not sure how successful it was but nice setup.

 

One of the lowest fiats I've seen.

 

It's Mike Sullivan's

 

"Altered" (and all the other categories') rules often changed from year to year -- and sanctioning body. Sometimes weight to cubic inches, older rules for just displacement, supercharged cars bumped up a class, and more.

In 1961 (or was it 62?) we ran a C/(Altered 25% and assumed Gas) Roadster with just displacement rules at Fontana and Colton. I remember we wanted to run in the new WinterNationals, but they considered our car an A/Roadster. (Plus, they wanted an entry fee. We were "part of the show" at that time and didn't pay entry fees. Plus flat towing to Pomona would be a chore anyway.)

And here's a fun story -- We became the first Gas Roadster to run in the eights (or was it the nines) at Fontana. We started from the south fence, almost to Valley Blvd. It's amazing how much E.T. is shortened by starting 100 to 150 feet back from the Starting Line. The speed was down as the motor had a front gas pump and had run a bunch of time pushing back there and running so long before making the run that it lost fuel pressure.

 

From above -
And another said, yes, Mike Sullivan...and Steve Height (from San Bernardino CA.), before any...paint.
One of the best looking Fiats on the drag strip, no matter how it was painted.



Mike