YUP, sure does say W350. It's exactly the same design as the factory cast iron design and only benefit is a little weight savings. It's there as a tribute to Vance Brady, our old guru who took more Olds technology to the grave than we could ever brew up collectively. This manifold was from his car and, unfortunately, the only one that would fit my engine when we put it back together a few years back. Dan J. spotted it in about 2 seconds when he teched the car the first time. And you know what? It's staying there! Can park the car at any time that's a problem with anybody, but at 3900+ pounds with me in it, believe me, it isn't there for a weight savings. I can change the Chrome moly driveshaft and save that amount. I've never put the car on a diet (title weight is 3250#) and really don't plan to. I would really like to certify the car, and may still do that. Everybody I know that does picks up a few tenths! I think I can find a full second (from the 14.0's I currently run) if I do, but not really into that. Let's don't start picking the flyshit out of the pepper here. You do much more damage than good. Enough warmth. You don't even want to think about me doing tech, and for that reason, I won't. :af:
I surely hope that reply wasn't directed at me Dave ? If it was, I'll take it with the warmth in which it was intended ........ o No:
I was manufactured the same year Dave's car was 1/19/1968, too bad his car wasn't assembled the same day I entered this planet
Chris: Dangerous territory here. Best to handle those things in a PM. For whatever reason, there's a faction in FAST that feed on "discrepancies" with Pure Stock cars, and a faction in Pure Stock that feed on "discrepancies" in the FAST cars. I race in both, so hopefully will get a "bye" here. If not, I'll park it and move on. That's unhealthy for both organizations, and probably why I'm leaning more to the venue that Wayne Nelson, Jim Haas, and a few others are proposing. All that kind of crap goes away and doesn't affect PS or FAST. There's a big difference between a factory aluminum intake from a different year car and putting on a Performer, Street Dominator, or Torker. We've lost a lot of old regulars in Pure Stock over similar things like this. That's sad as this is a whole lot more than just about the cars themselves. That's why Dan and Bob started the certification process. If you want to prove your car is fully complying to the rules, show up with a head and intake off and they'll certify it FOR THE NEXT EVENT. I don't think cars are certified for life, but redoing that every year would destroy that, too. 68 W31's did not come with fan shrouds, so adding one is as illegal as anything else. Rear end ratios also were 3.91 and 4.33, although that changed for 69 and 70. Temperature compensated fan clutch and aluminum fan were also a first (for Olds) on the 68 Ramrods, although they later went on a lot of other cars. 68's also did NOT come with rear sway bars or boxed arms. Turns out that was an oversight in the release process and also corrected for 1969. Mine got one about a week after I took delivery in May, 1968.
Dave, point taken. I will PM you, about things related and unrelated. I didn't realize there were these issues with "discrepancies". I have read a little, and I do mean little, about some FAST things. Specifically the one car with wrong year taillights and then the not removing valve cover thing. But since I wasn't there for either of those, I can't comment. I guess one fear I have is trailing my car the 6 hours (or however long) to the first event and being DQ'd for whatever reason. I'd like to find out what I can and can't do and what needs to be done before hand, so I don't waste my time and other peoples time. I didn't realize the certification process was just for the next event. I thought it was longer. Guess I'll learn more if I decide to go down that road. I did not know that about the fan shrouds (obviously since I asked ou: ). And I think we are kinda confusing things here. I only asked about the shroud with regards to a correctly restored car, not whether it would be illegal or not in P/S or FAST. I should have been more clear, my mistake. I believe we've discussed the sway bar issue before, but don't recall you mentioning the oversight in the release. I've found out some more about the rear bar, especially with regards to my car. I'll include that in the PM. Thanks for setting me straight and not being too harsh on the newby. Now I'll go back into my hole after getting some ketchup for my crow.
Dave Just got MCE yesterday Nice feature article on you and your car! Congratulations! :TU: You know when I was bracket racing my Bee during the 80's at 75/80 Dragway in Md. I distinctly remember a I light silver green 70 W31 F85 post coupe. The owner had bought it new, ran it a few years in stock elim and still ran it through the 80's (in bracket classes mainly). From what I remember he was still running a 350. His name was Wayne Shipley. Any chance you have run into him at Olds events? I plan to go over to Orlando for some more testing in the next couple of weeks since I haven't run my car since Commerce. I'll post results so it will help you snow bound northerners something to read about until spring! LOL! p :laugh: By the way is that picture from Commerce? Nice! I got a couple pics from Randy Bolig at Mopar Muscle that he shot at Commerce of my car and they are nice! They are heck of alot better than the ones I take with my Kodak Instamatic! :laugh:
Dave you owe me a new keyboard after posting that picture. All my drool shorted mine out. :laugh: :TU: Man I love your car !
I don't know the hell I missed that ad, I E-mailed the person for some pics but I was told the car has already been sold :rant: I would've loved to have seen pics of another Ram Rod, the only one's I have ever seen was Dave's (only in pics) and Glenn Morris' at the OCA Nats in 2000. Glenn's car was the one that did it for me and now 68 is my most favorite body year with 69 right behind
Did you say '69 ??? Here's a pic from the *old* US-131, Martin Michigan dragway. That pesky Firebird won, but the guy driving the Olds sure has a cool last name. :bglasses:
Andy: That pic was taken at Commerce by Geoff Stunkard (about the time all you guys were going up to the line for the first round of eliminations). He really knows how to bring out everything in a shot. Here's the front view from same set. (Hope I don't get in trouble for posting this)......... o No: Casey: How many different cars did Jacko (no relation to Harpo, Chico, or Groucho) drive? I knew of the 68, but not this one. Bil Porterfield sure remembers him.
'68, '9, '70 W-31's, and '71 small block. He was sponsored by *Victor-George*, *Lines Olds*, and *Cooper-Demmer* throughout the years. :TU:
One more. Oh what the heck, one more just to show it does move. About this time, both feet are busy switching from the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal to the brake pedal and the clutch. Hands are busy correcting the fishtail and pulling on the steering wheel while trying to get the manual drum brakes to stop the car before the staging lights. Sure is fun. :Brow: Andy: I think this was taken in the qualifying round and that's your smoke in the other lane(?). Nice TA behind you. Casey, what was the 71 small block Cooper/Demmer car? Brady converted his 70 W31 to a 71 (non W31, then later a 72 (Brady Bunch car)) and also ran a small block. Did they have to change the engines for the low compression of 1971, or keep on it to NHRA specs? Brady was in the low 11's and was running against Sox and Martin and Grumpy Jenkins about that time.
Chris, your best bet is to ask Dan Jensen and Bob Boden about what is allowed or not in P/S. You don't want to tow 6 hrs and find out that saying "someone on V8 Buick said it was OK" doesn't hold water. I've seen some cars with "descrepancies" allowed to run but are told they need to "correct the descrepancies" before returning next year. F.A.S.T. has done similar things. I have attended P/S since '97, Casey has since '95, Rob Clary since '99. None of us know of "loosing a lot of old regulars over similar things." Actually the group has grown with a lot of new cars by the same old faces as well as new cars and new faces. Sure, ask fellow racers, but clear anything you can't prove with documentation with Dan and or Bob to be safe and come join the fun :TU:
Brian: I think you may be talking to me here through your message to Chris. He's right, Chris, Dan and Bob are the final say on rules. They're pretty good about a lot of the fuzzy areas. So what does this mean, Brian? Do I not show up next year with the W350 manifold on my car? I was afraid this would happen. I will talk to Bob and Dan about it..........again.............but I think they've been painted into a corner here and unless I go get another motor for my Ramrod, it's staying home. Stock cast iron one won't fit on it and you know why. Too bad.
