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CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS #2715591
11/14/19 12:00 AM
11/14/19 12:00 AM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,176
East Coast
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A/MP Offline OP
super stock
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East Coast
Came across a few door car that would make a good drag car. Tried to find something in the NHRA rule book but nothing specific unless you consider a door car a roadster or altered. Some of the nostalgia gas association definitely say no. I've seen some Jeep CJ's as drag cars with no top. I'd have to guess that a full roll cage would be mandatory if I were 10.00 and slower. Any answers?

Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: A/MP] #2715600
11/14/19 01:13 AM
11/14/19 01:13 AM
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South Bend
John Brown Offline
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FWIW, 1969 rule book says roll bars required in all convertibles, except in stock class.


July 19th should be "Drive Like Rockford Day". R.I.P. Jimmie.
Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: John Brown] #2715636
11/14/19 09:42 AM
11/14/19 09:42 AM
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SW Ohio
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cgall Offline
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SW Ohio
In the safety regulations section of the NHRA rule book, it says a roll bar is required in all convertibles running faster than 13.50. Faster than 10.00 requires a full cage. In Stock and Super Stock you must run with the top up. Brackets and Super classes you can remove the top.

Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: cgall] #2715660
11/14/19 11:16 AM
11/14/19 11:16 AM
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Harleysville, PA USA
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Tommy D Offline
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...but you'll need arm restraints and a full cage with no top.

Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: A/MP] #2715673
11/14/19 12:07 PM
11/14/19 12:07 PM
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central il.
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second 70 Offline
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central il.
Hemi Joel ran his Hemi GTX convertible at drag week and 13.50 was the fastest he could run without a cage.

Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: cgall] #2715761
11/14/19 03:31 PM
11/14/19 03:31 PM
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New York
polyspheric Offline
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I would guess that some major "adjustments" will be needed to install any pre-cut commercially available cage in a ragtop. The top lands where most of the upper halo goes, which means the halo must be narrower/shorter/lower, different intersect angles.


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Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: polyspheric] #2716387
11/16/19 01:23 PM
11/16/19 01:23 PM
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Posts: 5,399
Aurora, Colorado
451Mopar Offline
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Aurora, Colorado
Not sure why you would want to run a Convertible? My '69 Coronet Convertible weighs quite a bit more than my '69 Coronet Hardtop.
My convertible was built for crusing, but with a mild 505" engine and 5-speed manual trans, it runs in the 13's pretty easy on 255x60x15" BFG Radial TAs (hard street tires), at altitude here in mile high Denver/Bandimere.
I think the car is well over 4,000 pounds without driver.

Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: 451Mopar] #2716675
11/17/19 12:17 PM
11/17/19 12:17 PM
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
340Cuda Offline
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
I think if one raced a Mopar convertible a full cage would be desirable just to strengthen the body and prevent twist.

Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: 451Mopar] #2716705
11/17/19 01:18 PM
11/17/19 01:18 PM
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Michigan
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A727Tflite Offline
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Michigan
Originally Posted by 451Mopar
Not sure why you would want to run a Convertible? My '69 Coronet Convertible weighs quite a bit more than my '69 Coronet Hardtop.
My convertible was built for crusing, but with a mild 505" engine and 5-speed manual trans, it runs in the 13's pretty easy on 255x60x15" BFG Radial TAs (hard street tires), at altitude here in mile high Denver/Bandimere.
I think the car is well over 4,000 pounds without driver.


Likely to run a certain class, based on factored horsepower and advertised shipping weight.

Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: A727Tflite] #2716768
11/17/19 03:24 PM
11/17/19 03:24 PM
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,811
South Bend
John Brown Offline
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South Bend
Many years ago people would argue that convertible tops would deform to a shape that was more aerodynamic than a solid steel top. I didn't race with a soft top, so I never got into that discussion one way or the other.


July 19th should be "Drive Like Rockford Day". R.I.P. Jimmie.
Re: CONVERTIBLES AS DRAG CARS [Re: John Brown] #2716850
11/17/19 07:31 PM
11/17/19 07:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,176
East Coast
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A/MP Offline OP
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East Coast
Adding a 12 pt cage and welding interior body parts like sheet metal of the interior, sail panel and front window trim should be more than sufficient.







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