The Daytona I bought in 2019 has a NHRA chassis certification for 8.50 and slower, that expires Feb 2020.
Since I put a tow truck engine in the car (570 hp) it runs 6.40 or slower 1/8th, and 10.00 or slower in the 1/4 mile (132 mph).

I don't think the chassis inspection will be required for the racing I will be doing. Should I have the chassis reinspected anyway?
Opinion and reason why appreciated.

See update below, 2/25/2020

I wouldn't until you step the motor up to run faster, why spend the money and time now when you don't need to

If you don't plan on running fast enough to need the cert than I wouldn't bother with it. The only reasons I'd get it cert is when you decide you want to go faster or you want to sell it. Saying it has a current SFI cert might be able to help bring in more $$ than saying it has passed cert. Just my 2 cents.

10.0s at 570HP? Must be heavy. Will it always go 10.0? No plans to step up? No plans to ever sell?

If it's that close to going in the 9's, if you think you may step up at some point, and/or if you think you may sell it someday, yes, get a tag on it. Then it's done if it goes into the 9s for whatever reason. That and the car is about worthless without a good tag. Otherwise, not needed.

I’m sure a after few hrs with a die grinder on the heads...... and it would need the cert.

I would get it re certed

1. you bought the car used, make sure its OK and it will cert for later resale and you don't want any surprises later when you want to go fast

2. Be prepared that now they want a tag on the chassis, it has to have manf, manf date and a serial number. I went to a local PETCO and they have a machine that prints dog tags. You can make all the info up , they just want to see the tag riveted on the cage and they log that info with the serial number of the sticker.

I agree, it’s worth the money if you ever want to sell, last car I sold wouldn’t happen til I showed him current cert. especially if inspector is close. I have to drive 300 miles to get mine done, or line up 10 or 15 cars, then the guy will come down from Saskatoon and do them. Jim.

I would absolutely keep the cert up, much easier to re-certify when still current and like others said resale is a much easier if that time ever comes. If the car was once a production car and still has a VIN attached they will use that for a tag, that is what they do with my tube chassis Challenger as the builder had the VIN re-affixed to the door jamb by NHP so it would still have a title, ect.

I'd get it certified if the process is fairly painless. If it is going to involve a long tow and a bunch of time then I might not do it. If you're planning to sell the car in the near future I'd get it certified, if you're going to keep the car as is for a long time then I wouldn't bother.

Save your money.
If it was certified before, you'll have no problem getting certified again. No reason to recertify if you're not going to run in the 9s or faster.

I wouldn't want to guarantee that. Not saying anyone is not on the up and up. But, it's sort of like a state inspection. A little gray area here, a little in a hurry there, a little hard to get to over here, a buddies car over there.

It's like the insurance guy, we've seen a few things.

Do you have a wife in your life. Just thinking aloud here but God forbid something would happen to you and you would leave behind a wife or even kids. That car being certified would probably bring in maybe up to if not more 1/3 value more being certified. I personally wouldn’t even look at a car like that without a chassis certificate and many others I know wouldn’t either.

If it will certify today, no reason for it not to certify later. The fact that it already has a tag should mean zilch when it recertifies. Unless you're in the boonies where getting to a person to certify in a reasonable amount of time, I wouldn't waste my money. If you went to sell and its a sticking point, then do it. Hell for all we know NHRA may change the regulation in the future anyway.
Doug

Nice looking car. Always liked that paint scheme.

Way above my pay grade but just from a CYA standpoint I can't see it being a bad thing having a second set of eyes go over a peice of equipment that has the potential to kill me should something go horribly awry. This is assuming they actually do a diligent inspection and the inspector knows a wounded chassis when he sees it.

How much does a cert cost?

Kevin

Thanks for the inputs. To answer some questions:
1) I plan to keep the car for many years. But if I sell it in 2040, a cert then would be a smart selling point. The current cert was a buying point when I looked at this car.
2) It won’t have an engine upgrade this year, and unlikely in the next 3 years. The easy driver requirements for 10.00 and slower was part of my plan (in retirement). My IHRA license is 9.00 class D.
3) The car does have a title, and the factory VIN tag is on the dash. But the previous owner didn’t know what shop built it (all round tube chassis), and didn’t know of any chassis tag. I have not gone over every inch, but I haven’t seen any chassis maker tag.
4) It does have the “funny car” style cage around the driver.
5) If I can talk to the “local” inspector, I will ask about the VIN tag, and if he cares if the last cert expires next month or years ago (2040 recert before sale).
6) I didn’t make many passes this year, but the best in 69 deg wx was 6.41 in 1/8 th, 10.10 1/4 mile (different tracks). So it will be easy to keep slower than 6.40/10.00. The converter is real tight (at my request).

I will look at who inspects around here. A couple hundred bucks won't stop me.

If the cert is redone each time the tag expires, they usually don't look at it quite so hard as they would if the tag has been dead for 10 years or it's not there. Sportsman tag will go to 8.50. SFI 25.x will go to 7.50. That's a funny car cage and some more bars in the floor. Also weight is part of it at that point.

Like a competition license. It's easier to keep it up than let it go and have to get it all over.

1) I plan to keep the car for many years. But if I sell it in 2040, a cert then would be a smart selling point. The current cert was a buying point when I looked at this car.


That means youll be recerting it 7 more times to have a current tag at 2040. a mere $1225 out of pocket. A decent car will cert 8.50 easily unless it was built with thin tube. If it was, it would've never certed to begin with.
Doug

I wouldn't bother. I had mine cert'd in 2008. I debated on getting it recertified when it was close to expiring, but never did. I don't plan on running any races where it'll be checked. I don't see why waiting a few years will jeopardize it's recertification when it was done previously.

Don’t bother.... and enjoy that light jacket on hot humid days!