Good class to bring back. Enuff outdated thunders and enduro cars for cheap, put them on the same tire, wouldnt cost 14k to get involved. Pritty good idea giving the $$$$ now a day.
Not to add fuel to the fire....
Allstar Makes a
Ranger / 302 kit: http://www.allstarperformance.com/product.htm?prod=341
S-10 / SBC kit: http://www.allstarperformance.com/product.htm?prod=340&part=ALL38251&add=no
Automatic transmissions mandatory is a good move - but adds "some" complexity / cost.
I'm not aware of any kit for Mopar camp since Dakota's came from the factory with 318's in the early years.
As a suggestion, I'd outlaw headers.
If such a class was created, I'd make Long Wheel Base Supercab / Extended Cab units mandatory...with a minimum wheelbase of 102"
oh and ensure 3000 lbs and MINIMUM 45% rear weight.
6 Cylinders are a pain in the ass, unstable (even stock) and expensive to repair and maintain.
But be forwarned, you can suggest "stock" all you want, it's gonna be just as expensive to run a truck as it is a SS / Thunder in a hurry....
My vote is still for a 6 cylnder suv class. Stockish.. mandatory tire/ stock engine, allow bigger breaks and racing springs, hang the bodies real low.
ok, since I started this thread lol, only dot non speed rated tires.....no racing springs, shocks or any suspension parts not for that year, allow 101 inch wheelbase ie Mustangs and third gen Camaro (there goes the you can't find a car crap, they were produced till the mid 90's), I am not against the s-10 350 or the Ranger 302 or the Dakota 318, as long as the same suspension rule and weight rule apply.
As for as engine rules, run a simple vacuum test. You can run a four barrel lots of compression and all the porting and grinding (although not allowed), but you still need a cam to make it work. With a cam comes lower vacuum. set a number in line with a stock cam, and it is a simple two minute Go or NoGo test....
I really dont think guys who have dumped tons of cash into the Thunders the way they are now will want to drop to this class......as well the Mini stocks have a ton more cash piled into the than what I am suggesting.....Next thing is I would set the payouts around 200 to win and down.....who is gonna dump 20k into a car to race for that? but the guys who wanna build by the rules and have fun again will do it no problem...
I'm really starting to like this! I think one key to keeping it cheap is staying with 5L (300ish) motors, not 350ish motors. And no fuel injection.