CJK440 wrote:
F1scamp wrote:
I didn't even think the springs would be an issue.
Me too. The rule seemed pretty clear way back when the Stock Appearing Pioneers wrote it.
"Composite or other lightweight material leaf springs are not allowed." When I first saw a "fabricated" leaf spring pack at a race I was suprised it wasn't flagged as illegal especially since it wasn't that stock appearing. Perhaps I am being too literal but a leaf spring pack composed of steel and a different material leaf is a composite spring pack. This can be argued since people are probably assuming composite=fiberglass etc. But there is no denying that once you start swapping steel leaves for a lighter weight material, you have now made a lightweight spring.
If I remember correctly, on the car in question, the vacuum pump hose in question ran from the back of the valve cover straight thru the firewall. Yes, it was done well and you did have to "inspect" the engine bay to see it but that is part of the process.
The vacuum pump noise is a new thing and should probably be looked into. Keep in mind that there was never a "car must sound stock" rule. Just the exhaust note was required to be stock sounding, the valvetrain could clatter away and not be an issue. Vacuum pump noise is new to the scene.
It's always interesting to see different point of view. So when you are inspecting an engine compartment, how much time is spent? Is there a time limit? How far are you going to lean into the engine compartment? If you can't run a fitting off the valve cover that can't be seen, can you run it out of the pcv system and blantently route it incorrectly? To me a fitting well hidden behind the valvecover would appear more stock than a pcv line blantently routed around the motor? No?
As far as the leaf springs go. I agree that fiberglass and carbon leaf springs should not be legal. But steel mono's that if no one knew they were mono's because they were painstakingly made to look like a near perfect set of new stock leaf springs should be legal. I mean, you allow aftermarket adjustable shocks as long as they are painted correct, but a perfect set of leaf springs are illegal because you know they are not.
I think this gray area should be addressed.