I've heard you can't change the entire engine after the race starts, but can you change a broken valve spring? What about other engine parts that you are allowed to change during a race? Camshaft? Carburetor? Distributor? Are bolt-on parts allowed to be changed as long as you don't change the block?

I'm not positive, but I think you can't change block or heads. As far as I remember, everything else is fair game. Perhaps pontiactim will chime in, I'm sure he has the right answer.

Bill

From the Craftsman Truck series rulebook;

Section 20B-4.1 B)
Unless otherwise specified by NASCAR, the same long block engine assembly (engine block, crankshaft, camshaft, connecting rods, pistons, cylinder heads and valves) must be used for the entire event, including practice qualifying and the race. An engine must not be removed from a truck without the approval of the Series Director. The Series Director will require any team that removes an engine to start at the rear of the field, providing the truck earns a starting position in the race. The engine may be removed from a backup truck, without a penalty, at the discretion of the Series Director as follows;
(1) If a truck is wrecked beyond repair in practice before before qualifying and a backup truck is used, then an engine change may be permitted provided the change can be accomplished in a timely manner before qualifying.
(2) If a truck is wrecked beyond repair during qualifying and a backup truck is used, an engine change may be permitted, however, the race engine must be installed before the beginning of practice(s) that follow qualifying.
(3) If a truck is wrecked beyond repair after qualifying and a backup truck is used, then an engine change may be permitted without an additional penalty.

The ARCA ReMax rule book almost says the same thing verbatim... I would bet that the Cup rule book is similar, especially regarding what cannot be replaced during an event.

from what I heard this rule was implemented because guys where getting burned and injured trying to get hot headers and and hot items out of the car

No, they did it because Darrell Waltrip and his team changed an engine in something like 21 minutes and that was pretty much the end of that. It may have been the PRESS release, but trust me they didn't want anything to do with teams being able to change an engine after the race started.

Bill

hobbymanbill - 18 June 2008 12:32 AM

No, they did it because Darrell Waltrip and his team changed an engine in something like 21 minutes and that was pretty much the end of that. It may have been the PRESS release, but trust me they didn't want anything to do with teams being able to change an engine after the race started.

Bill

If one thinks that's something, the old 1990's DTM cars could change an engine in about 6-7 minutes! And of course, Audi were able to change the whole rear end assembly in the R8(trasaxle, rear suspension) in as little as 4 minutes. It's about cost reduction, to try to keep these guy from making too many trick parts and the like, and having an unfair advantage over the smaller teams.

However, there are ways of getting around this stuff, especially in non-spec racing series such as the ALMS-remember that Audi's quick change gearbox was banned after 2003 on the R8? Well, with the R10, Audi designed a gearbox that could be completely rebuilt in reportely as little as 5-7 minutes-it only took them 10-15 minutes to replace the clutch in one car at Le Mans last Sunday.

However, we don't have to worry about this coming to NASCAR anytime soon.

Chernaudi - 19 June 2008 03:40 AM

hobbymanbill - 18 June 2008 12:32 AM

No, they did it because Darrell Waltrip and his team changed an engine in something like 21 minutes and that was pretty much the end of that. It may have been the PRESS release, but trust me they didn't want anything to do with teams being able to change an engine after the race started.

Bill

If one thinks that's something, the old 1990's DTM cars could change an engine in about 6-7 minutes! And of course, Audi were able to change the whole rear end assembly in the R8(trasaxle, rear suspension) in as little as 4 minutes. It's about cost reduction, to try to keep these guy from making too many trick parts and the like, and having an unfair advantage over the smaller teams.

However, there are ways of getting around this stuff, especially in non-spec racing series such as the ALMS-remember that Audi's quick change gearbox was banned after 2003 on the R8? Well, with the R10, Audi designed a gearbox that could be completely rebuilt in reportely as little as 5-7 minutes-it only took them 10-15 minutes to replace the clutch in one car at Le Mans last Sunday.

However, we don't have to worry about this coming to NASCAR anytime soon.

No doubt about it, had NASCAR let this go, we would also now be looking at 4-5 minute engine changes. All it takes is quick release plugs for all the electrics and separate ones for fuel and oil. Imagine having everything sitting in a transferable cradle that just unplugs and swaps in. Ingenuity with race cars to be able to repair and replace faster has made for some interesting designs. AA JMHO

Bill

I seem to recall, although my memory is fading(!), Big E getting his hands dirty changing a cam when he was in the running for one of his championships.

hobbymanbill - 19 June 2008 08:57 AM

Chernaudi - 19 June 2008 03:40 AM

hobbymanbill - 18 June 2008 12:32 AM

No, they did it because Darrell Waltrip and his team changed an engine in something like 21 minutes and that was pretty much the end of that. It may have been the PRESS release, but trust me they didn't want anything to do with teams being able to change an engine after the race started.

Bill

If one thinks that's something, the old 1990's DTM cars could change an engine in about 6-7 minutes! And of course, Audi were able to change the whole rear end assembly in the R8(trasaxle, rear suspension) in as little as 4 minutes. It's about cost reduction, to try to keep these guy from making too many trick parts and the like, and having an unfair advantage over the smaller teams.

However, there are ways of getting around this stuff, especially in non-spec racing series such as the ALMS-remember that Audi's quick change gearbox was banned after 2003 on the R8? Well, with the R10, Audi designed a gearbox that could be completely rebuilt in reportely as little as 5-7 minutes-it only took them 10-15 minutes to replace the clutch in one car at Le Mans last Sunday.

However, we don't have to worry about this coming to NASCAR anytime soon.

No doubt about it, had NASCAR let this go, we would also now be looking at 4-5 minute engine changes. All it takes is quick release plugs for all the electrics and separate ones for fuel and oil. Imagine having everything sitting in a transferable cradle that just unplugs and swaps in. Ingenuity with race cars to be able to repair and replace faster has made for some interesting designs. AA JMHO

Bill

However, that would also involve having a quick change front clip-something that NASCAR would outlaw in a heartbeat-thus the teams would have to cut the nose off the car, or just deal with it being in the way.

Let me try and add just a little bit of extra information to the one engine rule. RED376 already answered the question in a post above; the rule verbiage in Cup is exactly the same as it is in the Truck Series. Basically if its not one of the seven things listed as the long block it is free game to be changed during the race. However that verbiage is fairly new it was actually change to reflect the fact that you had to run the same long block, for the race, practice, and qualifying for the 2002 season. The one engine for the race rule goes back to 1980 when NASCAR added a rule that said you had to start and finish the race with the same block that you started with. That rule did not prohibit you from changing engines between practice and qualifying or qualifying and the race. The only thing it really did was prohibit changing an engine (or at least the engine block) during a race. In theory you could rebuild an engine during the race if you wanted to under the old rule or you could also change cylinder heads under the old rule. Prior to 1980 you could change anything you wanted on the engine or you could change an entire engine during the race. The current rule is an attempt at cost containment. Prior to 2002 it was very common for teams to bring four or five engines to the track for one car. Today they bring two, three if you count the one that may be in the back up car.

HoytShooter - 19 June 2008 12:04 PM

I seem to recall, although my memory is fading(!), Big E getting his hands dirty changing a cam when he was in the running for one of his championships.

yes, the RCR team did change a camshaft in an early season race, and harvesting those points through that effort won him the title that year... those opportunities went away when the 1 engine per weekend rule was implemented...
as I recall, back when junior johnson's team changed engines so quickly, they had built the engines using the same size bolt heaad throughout, thus saving time looking for the right size wrench or socket...

AND, boy was that R8 transaxle change at LeMans in 3:45 impressive engineering by Joest...rf