The 'Original' Factory/Dealer Stock Class

[69 Cuda 440]

The 'Original' Factory/Dealer Stock Class '1962'

With the expansion of Stock Class Racing in the NHRA in 1961,
the Car Manufacturers were keen to take advantage of this
to help sales for the upcoming Model Year.

The Manufacturers were willing to bring their new '1962' Model cars
to the 1962 Winternationals in Pomona, California held on
February 18, 1962.

What the Car Manufacturers would push, would be the new model 'High Performance Cars' that could be purchased right off the lot 'Dealer Showroom'.

These would be street-type stock looking cars, with 'High Performance' engines that could be street-driven. Usually
a long-duration Hydraulic-cammed engine with 10.5-1 Compression,
and topped off with a good Carburetor

The general rule, were cars that had a Weight-to-Horsepower factor of
around 11.00 Wt/Hp.

The NHRA made it easy, and in 1962 they started the A/S and A/SA 'Stock Class' with just that, > 10.60 to 11.29 Wt/Hp factor.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Dino

Mopars offerered for the 1962 'Factory/Dealer Stock' car.

Plymouth 'Sport Fury' ~ 361/305 HP ~ {#3297 lbs.}
Dodge Dart 'Sedan' ~ 361/305 HP ~ {#3305 lbs.}
Dodge 'Model 440' Hardtop ~ 361/305 HP ~ {#3313 lbs.}

This was the Engine from the 'Police Pursuit Package', which
included;

* Suspension Package
* Dual Exhaust
* Dual-Point Distributor
* 9.00-1 Compression
* Camshaft 'Hydraulic' > .444"/.455" Lift ~ 268* Duration ~ 48* Overlap
* High Load-Rate Valve Springs {#208 lbs.}
* Carter AFB {450 CFM} = 1 7/16" x 1 7/6" Throttle-Plates

The 'Skunkworks Trick', was that the Carter AFB could be 'tweaked' and could deliver {566 CFM} by removing the weights.

The light and intermediate 'Sport Fury weighed in at #3297 lbs., and
fit nicely into the 1962 NHRA 'A/SA' Class {10.60 to 11.29 Wt/HP}
with a 10.81 Wt/HP break.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1962 Chevrolet

For 1962, Chevrolet had the 409/409 HP 'Dual-Quad' for Super/Stock
and the 'brawny' 409/380 HP for S/S.

There was 'no' mid-range low-horsepower 409 offered for the 1962 intermediate cars {Biscayne, Bel Air and Impala}.

Instead, Chevrolet introduced the small-block 327. A '300' High-Performance Horsepower version was offered with;

* Dual-Exhaust w/Larger Header Outlets {2.50"}
* 10.5-1 Compression
* #3782461 Cylinder Heads {1.94" Intake x 1.50 Exhaust"}
* Camshaft 'Hydraulic' > .399" Lift ~ 250* Duration ~ 32.5* Overlap
* Valve Springs {#180 lbs.}
* Carter AFB {600 CFM} = 1 9/16" x 1 11/16" Throttle-Plates

The 327/300 HP was equipped with 'Fuelie' {Double-Hump casting}
Cylinder Heads, which had excellent-flowing ports and a tight combustion chamber.

And, the Cast Iron Medium-Rise Intake Manifold was an excellent
all-around performer.

Also, the Carter AFB 'tweaked' was capable of flowing at 650 CFM's.
in the high-revving 327.

Oddly, the 327/300 HP in the #3450 lbs. {Biscayne ~ Bel Air ~ Impala} came in at 11.50 Wt/HP, and did not fit into the 'Factory/Dealer Stock Class'.

The Chevy's were focusing on B/Stock {11.30 to 11.88 Wt./HP}, which was
{Junior Stock}, which was their earlier 'forte'.