A Toyota in Pro Stock? (1 Viewer)

[scotty]

Regardless of my last name I am a hardcore P/S fan and have always known (loved) it as a class for American manufacturers. But I have to admit I'd be interested to see what Toyota could do. Their production V8 is pretty impressive albeit not with pushrods. But remember what Mercedes did with pushrods in Indycar? Toyota has been spending HUGE in F1 and this year's rules required V8s....18000 rpm V8s. Again that's OHC with pneumatic valves, but I'm sure they might know a thing or two about bearing speed/loads, piston ring stability/sealing, etc. All things that would aid any pushrod engine at high rpm.

Also, anyone else see this as a good entry point for NHRA to legalize fuel injection??

 

[Dougster]

Okay, I'm probably going to start a flame war here, but I don't have any problem with Toyota (or Honda or Nissan, etc.) in Pro Stock. These days, they're as "North American" as any of the Big 3 are - Toyota (or is it Honda - or both?) builds more cars in the USA than they do in Japan. Why not have some more variety in what is (IMO) becoming a somewhat stale class?

Also, why is it that the pushrod V-8 is a sacred cow? Why couldn't an OHC V8 be an acceptable engine for Pro Stock (or any other class for that matter)? I'm NOT talking FWD turbocharged cars - still keeping the roots of Pro Stock with a NA RWD engine, but why can't the engine spec advance into the 1980s? Heck, while we're at it, what's so bad about allowing fuel injection?

If drag racing is supposed to be about going faster (and for Pro Stock to have some relevance), why not have cars that mirror a little more closely what the fans drive to the track?

 

[DrRocket]

Also, anyone else see this as a good entry point for NHRA to legalize fuel injection??

Something The Professor has been campaigning for for years.

 

[Husky]

Regardless of my last name I am a hardcore P/S fan and have always known (loved) it as a class for American manufacturers. But I have to admit I'd be interested to see what Toyota could do. Their production V8 is pretty impressive albeit not with pushrods. But remember what Mercedes did with pushrods in Indycar? Toyota has been spending HUGE in F1 and this year's rules required V8s....18000 rpm V8s. Again that's OHC with pneumatic valves, but I'm sure they might know a thing or two about bearing speed/loads, piston ring stability/sealing, etc. All things that would aid any pushrod engine at high rpm.

Also, anyone else see this as a good entry point for NHRA to legalize fuel injection??

Carbs are ancient technology. It's time to move on to FI. JMO
Maybe PS should be more Manufactured Auto Oriented.

 

[Kelly Andersen]

Ironically the Toyota will probably be built in the US and 49% of your GM product will come from Mexico & Canada.
The more factory involvement the better. BTW I'd venture to say that much of the up and coming generation doesn't associate Toyota, Nissan and Honda with Japan. JMO

I hate to break it to you , but toyota has been built here for years. They have a huge plant in Indiana, and most of gm's parts come from over sea's. I have owned 3 toyotas and have putt at least 200'000 on each one while not spending a dime on them for major repairs other than brakes ,alternator just normal wear and tear part. I have 2 taurus's one is junk the other is ok I had a brand new s-10 extreme that was the biggest piece of junk I've ever owned, couldn't keep a fuel system in it, finally let them have it back. I will never buy another american car again they are junk!!!!

 

[megadeth]

Forget the Battle of the Big 3 anymore, it's American versus the Riceburners!

Toyota is more of an American made car then the so called Big 3!
Toyota has a lot of plants in America because they invest in their customer base so does Hyundai and Honda but not the so called Big 3.
If they are going to use a V8 then what's the problem all thought their six cylinders can hold their own even against the V8's?
Chevy should be considered a Mexican import and Ford a Canadian ! LOL
Toyota is #2 and knocking on the door as the #1 Auto maker in the world by next years first quarter earnings report they will be #1 and they have earned it.
Ford is in serious trouble so what do they do close more North American plants and Chevy does the same thing so if they go under I don't have a problem with that they deserved it!
Preston Tucker called it along time ago when the so-called Big 3 shut him down for building to good of a car.He said "Keep shutting out the little guy with the great idea's which this Country was founded by then someday we will be buying our cars from our former enemies!"

 

[Husky]

I hate to break it to you , but toyota has been built here for years. They have a huge plant in Indiana, and most of gm's parts come from over sea's. I have owned 3 toyotas and have putt at least 200'000 on each one while not spending a dime on them for major repairs other than brakes ,alternator just normal wear and tear part. I have 2 taurus's one is junk the other is ok I had a brand new s-10 extreme that was the biggest piece of junk I've ever owned, couldn't keep a fuel system in it, finally let them have it back. I will never buy another american car again they are junk!!!!

The "probably" meant in the off chance, the High Perf parts etc may come from Japan, for PS entries. As for Toyota's being built here, that is a given. My point was that many "American Cars" aren't built with made in US parts, exclusively, and many are assembled outside the US. I believe a good portion of the Lincoln line was a Canadian product.

 

[spike 06]

I don't think it can hurt at all. Maybe this will get Ford moving in the class as well!

 

[megadeth]

I don't think it can hurt at all. Maybe this will get Ford moving in the class as well!

Ford is just trying to stay afloat they recently got approval on a 18 billion dollar loan to try and reorganize and avoid bankruptcy and Chevy isn't far behind so I would say the class will still take a back seat and Force will get all the racing $$$$ or at least the lions share....

 

[Rocketman 207]

Their effort in Funny Car has been unspectacular ... so I am surprised Toyota would be willing to invest at this time in Pro Stock. If they are willing to spend, I say we let 'em.

Good point...
I can see it now:
"Samuel L. Bronkowitz presents: FISTFUL OF PRO STOCK YEN!!!!"
(Apologies to "Kentucky Fried Movie")

 

[T.Smith]

When they beat the Ken Black cars, I'll start worrying about it.

Ohhh that won't take long...hope Mr. Black likes the taste of his own medicine.

 

[T.Smith]

Their effort in Funny Car has been unspectacular ... so I am surprised Toyota would be willing to invest at this time in Pro Stock. If they are willing to spend, I say we let 'em.

Apples and Oranges...also, I believe the Toyota body was something made through Swift, and not TRD.

 

[Rocketman 207]

Ohhh that won't take long...hope Mr. Black likes the taste of his own medicine.

LOL...make sure it's given with a silver spoon...

 

[Kelly Andersen]

The "probably" meant in the off chance, the High Perf parts etc may come from Japan, for PS entries. As for Toyota's being built here, that is a given. My point was that many "American Cars" aren't built with made in US parts, exclusively, and many are assembled outside the US. I believe a good portion of the Lincoln line was a Canadian product.

Gotcha!!! There are some people who dont know toyota's are built here.

 

[Rocketman 207]

I believe the Toyota body was something made through Swift

Swift--the poultry plant?
No wonder it was a turkey!

 

[john]

Ohhh that won't take long...hope Mr. Black likes the taste of his own medicine.

Don't tell me Tony, let me guess.

Toyota signed Bob Glidden.

 

[T.Smith]

My thoughts on the Toyota Pro Stockers would be.

In recent memory from Toyota's IRL program, Toyota has shown a tendency of not wanting to sell parts, very high cost engine leasing programs(also to only the teams they deem worthy), and not sharing technology.

The IRL didn't handle Toyota's involvement very well. I'm little reluctant to believe that NHRA will handle it any better.

 

[john]

Then post #31 wasn't about a Toyota beating the KB cars?

Who's money are you talking about if not Toyota's?

No Toyotas now?

Huh?

 

[megadeth]

Swift--the poultry plant?
No wonder it was a turkey!

I think Swift just lost half of their illegal work force in the latest immigration raids! LOL...

 

[afx421]

im all for the toyota bodies. hopfully not engines. i can see it now - theyll get a weight break, fuel injection ect ect ect, just like how the susukis got new rules just to beat the harleys, thankfully that didnt happen. keep it american powered and who cares what bodies they put out there.