Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => SCTA Rule Questions => Topic started by: SteveM on November 02, 2011, 10:29:00 AM
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Would a Dodge Rampage (like a miniature front wheel drive El Camino) with a transplanted VW Diesel engine, qualify as a diesel truck? I know that I've seen VW Rabbit pickups compete as diesel trucks, but I think these Dodge Rampage "pickups" should be more aero than the Rabbit pickups.
At this point, it's just a vision, but I'm curious about how this would be ruled.
Thanks,
SteveM.
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I could be wrong but I believe the engine has to be from the same manufacture as the vehicle or been available from the factory with such engine to be legal.
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While it wasn't available in the Rampage (or Scamp), the Volkswagen gas engine was an option in the Omni/Horizon chassis.
I would think fitting a VW Diesel into a Rampage would be a pretty easy swap.
As for legal? Hmmmm . . .
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The 2011 SCTA rule book under section 5.F.4 (Diesel Truck) reads as follows:
"Engine And Driveline Swaps Permitted". There is nothing about the brand remaining the same.
Bill
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Well then I think I need to find an old el camino and pull the power stroke out of my F350!!! :cheers:
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'cept an El Camino is a coupe.
(SCTA do have funny ways.)
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Previous searches and info on the 'net indicate that ElCaminos and Rancheros are specifically not allowed to be raced as trucks under SCTA. However, I believe that VW Rabbit Pickups, as well as Dodge Rampages, have been classed as mini/mid pickups.
Is there a way to determine the make and model of vehicle used to set previous records? I "think" that the existing H class diesel pickup record was set by a Rabbit pickup (around 105 mph), but have no idea about the existing G class diesel pickup record of 129.xxx mph. Obviously, there were not a lot of small diesel pickups ever brought into the US marketplace, so it's entirely possible that the G record was set by use of an engine swap.
A strong enough VW TDI diesel engine in a Rampage just might have the potential to get close to the existing 129 mph record. As a previous poster noted, VW gasoline engines were used in the earlier Omni/Horizon/024/TC3 vehicles on which the Rampage is based.
Steve.
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well that makes no sense!! :roll:
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Record vehicles for:
G/DT Mitsubishi
H/DT VW
DW
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Thanks DW230. I was pretty sure about the VW in the H class, but not the Mitsubishi in G.
Steve.
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I believe you can put ANY diesel in it, Duramax, 6BT, whatever you can fit.
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From the 2011 rulebook:
5.F.4 Diesel Truck - /DT
This class is intended to represent typical diesel pickup trucks that may be of either American or foreign manufacture. This class is limited up to and including one (1) ton vehicles. The body shall remain unaltered in height, width and contour, with all stock panels mounted in original relationship to each other.
Engine and driveline swaps are permitted. Flywheel shields are mandatory. Roll bars shall be mounted inside the cab.
In this class, all other rules will be the same as Gas Coupe and Sedan class.
Rules for this class will be strictly enforced to ensure that trucks entered herein are typical of street machines that may be purchased from any automobile dealer.
This class has seen S10 Chevy trucks with Cummins engines and other configurations.
DW
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I guess at the root of the question is whether a Dodge Rampage qualifies as a truck or not. One of the current diesel recordholders is a VW Rabbit Pickup, which is fundamentally not very different than a Dodge Rampage. That would seem to suggest that a Rampage can run as a truck. However, as we know, El Caminos and Rancheros are not considered trucks.
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If I understand correctly, the fundamental reason that Rancheros and El Caminos are not accepted as trucks is because the pickup box is not a separate structural unit from the cab. If this is the correct interpretation then a Rampage wouldn't qualify either. But what do I know, I'm a bike guy!
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VW Rabbit pickups are unibody construction also, with no removable bed. A Rabbit pickup is the current H/DT record holder. I have sent an inquiry to SCTA asking for clarification on the Rampage.
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Yes! The Dodge Rampage is considered a Mid/Mini Pickup truck.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Manghelli <mike@nwcryo.com>
To: dieselsalttoy <dieselsalttoy@aol.com>; edwhiteley <edwhiteley@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, Jun 26, 2011 8:35 am
Subject: RE: PP or MP class
Dodge Rampages are legal in the Mini truck classes. The entry For Shifts and Grins was a Rampage and held a record for many years.
mang
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That's good news. I thought I had seen somewhere that a Rampage was a legal mini-truck. Hopefully the SCTA will confirm it as well.
Steve.
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Mike Manghelli is on the rules committee for SCTA
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Excellent News - he is "The Man" when it comes to little trucks. I think his VW holds records in something like 7 classes.
Steve.
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Steve,
Here is the link to White Goose Bar Racing that has Mike's truck: http://www.whitegoosebar.com/
And you are also correct.....He is "The Man".
Gregg
GKABBT
P.S. My Rampage is not for sale.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Manghelli <mike@nwcryo.com>
To: dieselsalttoy <dieselsalttoy@aol.com>; edwhiteley <edwhiteley@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, Jun 26, 2011 8:35 am
Subject: RE: PP or MP class
Dodge Rampages are legal in the Mini truck classes. The entry For Shifts and Grins was a Rampage and held a record for many years.
mang
This is great information coming from Mike Manghelli. I don't know the history, but I would suspect that there's a good chance that Mike took those records away from the For Shifts and Grins Rampage.
Gregg: - I just came across a thread with your Rampage chassis photos yesterday (as you probably know). It is truly an inspiring piece of work. If you don't mind sharing, what is the status of your truck now?
My project will be several years in the making, I just committed to buy the truck, and haven't even gone to pick it up yet. I have several friends who are "into" the VW racing scene (mostly drag racing), and I have a decent amount of experience with the Omni/Horizon platform, along with VW and Mercedes diesel experience. I've been dreaming of getting to the salt for years. This is my best opportunity to do so.
Steve.