With the 2003 season in the rearview mirror, and the 2004 right around the corner, the NHRA Technical department will be conducting opinion polls throughout the winter on some of the hottest topics. This week, NHRA Tech is soliciting opinions on Super Stock cylinder head combustion chambers.

Since this topic does not have an easy solution or a quick answer, the NHRA Technical staff is soliciting opinions from the Super Stock fraternity on more reliable and consistent ways to identify correct cylinder heads. Given today's level of technology and the ability to modify combustion chambers in some cases without being detected, many feel it is time for a change.

Some of the proposals include:

1. Leaving the rules as stated in the 2003 NHRA Rulebook, which reads: "Combustion-chamber modifications prohibited. Cylinder heads are restricted in that valves must maintain stock angle and must be able to hold original combustion chamber, intake, and exhaust runner volumes per NHRA Specifications."

2. Follow the above wording, and implement tolerances that would allow for the use templates and other measuring devices to verify accuracy.

3. Take the combustion chamber rules a different direction and allow only certain modifications, for example: "Only specific combustion-chamber modifications permitted, i.e. porting and polishing. Welding, reshaping, and/or reconfiguration of combustion chamber prohibited. Valves and spark plug holes must maintain stock location and angles as cast by the OEM. Cylinder head must be able to hold combustion chamber, intake, and exhaust runner volumes per NHRA Specifications."

Send your comments on this topic to racerinput@nhra.com.