VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION VCCA Judging Questions 8 Cylinder Era

Forgive me if this question has already been addressed previously here.
If I understand it right,the 8 cyl era award is for '55-up right?
So this era best of award is growing larger and larger each year,while the 6cyl and 4 cyl era's are fixed?

Has any thought been given to splitting the 8 cylinder era into 2 defined by year? Jim

I wondered what happens when a Four or Six wins in the 8 cylinder era... Has it happened yet?

It has indeed happened - recently a 4 cyl Vega won the 8 cyl Era. Key word here is "Era" - think about it......

During the "8 cylinder Era" Chevrolet has built 4, 6 and 8 cylinder cars.

Nobody stops to think that during the "4 cylinder Era" (1912-1928) Chevrolet also built 4, 6, and 8 cylinder cars: the 1913-14 Classic Six, 1914-15 Light 6, 1918 Model D V-8, and quite a few 4 cylinder cars, too.

Yes, the "8 cylinder Era" grows larger each passing year, currently now at 1955- 1989. Yes, there has been talk about splitting that into, say 1955-1976, and then 1976-latest. But there has been no meaningful action.

oh, yeah, and Bugger the Greenies.

tisk... tisk...

Agree,wish I had a dollar for each time I hear the Era Awards defined by engine!

Splitting the 8 cylinder era as you suggest sounds like a no brainer.Why no action?

It may seem logical to split the V-8 era as it spans more years '55-'89 (34 years) than 4 cylinder era '12-'28 (16 years) or 6 cylinder era '29-'54 (25 years). Let me point another couple of considerations. The number of vehicles that are judged in each era at VCCA meets and the number registered on the database as owned by VCCA members. The final one is if you split exactly how do you do it? Keep the V-8s in one group and put the 4-6 cylinders in another? Put the full size and intermediates in a group and compact and sub-compacts in another? Or something else? I think it is inevitable to split it. Is now the time?

No need to complicate it,imho. As Mr Williams stated,just simply split it in approx 1/2.....it's an ERA size issue, not an engine specific thing.

Mr. Williams!? What, my Dad's been posting in this string?

ImpalaJim brings up a good idea. We struggled with this same issue in the Best of the Best committee only it involved HPOCF. HPOCF can cover all years of vehicle and if there are a large number of them at a meet it is hard to determine Best of Show perhaps even more than V8 era. How can you compare a '32 sedan and an '82 Corvette? I see a well thought out motion to the BOD or a change in the Policy Manual coming? Good suggestion fellas.

This is why I have switched from Judging to Touring. Much less complicated and everyone remains friends.

I've been following this discussion and thought I would offer statistics from last year's judging season:
There were 9 National Judged Meets across the country.
When looking at vehicles for Best of Show, the highest point car 1st Jr, 1st Senior and preservation in each class scoring over 975 points are eligible to be looked at for best of show in each era.
In 3 meets the number of 6 cyl era & 8 cyl era eligible vehicles were exactly the same.
In 3 meets there were more 6 cyl era vehicles to look at
In 3 meets there were more 8 cyl era vehicles to look at

It probably depends on which Meet you go to as to how many vehicles you see and think about the equality of the process.
You may see a lot more cars of one era over another, but those cars may not be scoring 975 points so are not eligible meaning a lot of classes do not have cars eligible.

Thanks for the data. Looks like we are not yet "out of balance" as far as numbers of 6 & 8 from which to choose for awards. I highly suspect that in the coming years that V-8s will increase and 6 cyl decrease. So beginning discussion on what to do when that happens is appropriate. If a decision is made and enacted too soon it risks upsetting some members, just as waiting too long will upset others. Hope the BOD doesn't fall on that double edged sword.

The logical split would be emission era V-8 which would put you it in the ball park of the mid-70's. Those cars are next to imposible to restore due to a lack of any non mechanical parts, the newer it is, the harder it is to find trim parts and plastic interior parts. TRUST ME ON THIS, I FOUND (and still finding) OUT THE HARD WAY

John, I like that idea. Emission Era would be, perhaps starting with 77 and up or 75 but 76 is so much closer to 71-75 where 77 was a real design change. Just a thought

Nice to know somebody still likes my ideas. Problem is it does not fit with the body styles all that well, I think 75 was the begining, not sure I have to look

Our 74 Nova has the Smog Pump on it.

1966 was first year for smog systems on some 66 corvettes sold in calif. mike

Smog pumps on Chevy V-8 engines in 1968. Have had a few but no '68 sixes so don't know about them. Maybe some earlier years?

i have a 67 c-10 that was sold new in san diego calif. its a 250ci inline 6 cal and it had factory smog system on it. mike

I had a low mile 68 Corvair with a 140 that had an smog pump, I think Calf. Corvairs had the smog pump in 66.
Maybe a good split would be 82 when that went to the computer controls on federal cars.

I seem to remember that '66-'67 had smog pumps on most Calif engines. Rest of the country got them in '68. I also have a '68 Corvair that still has the original air pump.

Yes, and even before that I remember the closed oil cap on 327s with "California Emissions." 1977 was the new body styles for full-size. Hard to decide where to draw the line. Nova and Chevelle changed in 75 and 73 respectively.

chipper is correct. if a 66 corvette was ordered by a chevy dealer located in calif, it got the K19 option(SMOG) on 327 350 hp 4 speeds(stamp pad suffix was HD), on the 327 350 hp with PS(KH suffix) and the 390 hp 427 with power glide(Suffix IR). the rest of the 66 vet engine lineup sold in calif did not have K19 smog. by 1967, calif ordered corvette engines got smog if they were the 327 300 hp and 4 speed(suffix HH), the 300 hp 327 with power glide(HR) , the 327 350 hp 4 speeds(suffix HD), the 427 400 hp 4 speed(suffix JF), the 427 435 hp 4 speed(JA), and the 427 435 hp with aluminum heads and 4 speed(suffix being JH). the remained of the 67 corvette sbc and bbcs , when ordered in calif did not have K19. i find it curious that a 66 427 425HP engine sold in calif did not need K19. mike

Getting off topic from my original question.

Steve and John I think you're on the right track.'55-'76 makes sense from a physical stand point.'77 on up on full size are different animal.

'76 last year of the classic script lettering on the cars,'77 full size went to block style print script.'76 last year of the era in engine paint orange as well.

As far as emissions,in the 70's they crept in slowly as model years progressed.TCS in 70-72,EGR 73-up,'74-last year for reg gas,CATS and no-lead in 75,etc....

From a judging and certification era stand point keep it visually simple.
'55-'76 and '77-current.Easily recognizable on show field,too. The 75-76 models are closer in relation to the older cars than the 77 and up.

My thoughts,Jim

LOL! Jus bein' polite :)