New toy, AKA what the hell is that noise?!?

[anyonebutme]

A few in chat got the memo, now I'll spill the beans....


Due to my newfound recent ability to break very expensive new 3S parts, I went out on the hunt to find a cheaper............



















NEW BECAUSE RACECAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v55/PrestoTuna/forum%20misc/IMG_20150426_193812730_HDR_zpsbwhya92a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v55/PrestoTuna/forum%20misc/IMG_20150426_193738412_zpskmkeq9q4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v55/PrestoTuna/forum%20misc/IMG_20150308_135332288_HDR_zpseua6ne27.jpg

View from the office:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v55/PrestoTuna/forum%20misc/IMG_20150426_194612673_zpseyloj9gd.jpg

[anyonebutme]

Before I get to the good stuff, I'll run down some specs.

This is a former ASA series racecar, which in this case is a Howe (Trans Am series manufacturer) main chassis with Lefthander front and rear clips. They originally ran with Lingenfelter built LS1's with minimal mods. Rest of the running gear consisted of a NASCAR standard 4-speed dogbox, quick change rear axle popular with the super late model crowd, things like that. They ran mostly if not all circle tracks, but due to rules limiting circle track left turn tricks like engine offsets, they are some of the better roundy-round cars to convert to road course use.

Converting these cars became so popular after ASA went under than SCCA created a new class just for them, GT America, or just GTA. Made to slot under SPO which is the class for roadcoursing NASCAR 700+HP sprint cup cars, it became the budget big bore class with HP around 450-550 and much lighter weight than the sprint cup cars. As an added bonus it comes with a lot of the same driveline as the 800HP sprint cup car so with "only" 500 or so HP they tend to last, well, forever. Soon some very talented drivers found out they also fit into the Trans Am 2 class, and proceeded to put the hurting on the much more expensive Trans Am cars. A year or two ago the rules were changed and thats no longer the case, but that's here nor there. This car used to be campaigned with the LS1 but in 2012 was repowered with a heavier iron block carb engine, probably to take advantage of the higher HP allowance for running the bigger tracks like Daytona roadcourse.

Numbers time: ballasted to 2730 lbs with the LS1 with no driver, 525+HP with capability of running over 600HP by increasing rev limit beyond the mandated 7K, Penske double adjustable dampers, 3 link rear end with torque damper, one of the most safe rollcages available in any racecar today. 15x10" steel wheels and bias ply NASCAR slicks. 6 piston front brake calipers and 4 piston rear clamping floating rotors with lots of ducting and fans. Basically all the nifty race things you'll ever need. Full containment seat. And a fire system just in case. Don't forget the about 2" diameter front sway bar.

[anyonebutme]

So I took it to Road America for a shakedown........


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFpus8z243w


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0GzeJMsNNo


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxWs1ik7JtQ


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VCOsgA8FpA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQxuAI7mIBs

[j2k4]

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH, DAMNED CORP-NET!!! :mad:

Can't wait to get home and watch the vids, Chris. :D

[MDoe8]

haha nice, so what engine is in it now?

yummy.....dogbox.

[green-lantern]

I've been waiting on this thread. Very cool Chris :bigthumb:

Now to watch the videos :)

[green-lantern]

I spy Bonsai at 20

[anyonebutme]

The engine is a super late model spec engine that I know of, probably 358 CI, Dart iron block, aluminum head, probably Callies crank and rods, victor jr manifold, 750CFM race carb, 3 stage dry sump, ATI damper, 5.5" 3 plate clutch, big cam. I don't know for sure if this engine was built to GTA "restricted carb" engine specs or if it's their off the shelf SLM engine, but either way makes solid HP and good midrange torque.

Very first time with a dogbox and clutchless shifting, I was a bit worried but turns out it's easy for me since I'm used to left foot braking anyways.

[j2k4]

Oy, the sound...:D

[anyonebutme]

More answers to questions nobody asked.....

So, how does it drive?

Like a 500HP spec miata I guess, lol. Very easy to drive at a decent clip, even though it moves around a lot. It never has that stable feeling even while going slow, but it doesn't move more the faster you go, just has a natural softness to it. Kinda weird driving something that feels soft and easy while being so brutal and violent at the same time. Probably would feel a lot sharper and stable with radial tires.

[j2k4]

What are you gonna be able to do with it outside of Elkhart Lake, Chris?

[green-lantern]

I watched the first and last video yesterday and you could tell you felt more comphy in the car even though it did get squirrely a bit. Does it freak you out when it gets loose or is it no big deal?

[anyonebutme]

What are you gonna be able to do with it outside of Elkhart Lake, Chris?

Put 3000GT headlight and tail light stickers on it and take it to NG?


I watched the first and last video yesterday and you could tell you felt more comphy in the car even though it did get squirrely a bit. Does it freak you out when it gets loose or is it no big deal?

It's pretty benign, so when it starts to slide it's no big deal, just pedal it and it'll rehook. It takes a while to hook back up, but I guess that's a side effect of it breaking loose slowly. Doing a lot of autox makes a huge difference in feeling the car and skid recovery. This car would terrify me with how much it moves around if I was less experienced, at first it felt like I was drifting all over the place.

[green-lantern]

Put 3000GT headlight and tail light stickers on it and take it to NG?




http://www.bawcforums.org/vbb/images/smilies/LikeThis.gif

[futurevr4man]

http://www.bawcforums.org/vbb/images/smilies/LikeThis.gif

There is literally a button for that

[green-lantern]

There is literally a button for that

Gingers literally have no soul

[futurevr4man]

^ you see what I did there?

[green-lantern]

^ you see what I did there?

http://www.bawcforums.org/vbb/images/smilies/LikeThis.gif

[DocWalt]

Chris, muffler so you can run NG autocross? :D

[anyonebutme]

Been shopping, not cheap. Might throw a diesel muffler on.

[bridge]

I spy Bonsai at 20

Yeah, some one spelled it the rite way.

Patterson, is it fixed or you being a lazy douche. Ha.

[anyonebutme]

I thought we covered this, I take lazy to an art form. Its still in the trailer until brother gets the green vr4 out of the garage.

[Greg E]

Holy shit!

[green-lantern]

Yeah, some one spelled it the rite way.


Ha ha not the first time spell check FTW!

[futurevr4man]

Finally watched the vids. Car sounds great!

[sergechronos]

Finally watched the vids. Car sounds great!

Really needs to roll the windows up and use the air conditioning though, that wind noise is killer ;)

[FluffyCow]

Damn. That shit is sweet.

[DocWalt]

updates?

[anyonebutme]

Nnnnope.