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!!!!!!!!!!!!!







View from the office:

[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........

[j2k4]

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH, DAMNED CORP-NET!!!

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

[MDoe8]

haha nice, so what engine is in it now?

yummy.....dogbox.

[green-lantern]

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

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...

[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.