Installing A Howe TA2 Front Sway Bar Package

Our Ford Thunder Chicken GT1 cars arrived to it's new home, with a 1" Howe bolt on sway bar kit.  We decided to rework the front, with the the current kit that the professional teams are running, in the SCCA Trans Am TA2 class.  With some inside tips  from Dan over at Howe Racing, we were able to get all the right bits and pieces assembled, and put in to place.  Of course the big question of what size bar to run came  up front.  You would be very surprised to learn what  they are running in the pro series.  No bump stops, and bars that are in the 2 inch range.  THAT, is a whole lota front sway bar.   Springs need to go soft, but this is what is being made to work, so be aware of where set ups are at now days.  We will go with something less in overall bar diameter, probably 1 3/4" to start, with somewhat softer springs, than the 600 # units, that came installed on the front.  This is an ongoing work in progress.  Let us know if you have any questions, on your current cars set up.  We are always glad to help if we can.

Note:  The front shock is not yet attached to the lower control arm, in the photo above.

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A Thunderbird Road Race GTA Car Joins Our Blog

Like many of you, we are always scouting E Bay, and Racing Junk, looking for that next exciting project.  Our gang has become big fans of former ASA cars, because there are a number of them floating around, they sure don't cost much, and make great road racers.   We have had a Baker Motor setting in our shop for a while, from the days of sportsman short track fender banging, and looking for a chassis to drop it into.  A couple months ago, a Johnny Benson car came up locally, for $4,000, but it had been sitting in "as raced" condition for many years.  Overall in good condition, but not yet converted over to left hand/right hand operation.  Then we discovered this Former Joe Nott V6 ASA race car, just a little bit further from home.  It had the switch done by Howe, but was in need of some work, due to a "smack job" with one of the guard rails, over at Road America.  Besides our Camaro  GT-2 car, we will start documenting the modifications, and upgrades, to this race machine.  Stay "tuned", for further developments.

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A Look Under The Hood Of Our GT2 SCCA Road Race Camaro

This car is a GT-2 legal SCCA race car, that can also be entered  as a TA-2 car, in the professional Trans Am series.  Our Howe/Port City car is an ex-ASA perimeter chassis, circle track race car.  It has  an actual series LS1 motor, that runs factory ignition coils, 10.5 compression ratio, dry sump oil pan, 180 headers, and a GM factory ECU. The sealed engines that were supplied for the ASA series went from Chevrolet, to Lingenfelter Performance Engineering (LPE), in Decatur, IN.  You will not find that they have much interest in them now days, but we have received good support from Schwanke Engines, in Springfield, MN.  They are doing a number of motors for the professional Trans Am Series (both LS-1, and LS-3), and offer packages that include everything from short blocks, up to complete, ready to race motors.  Visit them at:

 

  http://www.schwankeshortblocks.com/

 

Our own shop offers a lot of automotive related accessories, as well.  We are stocking more race related items every day, and have just finished redoing a nearby industrial building, for our mail order business.  We have a lot of used parts that are very useable, as well  If you are new to track days, or SCCA racing, we will be glad to answer any questions, and assist you however we can.  Our toll free number is:  866-229-7939.  You can visit us on the web at:

 

http://www.gearheadzproducts.com

 

 

 

 

GT-2 Howe Port City Road Race Camaro

This blog is all about the work and set up involved with running a Howe type chassis, in road race compeition.  Our base car for discussion purposes can run in the GTA, and GT-2 classes of SCCA.  It would most likely make the grade for TA-2, in the Trans Am series as well.  It is a former ASA race car, with the LS-1 motor which came from Lingenfeher, down in Indiana.  The car was built at Port City Racing, using the Howe ASA spec center section.  It has a Jerrico four speed transmission, Winters quick change reat end, Wilwood brakes, Sweet power steering, Cool Shirt system, and Pro Shocks.  We worked with Schwanke up in Minnesota to get the ECU reflased.  Mike Cope down in Florida did the AR Camaro body conversion, which involved lowering the roll cage to get it to fit.  Mike has also helped us with the basic set up on the car, since this is our first tube frame road racer.  We will make reference to some of the products used on the car, that come from our own business, Gear Headz Products  

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