New Road Race Camaro Build

My car builder and crew chief just started a new tube frame build of a Howe bodied Camaro for a North East customer.

Thought I would share details and pics of a new Howe type 2012 Camaro under construction by Woody Wood. A cost effective build using a Howe ASA/GTA type chassis and the Howe 2012 Camaro body. Woody and Steve Branton modified the tail section behind the shock mounts to accept a removable section for the fuel cell (22 gal Nascar ATL).

The drivetrain was removed from the customers road race truck and as much as possible will be utilized. The motor is unique in that is one of the small block chevy's that utillizes the LS type heads. In this case aftermarket LS3's. It runs a Holley 4150 carb as used on GT1 motors. Transmission is a road race Jerico coupled to a Quick change rear end. The rear suspension is a three link with a Watt's Link. Brakes will be Brembo's up front with Wilwood's in the rear.

For additional cost effectiveness, the wheels will be 15" aluminum wide five fitted with 15x12 and 15x14 modified short track rubber. At about 600 buck a set, it is similar to the GTA type rubber.

The car should weigh about 2500# minus driver and the motor makes about 700 HP at the flywheel.

Will look like the Camaro Woody built for Ralph Tommasso from New Jersey.

From bare chassis to this in less than 30 days.

Awesome! I can't believe all that steel will end up weighing 2500lbs. I mean I trust that it will it just doesn't seem like it should with all that cage.

nocones wrote: Awesome! I can't believe all that steel will end up weighing 2500lbs. I mean I trust that it will it just doesn't seem like it should with all that cage.

Lighter than it looks, our flat black similar camaro weighed 2430 with a few gallons of gas and no driver, but it had an alum LS1. This one is an iron block.

So, what's the all in cost for something like this? Is this something that could be done if one found a used Latemodel chassis or something along those lines? I know those are usually made to only turn left, but I know they can be made to actually handle. Looks like a great way to get into racing if it's relatively inexpensive.

I'm wondering what he's wondering ^^^.

Also pondering how one might approach something like this as effectively a Locost of a different form factor...

45k minus assembly and drivetrain, rough figgerin'.

http://howeracing.com/Adobe/HoweTA20811.pdf

Very cool. Is it alive yet? You should bring it to Ultimate Track Car Challenge.

Conquest351 wrote: So, what's the all in cost for something like this?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the answer will be somewhere between "Way more than the average GRM Forum member is willing (or able) to spend" and "sideways 8."

Very neat build!

Yes, bring this to the UTCC!

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/events/UTCC12/

We'd love to have a Howe car there, and it isn't too late!

I was on Howe's site and saw they now offer a Mustang body. Would be cool to throw a new Coyote 5.0 in there and go have fun.

Conquest351 wrote: So, what's the all in cost for something like this? Is this something that could be done if one found a used Latemodel chassis or something along those lines? I know those are usually made to only turn left, but I know they can be made to actually handle. Looks like a great way to get into racing if it's relatively inexpensive.

Depends if you use some good used parts or all new. Woody at Bemco built this one for a VERY reasonable number as the customer supplied a road race truck and most everything used came off that. The chassis was a (NOS) new, old stock road race Howe. I think the bodies are around 3K plus lexan and shipping.

Yes, they can be fitted to some late model perimeter stock car chassis. I am going to convert my ex ASA AC Delco LS1 stock car to one of these. Pretty much the same thing as above.

Joe Gearin wrote: Yes, bring this to the UTCC! http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/events/UTCC12/ We'd love to have a Howe car there, and it isn't too late!

I will mention it to the car builder, they are still waiting on wheels. If it was at all possible it would be the shakedown for the car.