Max’s Team – 1st Project (Posting over here, as I will be reading and asking many questions as the build progresses)

I’m calling this Max’s Team – cars come and go, but the driving force behind them will stay.

I am planning on building a car in my shop, dedicated to my son Max. The main goal is to have fun with friends and family – to build good memories. Through this project I hope to help teach others about working on cars and exposing them to different forms of racing. I look forward to making new friends and traveling to new places (under the guise of racing at out of town tracks). Friends at Corner-Carvers (www.Corner-Carvers.com) donated money, and their support was driving force for me to start this project.

A little about me – I have an engineering degree from Texas A&M (class of 98’), and I have been working on equipment and cars as far back as I can remember with my dad. I am an accident reconstructor – I look at car accidents, and as part of my credentials I am an ASE master technician. Through the Texas A&M Sports Car Club (TAMSCC) I have met many talented automotive people and been exposed to many different aspects of racing. I also have many connections to local car clubs (BCSstreet & BVSB). I live in a college town, and many young people want to help and take part in racing – but they do not have the funds or know how. Several years ago I started a build – which became Bubba Drift (www.BubbaDrift.com) with many friends. We had a great time.

I have never done any competitive wheel-to-wheel racing. I want to develop the skills and the seat time to be able to go racing.

Here is a list of some of the events I would like to take part in, and let others drive some as well:

Auto-x (we have great local events)
Drag racing (the suspension will not be optimized for this though)
Drifting (think of it as a large amount of seat time at an unrestricted auto-x, learning car control)
Texas Mile – never been, looks like a good time
Track Days – with an eye towards getting to do real wheel-to-wheel racing.
Time trials & hill climbs sounds like fun as well.

Real racing – probably along the lines of American Iron (AI) or American Iron Extreme (AIX). I am not real well versed in the different series and classes that are out there.

Here is my current toy – we have had it for ~16 years. About 5 years ago I swapped in an LS1 & t56, it has suspension work, full interior and A/C. It is too nice and has too much sentimental value to cut it up and cage it. It has been 2 years since I have driven it at a track day, I hope to fix a few things and take it out soon.

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/userpics/10001/normal_DSC_2382.jpg)

So, it seems natural to stick with what I like. I prefer the 3rd gen Camaro’s over 4th gens because the engine bay is easier to work in, and a few other things. I also like the LSx series of engines, and I have done several swaps into different platforms.
I picked up a 1986 IROC Camaro that I found for a good price on craigslist.

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/userpics/10001/normal_racecar.jpg)

I have a T56 that I will rebuild (I have rebuilt several before). I have an LS1 in need of a rebuild, but for the short term I think we will get a 5.3L truck motor and swap it in first (they can be had complete and running for $500). I have a nice aluminum radiator with electric fans.

I will probably get a 4th gen rear end (can use some of my current wheels from the other IROC).

Looking at Koni Yellow shocks, and a ground control springs / height adjuster / weight jacker setup.

Probably BMR or something similar for control arms, panhard bar, k-member.

Gutting the interior / removing extra weight. Will use a passenger seat and harness as well. Build a cage, paint car.

Ls1 brakes on the rear, not sure on the fronts yet.

I downloaded the AI/AIX rules and will read them.

Getting it running driving is first. Making more HP and improving things is second. My friend Derrick has worked at HK Racing Engines for a few years and has all kinds of ideas on what engine we should build. I’d like to build a turbo setup at some point, but heat management on the track could be an issue.

Thinking of this project has been a great distraction from my current situation, and I look forward to getting it into the garage and playing with it. My daughter (just turned 7) wants to help with it – for Christmas I bought her some “garage” clothes.

I will post updates of the build – but I do not think they will be as nice or informative as Fair’s (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Please feel free to comment on the build, offer parts suggestions, etc.

Thanks,
James Evans

Welcome James! Glad we get to follow your project. Fair just registered here the other day as well. Hard to say who might show up in this thread. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Welcome James ...

I think Gary may've already inquired for you, but ...

http://www.camaromustangchallenge.com/foru...opic.php?t=4085

Mitch - sent you an email about the rearend.

James

I've looked at this a couple of times over on CC. Good luck bud. Let us know if someone starts marketing those stickers I saw thrown around.

Max's Team - 1st day of work

Starting -
(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_001.jpg)

Weather was great, we had the garage door open. Friends arrived and we tore into it. Interior, suspension, gas tank, front end pieces, - all removed.

Zzebes found that the easiest way to remove the side windows was using a hammer.

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_012.jpg)

Holly had fun getting dirty and hanging out.

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_009.jpg)

I always loosen the lugnuts before I raise a car, but that is just me. Luckily we had Trevor to show us his method of holding the tire in his thighs so we could break the lug nuts loose. He is now to be known as "thighmaster". Here he is pretending to be a race car driver

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_018.jpg)

Veronica took a photo of me pretending to work -
(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_021.jpg)

Derrick supervised the teardown of the used LS1 that I had -
(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_035.jpg)

Here is how it sits now-
(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_044.jpg)

Thank you everyone who came out, there are more photos here - http://www.z28evans.com/album/thumbnails.p...m=44&page=1

Next will be cleaning the interior and building a cage. Engine parts will be ordered and we will perform the machine work.

Lots more to do. Aiming for a Mar 17th shakedown event at Mineral Wells.

James Evans

James, are you going to be reusing the ground effects? I have a 92 B4C that could really use that chin spoiler if you're not going to be putting it back on. OR, since it's a race car, perhaps a trade for one 'gently-used'? Ours has the 'DPS rip' on the front right corner. Thanks.

You guys work fast. How many ex chop shop employees were there??? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) Looks like you're off to a good start!

I plan on using the ground effects,

Thanks
James

Update – Cage Finished

Derrick gets the credit for the cage – he did a great job on it. He used the tig machine on everything but the base plates. His last few years of making cages shows – nice tight fit, almost no waste. The cage was dropped through the floor to get to the top of the welds. The top was then primered and then raised up to complete the cage. There is some misc to be done before we paint the cage. Fabricating the steering mount, pedal mount, etc.

As it currently sits - shop cleaned up:

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_078.jpg)

Derrick welding the main hoop:

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_062.jpg)

Dropped so that the tops could be welded:

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_066.jpg)

David learning to cut and notch:

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_068.jpg)

Derrick contorting himself to weld:

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_071.jpg)

Views of the cage:

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_080.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_082.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_085.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_089.jpg)

Derrick can tig nicer than I can:

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_088.jpg)

Need to order a steering column, pedal assembly, seat, window net, etc. Patch holes in the firewall. Scrape more junk off of the car - and then paint. I am thinking about having it sand blasted, I have someone who will do it cheap.

More photos in the photo album - http://www.z28evans.com/album/thumbnails.p...m=44&page=1

James

Wow, you guys do work fast! Nice work. You're well on your way. Heck, my cage only took a little longer than yours...by about 2 years. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Nice

Thanks - we have built cars with tight deadlines in the past. I need to order some parts tomorrow. Today we played with front suspension mods - we will make our own lower control arms to get more steering angle (for drift events).

I am self employed, and my work schedule varies - combined with recent events which make it hard for me to sit at a desk and concentrate.

James

I have always built my own engines, but I had to have shops do my machining for me. Well, now I have friends who own an engine shop (Erik at HKE – HK Racing Engines http://www.hkracingengines.com ), and Derrick (my friend who now works for me) used to work at HKE. So last week we went to Houston and dropped a crank off to be turned, heads at Westside to be cleaned up, and the engine down to HKE.

Erik Koenig and Gary Hood tearing into a vette motor that wasn't happy with boost
(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_075.jpg)

At HKE Derrick loaded the block into the cylinder hone, where he honed the cylinders to check for cracks. After things checked out, we looked at pistons and then honed the cylinders to size.
Pistons, rods, bearings, mild cam, oil pump and other stuff were ordered. Reliability is the main goal; we are not looking for high HP, high RPM or anything exotic. In a week or so when the parts are in, we will go back down there and build the engine.

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_074.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_077.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.z28evans.com/album/albums/uploads/maxs%20team/normal_max_team_076.jpg)

Expecting around 400 rwhp, and then restricting it down to ~330 with a combination of air restriction and tune for running in American Iron (AI). I have an LS6 intake, and we will make some headers.

James