Targa Camaro

[cheezer]

Hello,

After a couple of years of trying, the stars have finally aligned and the Targa Camaro is a go for 2010.

The goal of the project is to compete in the Targa Newfoundland Road Rally Race in September 2010. The car and most of the parts were bought a couple of years ago, and, due to circumstances beyond my control, the project has been delayed twice.

This car is planned to run in the Category 4 modified class, so things like a stock subframe and a cast iron block are required. The rules have changed abit, especially with regards to the differential, since this build was planned. The front suspension is a complete Chicane LM kit from ATS and the engine, an ordinary carbed 383 roller, with Edelbrock heads and a Milodon road race oil pan, will be pulled out of my convertible, along with the TKO 600 transmission.

It is a 68 Camaro that was bought knowing the floor was rotten, just worse than I thought. That was OK because a Lateral Dynamics three link was going in and some cutting would be done anyway.

This is how it started. Notice the missing wheel stud. Just the beginning.



We may need a new frame rail. Stock only, as per rules.






We built a box to extend the Lateral Dynamics piece to the rocker and the rear frame rail. This will be the base for the main hoop as well.



This is the mock up of the suspension. Although the floors and the trunk were rotten, the rest of the car is in really good shape. It was a perfect candidate for this project, especially with the fuel cell going in the trunk area.



I have been inspired by such cars as Bad Penny and The One Lap Camaro and a lot of other cars on this site. Thanks to everyone that makes this site such a nice place to be and to read up on all the great work and creativity happening all around us. I would like to apologize to some of the suppliers of the equipment on my car, for not getting it out and into competition sooner. But one has to be a member here for just a short while to see how health and financial issues have a way of influencing a build deadline.

Let me know if you would like to see more pictures, including the roll cage installation going on right now.

Mark,
cheezer

[70rs]

Of course we want more pictures!!

I have seen parts of the race on TV and have always wanted to run in it. I am VERY jealous to say the least. Post up some more pics. I would like to follow this all the way through the race results.

Do you have a rendering of what it will look like finished?

[cheezer]

No, I do not have a rendering since it is not a street car, it is not a "show" level car and since it will look like a regular Camaro except for the cowl hood and custom wheels. It will have a large tint strip at the top of the windshield to hide the roll cage. It will not have the super low stance that is popular on this site since it will be racing on regular city streets that are not in the best of shape. The roads in Newfoundland are probably as bad as what we have here in Quebec.

This is more of the frame rail and suspension crossmember detail.





This is what the rear panels look like now.



This is what the roll cage looks like now. Notice that we cut four holes in the floor where the pads go. We then built the cage in the car and were able to weld all around the joints. We then jacked the cage up nice and tight to the ceiling and slipped the pads in under the feet of the cage.




I have more pictures of the cage assembly, if you are interested, including the windshield gusset. I will post them later tonight. I am curious to see if any one else has built a cage with this method.

The current method in Canadian rally car racing is to peel back the roof to be able to weld the cage. That is more practical on current production cars that have both factory sheetmetal, as well as scrap yard parts, available.

Mark
Cheezer

[70rs]

I like your idea for welding the top of the cage. And as far as the stance goes, it is a race car and I for one would not expect it to sit too low like some of the street cars. Mine will not sit as low as others either because it will be driven on the street on a regular basis and the last thing I want is to worry about speed bumps and pot holes taking out my oil pan or exhaust.

The car is looking great, please keep the info and pictures coming. Thanks for posting.

[cheezer]

The subframe was repaired and seam welded. It is not finished to a very high standard, just enough to look good.





This is a good view of the ATS suspension with Penske Shocks, Lee steering box and AP Racing brakes.



This is a close up of the ATS coil over brackets.



Mark,
cheezer

[cheezer]

This is how we got really good welds while keeping the cage out as far away from the occupants as possible.

In this shot you will see the completed cage being jacked up and tack welded at the right height. The two sections of the dash that were removed for the front bar will be TIG welded back into place, with the appropriate hole, once the cage is finished.



This is a shot of one of the floor holes from underneath. You can see the bottom of the bar hanging at the proper height.



This is another foot pad box once it has been properly "boxed".



This is a picture of the front bar hanging.



The is the main hoop where it connects to the front suspension crossmember, at the next stage.



This is a down bar about to get the final welding.



This is the final product.




This is the rear diagonal weld.




This is a busy intersection.




This is where the rear down bar is secured at the rear suspension crossmember. The rear diagonal comes into meet here as well.




This picture is a little dark, but worth a look anyway.




Mark,
chezer

[cheezer]

This is the gusset at the top of the windshield, between the down bar and the front cross bar of the halo.



And the view from the inside. At left there is a square tubing that is a temporary tack weld. This holds the cage in place while the feet are "boxed".



Another view.



And a bigger perspective.



The work area.



And now that is up to date.

Mark,
cheezer

[70rs]

Thanks for sharing all of that Mark. You have a lot going on with that cage. Nice looking welds too.