2012 OneLapCamaro Updates... we're at it again...

[James OLC]

With the 2012 Tire Rack One Lap of America quickly sneaking up on us I thought I would update everyone (who’s interested) on our progress with The OneLapCamaro. It’s been a challenging off season and we ended last year with a bang (followed by a depressing trickle of hydraulic fluid) at the OUSCI so we have our work cut our for us to get everything ready.

The first thing that needed attention (aside from the aforementioned bang that we’ll get to later) was the rear end. Last year we had “issues” with the axle bearings during the One Lap of America which put us down for a day (thanks again Frank) doing emergency repairs (and missing our turn on the high banks of Daytona). The failure was all the more frustrating because we had one of the (if not the) first Baer Floaters kits sitting back at the shop waiting on the final piece of the puzzle to become available. We also had one of the (if not the) last known Lateral Dynamics 3-Link housings sitting in wait.

Well, long story short, the final parts for the floater assembly came available in the fall and we immediately shipped everything to the crew at Currie Enterprises for final fabrication and assembly. After rebuilding the center section (which “Mary and I” managed to fill with real neat looking bearing mush) the Lateral Dynamics housing got laid out on the jig and the Baer Floater assembly was installed and new axles were ordered from Speedway Engineering (for the record, and just in case anyone wants some tech out of this, we are using the wide-5 style axles which are identical in most respects to the NASCAR and Nationwide axles, just without the machining for an inner seal).

About a month ago the (almost ready to go) assembly arrived:

[James OLC]

One of the first things that we noticed was that at some point in time Lateral Dynamics changed the bracing they used and we (well… David) were going to have to make some minor(ish) modifications to the housing to allow for the Hellwig adjustable rear sway bar to mount up in the same way that it does on the existing housing.



This brace in particular was going to have to go



Well in no time flat it was out of the way



And brake lines were being bent



And finally today the housing was painted and is ready to be installed



Hopefully we’ll get the rear end installed over the next few days. I’m in California this weekend doing my part in improving The OLC Team (by attending Skip Barbers’ three day race school at Laguna Seca) so I’ll be helping out at night on this and the R&R of the transmission for a new Centerforce DYAD Clutch and a badly needed throw out bearing).

I’ll try to post some detailed shots of the Floater mechanics tomorrow…

[mpozziCPL]

I see overspray ...

"Must clean off!!"

Mary Pozzi

[DTM Racing]

As the owner of a full floater, I can honestly say you are going to LOVE it. One downside I have found is the need to grease the endcaps. to keep the splines of the driveplate and the mushroomed end of the axle lubed. I tapped both my end caps and installed zerk fittings. That is the case for any "long distance" (more than 300 miles between axle pulls) Speedway Floater setup, I haven't had the time to examine the Baer setup.

[KPC67]

Originally Posted by mpozziCPL

I see overspray ...

"Must clean off!!"

Mary Pozzi

That will buff out!

I love how you continue to upgrade this car, and keep it fresh.

[James OLC]

As promised – some more detailed pics… David got the housing installed in The OLC today so we’ll try to have some more final assembly pics soon. I have to say that the more I see this setup, the more I like it!

An emergency brake might be cool one day – if nothing else it’s great to have the option.


An assembled end




A complete end less the drive plate


The drive plate


Bearing


Bearing


Assembled with axle, less drive plate

[Flash68]

Them are some great lookin parts...

[KPC67]

Good job on having some up close pics on the floater. It looks like a very nice piece.

[67ragtp]

Hey James,

The car looks like its coming along great. I was wondering if you could tell me who's hyd throw out bearing you are using on the centerforce DYAD set up and are you running a magnum t56? I tried to pm you but your box is full.

Thanks Rich

[James OLC]

Hey Rich - sorry about the PMbox... It's cleared out now.

We're going to use a stock GM slave cylinder. The last one lasted four years, two transmissions, three clutch rebuilds and a bunch of abuse... Plus Centerforce said that's what they recommend

And yes - its a T-56 Magnum transmission.