GRAND-AM Camaro GS.R Build Thread

[Jatterbu]

As some of you may know, the Mitchum Motorsports #62 car was involved in a roll-over accident while qualifying at Watkins Glen a few short weeks ago. The team did an absolutely amazing job in rebuilding almost the entire car to get it ready to race the next day. They replaced the entire rear subframe with all arms, both front corners, steering rack, seat belts, port-o-power'd the roof and C-pillar back out and countless other hours of repair on the car. We were running in the 11th position with 25 minutes left when the front sway bar broke on the car and had to pit for repairs.

With that being said, the #62 chassis that was rolled over will live again to race another day, but needs lots of time in the body shop because of where the damage took place. The frame is still completely straight!! Shows how strong these cars really are. With the limited time the team had from the wreck until the race at Indy they have been building a brand new tub from the spare that was in the shop. This process started Wednesday of last week and I will continue to update with pictures of the build process.

Just after the roll-over:


Chassis being stripped:


Interior being stripped and wiring being removed:


Sitting as a completely bare chassis:


Brand new chassis beginning the build process:


Beginning to Gold Foil the Engine Bay:


Accessories Connected and Hard Lines installed:


Completing the Gold Foil:


New Interior wiring beginning:


Rear Subframe Installed:


Right Rear Corner:


Wiring Harness, ECU, ABS and Camera systems installed:


Steering Rack and pedal assembly installed:


I will update this thread as more goes into the car. We should be putting the front subframe with engine/trans and front corners in the car later today. Let me know how you guys like this brand new chassis! Feel free to ask any questions.


Joey

[ShnOmac]

Very... Very cool thread!

[Jatterbu]

One more quick update before we leave the shop for the day. This was all done in the last hour here on Monday afternoon.

Front Subframe with Clutch and corners:


Front Subframe with Trans bolted ready to go in chassis:


Front Subframe w/Engine & Trans installed:


Engine Bay bolted up, still have all accessories and wiring harness to complete:



Let me know if you guys have any questions.


Joey

[ShnOmac]

Is that a stock Camaro chassis? Sure looks like it...

[Jatterbu]

Originally Posted by ShnOmac

Is that a stock Camaro chassis? Sure looks like it...

Yes they are a stock Camaro chassis. These cars compete in GRAND-AM's CTSCC class as GS cars. The Camaro's that race in Rolex such as Autohaus and Stevenson are Pratt & Miller tube frame cars with artificial Camaro bodies manufactured to fit on the chassis. Stevenson also runs a car in the GS class as well as CKS.

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by Jatterbu

Yes they are a stock Camaro chassis. These cars compete in GRAND-AM's CTSCC class as GS cars. The Camaro's that race in Rolex such as Autohaus and Stevenson are Pratt & Miller tube frame cars with artificial Camaro bodies manufactured to fit on the chassis. Stevenson also runs a car in the GS class as well as CKS.

That is very cool. I had no idea that ya'll used stock chassis!

[SparkyDL75]

That is awesome to see some behind the scenes pics. I love watching the Grand Am series races. Best of luck to you guys at Indy next weekend! If the C5Fest wasn't the following weekend, I would come up for your race on the 28th.

[ripcard]

Very cool thread guys. We really appreciate the inside scoop stuff you're showing us. With the gold foil heat shielding on the car, the build is a bit (dare I say) NASA like.

I was lucky to be with the Upstate guys at WGI a couple of weekends ago and thouroughly enjoyed the Mitchum Motorsports tour you gave us.

















Good luck at Indy!:party0038:

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by ripcard

Good luck at Indy!:party0038:

Great pic's!


I am seriously loving this thread.

[ShnOmac]

Originally Posted by Jatterbu

With that being said, the #62 chassis that was rolled over will live again to race another day, but needs lots of time in the body shop because of where the damage took place. The frame is still completely straight!! Shows how strong these cars really are.


Joey

Can you say marketing? Hellllllllllo GM....... I have a Idea for ya.

[L99CAMA2011]

Look closely at the rear swaybar, front endlinks, suspension struts and shocks and also the use the best setup for a strut brace one that is linked to the firewall. Even their cradle bushings look different.

[ZED SLED]

Cool thread Joey. It was nice to meet you at the track. Glad to see Angelina will be new once again. Did you guys test her at Indy? I'll be down there this weekend and hopefully visit the shop on Monday. Tell Trevor I'll give him a call.

[Jatterbu]

Originally Posted by mclark10

Cool thread Joey. It was nice to meet you at the track. Glad to see Angelina will be new once again. Did you guys test her at Indy? I'll be down there this weekend and hopefully visit the shop on Monday. Tell Trevor I'll give him a call.

The Mitchum Motorsports team did test both the #6 and the #62 cars at Indy and both ran great. Sorry to disappoint you guys but I was picked up by Roush in between the Watkins Glen race and the Indy test so I'll be the Roush/Starstruck Entertainment BOSS 302R for the rest of the season. Don't worry too much though, I still work here at the Mitchum shop and will be bringing you guys all the updates and news with these Camaro's.

Also look forward to the next few months as here at Mitchum we are expanding and will be offering street car work, parts and even some custom made race parts for your street and track day cars!


Joey

[Cuda7050]

Thanks for the photos, I like racing series that work with factory issued products. I don't recognize the brand of coilover being used. Can you tell us who makes the coilover for the Mitchum Camaro. How much does the car weight?