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Messages - Jon Mello

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4096
Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Rear axle
« on: May 04, 2011, 03:53:15 PM »
Chevrolet Engineering was well aware of the limits of their rear axle spring perches in performance applications.
Below is the Engineering Service Letter which shows what they recommended as a fix. Always use u-bolts to
help keep the axle firmly attached to the spring, preferably two per side on a race car. Increasing the diameter
of the u-bolts is a good idea too.






4097
Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Recommended Reading
« on: May 04, 2011, 12:21:15 PM »
Mike,  Dan has got it finished and has submitted it to the editor so that part's done. Barring unforseen circumstances, it should be out at the time he indicated. Dan's got a passion for the cars and their history. I'm sure it will be well done and I am looking forward to it.

4098
Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Engine photos
« on: May 04, 2011, 02:56:04 AM »
Guldstrand's car was not a Z-28, it was an SS350 pulled off the lot at Dana Chevrolet and made into
a pseudo Z-28 with the replacement of the 350 with a Traco-built 302, a flat hood and a pair of Z
stripes. It was a manual disc brake car originally and Guldstrand preferred that over the power
assisted brakes.

I'm seeing the outline of a curved piece of metal under the duct tape on the upper radiator hose of
Guldstrand's car. Unfortunately the Penske engine compartment photo is a little too grainy to fully
see what else may be on the upper hose besides duct tape but that's as good an image as I have.

4099
Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Engine photos
« on: May 03, 2011, 07:11:54 PM »
Photo of the Penske Camaro's engine compartment, taken at Marlboro, MD, August 12, 1967.
This race was the first victory for the Camaro on the Trans-Am circuit. Mark Donohue and Craig
Fisher co-drove the car for this race. Notice the Bill Thomas/Douglass headers, painted yellow.


Photo by Andrew Keller

4100
Mark Donohue in the #6 and Bob Stevens in the #19 at the Kent (Washington) Trans-Am, October 6, 1968.


4101
Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Recommended Reading
« on: May 03, 2011, 01:10:23 PM »
Dan Lipetz of the Historic Trans-Am race group tells me his new book about the Trans-Am series is due to come out this fall, possibly as early as late August. More good reading to look forward to.

4102
Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Early Traco Water Pump Pulley
« on: May 02, 2011, 11:02:13 PM »
Wow, Chad. That is a seriously cool piece with several details that most people would never catch. Thanks a lot for posting it.

4103
Trans-Am Camaros / Rear axle
« on: May 02, 2011, 07:43:21 PM »
Here's an article from 1968 showing one method of how they beefed up rear spring perches on the axle back then.
No matter if you're road racing or drag racing, this is a wise thing to do because the factory welds in this area are
only suitable for going back and forth to the grocery store.






4104
Trans-Am Camaros / Engine photos
« on: May 02, 2011, 07:36:35 PM »
Anybody have some good Trans-Am engine compartment photos they would like to post?

Here's one of the Dick Guldstrand Dana-sponsored Camaro. Notice the spacers under the
thermostat housing, possibly to elevate the upper radiator hose away from the fan belt.
Click here for comments about the water pump pulley.


4105
Thanks, Mike.

Here's a photo of the John Putnam Camaro in the '70-'71 paint scheme. John was in the San Francisco Region
of the SCCA at this time but the car ran in the '71 Riverside Trans-Am, the '72 Bryar Trans-Am and the '72 Road
America Trans-Am, as well as numerous IMSA and A-Sedan races before John sold it at the end of 1973.


Photo: Dave Doyal Collection

4106
Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Cars we haven't seen much of
« on: April 30, 2011, 11:23:21 PM »
I think that sounds right about the UoP Camaro, that John Miller of Indiana may currently own it. There was a John Miller who was part of the original crew for that car and I think it is he who owns it now.

I am curious about this car that Harry Lipetz used to race (the ex-Lance Pruyn car). It was sold to a new owner (I don't recall the name) who spent a fair amount of $$$ to rerestore it and then I think it was only raced one time maybe 4 years ago. Anybody know what's going on with it?


4107
Mike, what was done with the taillights on this car? They look different than stock.

4108
Here you go, Mike.  Was this the same car that was sold to Allen Hewitt, Jr
and was raced by him in Trans-Am starting around 1970?






4109
Trans-Am Camaros / Re: Recommended Reading
« on: April 29, 2011, 05:56:54 PM »
Quote from: wolfmin
I seem to recall a lot of photo mistakes in this book, but I still refer to it a lot.

You are right, there are some mistakes, but I'm not sure a book was ever written that didn't have mistakes in it. I always try and read multiple sources, which helps if you are really searching for facts.

Here's another book, more of a picture book than a novel, and one which also has some mistakes in the captions but which is a great source for many very nice "period" photos of the Trans-Am cars in action. It should be on the bookshelf of any true Trans-Am fan. Many comments throughout the book are provided by drivers who raced back then.



Dave Friedman's "Trans-Am: The Pony Car Wars 1966-1972"

4110
Chad, The photos of the cars on the track are fun to look at but these shots that allow us to see more of the details of the cars are the ones I really enjoy. The '67 rule book does not discuss spindles but the '68 rule books says the spindles can be modified or changed as long as there are no changes to the track or wheelbase. I'm not sure if the Corvette spindle would do any of that. I guess that needs some research. I think it's pretty clear the car did not run that way in '67 but as for '68, I don't have an answer for that at this time. I don't recall another Camaro running with the caliper on the leading side of the axle centerline back in the old days. Anybody else aware of an example?

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anything