ERA GT 2072 - Almost

[Dave Wharran]

Thanks all.
We gave the car a baptism by fire this morning. I had set up an appointment to do a 4 wheel alignment and had figured on putting the car on the trailer to haul it to the alignment station.
Most of the suspension adjustments were left loose.
Well, it wouldn't go on the trailer because of the long nose. The ramps for the trailer were too short and the nose would have drug.
So, I tightend the suspension adjustments where they were and off the car went on its maiden voyage. Suprisingly, once on the alignment machine, the suspension wasn't that far out. We ended up also going through state inspection today...no problems. Put about 130 miles on the car today.

It's fun to watch road construction workers stare at it as it goes by. Likewise with people riding alongside on the interstate and flashing a thumbs up.


The car is an ERA kit that we took delivery on about mid Janurary of this year. We stripped it to the chassis so it could be painted and started building back up from there.
It has a 351 Cleveland engine in it, which is supported by ERA, but is a bit unusual. The physical size of the engine is much bigger than a 302, so it fills the engine bay. The engine is '71 vintage, but is updated with EFI, direct fire/crank triggered ignition, electrick water pump.......
The engine dynoed at 410 HP/410 ft-lb. Probably pretty tame by current standards, but the engine should make that all day.

It was dynoed without 180 degree headers. With them, there was a slight lean spot just off idle. We tweaked the program today to richen it up. EFI makes it easy. Just tweak while riding around.
The headers are 304 stainless patterned much like a 427 exhaust system. Edelbrock RPM mufflers. They are quite quiet. You hear a lot more intake noise than exhaust noise.

Brakes are standard Corvette rear with 12" Baer rotors.
Front is Baer Alcon 4 piston calipers and 13" rotors.
Wheels are Jongbloed BRM 3 piece, pin drive.

Hersh, the licence plate bracket sets below the exhaust pipes.
it is now installed, but I haven't taken pics yet.