Jeff Lee, Author at HammerHead IRS

Jun 12 2012

HammerHead Nominated Into Foundrymen’s Society Casting of The Year Competition

The all-new indestructible HammerHead IRS 12-bolt housing for the 2010+ Camaro is already raking in the awards including a nomination into the Foundrymen’s Society Casting of The Year Competition. The annual casting competition showcases excellence in design, engineering and metalcasting. The competition recognizes what the engineering community can accomplish and is considered a true honor to be nominated.

When asked of the origin of the HammerHead concept, Skip Lee explained, “The original idea for making an independent rear suspension (IRS) 12-bolt casting came from a conversation with my two good friends (and Corvette racers) Craig and Brett Saurbaugh. They’ve helped me with many of my automotive projects and saw this as a way to repay them (and at the same time create a product that many Corvette enthusiast would want).

“During the research and development phase of the HammerHead, I attended the December ’08 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) show where I first saw the 5th Gen Camaro. Then and there, rumors of an IRS similar to earlier Corvettes were confirmed, giving me the plan to incorporate both the Corvette and 5th Gen Camaro 12-bolt IRS projects together.

“I took my 50 years of experience as a performance automotive enthusiast and 40 years in my trade as a patternmaker to develop the HammerHead. Mark VanderWest at Leading Edge Fabricating built the prototype differential for a test car, holding up to a grueling 900-plus-horsepower 5th Gen.

“At that point the real work began – with the help of Wes Rice at RL Cast Tech. We developed a 3D CAD model that was made into a plastic Stereo Lithography (Select Manufacturing) part. Today, the HammerHead housing comes in lightweight cast aluminum (but is also available in nodular iron for extreme performance usage).

“I have done whatever it takes to keep all the manufacturing within the United States, even going so far as turning down offers from 7 large companies – just to keep HammerHead’s production within Michigan.

“My family’s support and willingness to sacrifice so much to complete this project was the turning point for me. Together with our team we will soon have an affordable IRS to market for the performance racing industry.”

The HammerHead 12-bolt housing is part of three different complete bolt-in replacement kits for the 5th Generation (2010+) Camaro, offering kits capable of handling up to 1400HP. The HammerHead also allows a larger selection of gear ratios, posi units, and racing spools when compared to OEM style differential options.

For more info contact jeff@hammerheadhousing.com, visit www.hammerheadhousing.com, facebook.com/hammerheadhousings
or contact HammerHead Housings: 620 E. Riley Thompson Rd., Muskegon, MI 49445, at (231) 740-5534.

Magazine Scans Below:

Cover for Metal Casting Design & Purchasing Casting of the Year Issue — Cover of MetalCasting Design & Purchasing

HammerHead Foundrymen's Society — Hammerhead Featured in the Foundrymen's Society Magazine "Metal Casting Design & Purchasing"

For Immediate Release:
For more information contact:
Kevin Shaw
kevin.shaw@martincoadvertising.com
(615) 876-1822

Jun 02 2012

HammerHead Announces Three Stages of 12-Bolt IRS For 2010+ Camaros

There’s no modern muscle car more popular than the 5th Generation Chevrolet Camaro. Today’s Camaros are the perfect platform to go faster and build insane amounts of horsepower, that is except for the factory independent rear suspension (IRS). The factory rear housing is the car’s weakest link and that is why HammerHead has created the new standard in high horsepower independent rear suspension technology: the revolutionary HammerHead 12-bolt housing.

The HammerHead housing is part of three different complete bolt-in replacement kits for the 5th Generation (2010+) Camaro. HammerHead housings has teamed up with industry leader The Driveshaft Shop and will offer kits featuring race proven DSS axles rated up to 1400HP as well as their bulletproof driveshafts. The HammerHead 12-bolt housing features more strength and less horsepower loss than a 9-inch Ford housing. And by using a 12-bolt, the HammerHead allows a larger selection of gear ratios, posi units, and racing spools when compared to OEM style differential options.

The HammerHead 12-bolt housing comes standard in lightweight cast aluminum but is also available in nodular iron for extreme performance usage. Kits are available in three stages; from bulletproof to indestructible, and the HammerHead has been prototype tested in a 900-plus-horsepower Camaro with a 35-spline WaveTrac posi unit. Best of all, the HammerHead kit is an easy bolt-in installation, and is available with an optional carbon fiber driveshaft or WaveTrac 35-spline posi unit.

Stage 1
33-spline Eaton TrueTrac. 3.42, 3.55, 3.73, 3.90, 4.10, 4.30, 4.56, and 4.88 ratios. DSS 1000 HP Level 4 Street axles and choice of driveshaft.

Stage 2
35-spline WaveTrac posi unit with lifetime warranty (including racing). “Indestructible” nodular iron casting also available for applications over 1400 horsepower. DSS 1400HP Axles and choice of driveshaft.

Stage 3
Optional solid spool and 9310 alloy “Pro Gears” for racecars ONLY 4.11, 4.33, 4.56, 4.88, and 5.00 ratios. DSS 1400HP Axles and choice of driveshaft.

For more info contact HammerHead Housings: 620 E. Riley Thompson Rd., Muskegon, MI 49445, at (231) 740-5534.

Jan 26 2012

First Batch Of Production Camaro HammerHead Castings Off To Machine Shop

Happy New Year! The Holidays are officially over and everyone is back to work. Here are some shots of the just poured first batch of Camaro aluminum HammerHead 12 bolt differential castings fresh from the foundry and on their way to the machine shop. Soon they will be under some of the baddest Camaro’s in all the land. 🙂

Oct 11 2011

The Driveshaft Shop To Provide Axles & Driveshafts For ET Enterprises HammerHead IRS Housings

Fred, Jeff & John Lee of ET Enterprises just got back from a trip to The Driveshaft Shop in Salisbury, NC and we are proud to announce that the HammerHead kit will include 1400HP axles from The Driveshaft Shop, and your choice of an aluminum, chromoly, or carbon fiber driveshaft. The combination of the groundbreaking HammerHead 12 bolt housing with these proven bulletproof Driveshaft Shop components will give customers a killer combination. If you would like to see the HammerHead in person, Fred & Jeff Lee will have an unmachined casting with them at the LSX Shootout October 7-9, 2011 in Indianapolis, IN. Call Fred at 231-740-5534 to connect. But for now…gawk at these great photos!

HammerHead at Driveshaft Shop — Fred "Skip" Lee of ET Enterprises with Frank Rehak of The Driveshaft Shop holding one of the first Camaro HammerHead 12 Bolt IRS Housings

Oct 06 2011

It’s A Reality! Camaro HammerHead IRS 12 Bolt Housing Casting Photos

It’s a REALITY! The first Camaro HammerHead 12 Bolt IRS housings have been cast in Aluminum and are now at the machine shop getting fixtures made. If you would like to see the HammerHead in person, Fred & Jeff Lee will have an unmachined casting with them at the LSX Shootout October 7-9, 2011 in Indianapolis, IN. Call Fred at 231-740-5534 to connect. But for now…gawk at these great photos!

Photos by Sarah Lee Photography