Cosworth vega?
 

Would this be a good combo and are they in the guide??

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Yes their in the guide. They are the 110hp factory rateing. I've never seen one in stocker form but they have a real weak bottom end. Might be tough to make them last at the rpm you'd have to spin them at. From the factory they were about an 18.5 second car. Just about drove over the crankshaft in one in my younger years.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Not near as good as I thought Junior. I have been piddling with one for a couple of yrs. I'm .50 off the v/s index . It won't be an economy project. It is a natural u Car. You will be competing with 6 cyl. cars with twice the motor size. Should be a lot of fun but you will spend some $.
Jim

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

I've had my eye on those for years. I heard of one that was ran in the twelves, a long time ago in the south, and it was a stock eliminator car.
I may be naive, but I can't help but think mid-twelves shouldn't be a problem.
But then again I'm talking a real effort for the class. Jim, is that how you would define your effort?
I had a '75 once and I was pretty impressed with it. I only got in one race with it (street) and it was a S/C T-bird. This was around 1987 (?) so it was a relatively new T-Bird. As I recall it was from a 30+ MPH roll and I hung right next to him all the way until we both had enough.
The cars have EFI that can take advantage of a FAST EFI controller and I'm sure a crafty piston maker could squeeze plenty more compression out of that dome and still remain legal. Since they made around 2 HP per cubic inch while under development & before emissions got in the way, I just can't imagine that couldn't be easily found again.
With a forged factory crank, aftermarket rods & pistons, what is so weak about the bottom end? Some nice Darton sleeves and with all the airflow you could possibly need, please explain the issues?

220 HP at the flywhel should get you a 13.0 & 250 HP should be 12.50's. (2470#'s in U/S). Wouldn't this spin too 8K+? Can you drop down to T/S with these 4 cylinder cars? Not sure how that works.

This has always been one of my "I just won the lottery and I just gotta give this one a try" cars!

FYI - Junior it is in the guide. 115 HP for Stock and 230 HP for SS. Note that the HP was adjusted from 110 HP (stock) to 115 HP in 2005. There must be some reason it received a hit and I assume somebody ran fast with one.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Jeff,
The first Super Coupes came out in 1988 as 1989 models. I saw a Firebird running a Cosworth Vega engine at the Maxton Mile landspeed track and I believe that it ran 135 mph. I only saw it there once and that was about ten years ago.
thanks, Roland

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

OK, that sounds about right. I was flipping muscle cars in that time period. The Cosworth I had was a black '75 and it was in perfect condition. The guy I bought it off was an Indy car mechanic and that Cosworth ran perfect. I bought it for $3500 and sold it quickly for $5K which was good money at the time.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

I happen to know where one is that could be bought reasonable

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

The blocks are the weak spot. Mine split right below the cylinders. I believe they are the same as the standard vega block. It was a good plan that got side tracked by the bean counters.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Jeff,
I have not spent time or much money on this project. I have deleted the heater, exhoust system, wipers and other small items. The motor has not been apart (76000 mi) I have had Jimmy Parker build a torque arm & install a fuel cell. It has a small set of slicks. I have been out with it one time, it went 15.75@ 84 mph.
There is no way that car will go in the 12s, prob not 13s. The FI people tell me no help. I think Megasquirt has something that will work. The pistons dont have domes & the CR is 8.65 to 1.
The Cosworth of England motor did make around 200 HP, but it is nothing like what came off the Chevy assy. line. I have seen dyno sheets that show less than 100 HP at the rear wheels.
The motor will go to 8000 with no problem, crank & rods should be no problem. It just has too much cam & valve area for a 30 CI cylinder. Beleive me no one has gown fast with one of these cars .
Jim

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Interesting...well I guess I better go get a lotto ticket then...:(

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

I always heard cosworth's came w/ doug nash street 5 speed was that right? I never have saw one always wanted to my Dad was supposed to got one once,it was one of those great deals that the seller never shows up with or has always got excuse why you can't go get it. You know the type of guy that always knows that guy with the barn full of 426 hemi's etc.
Mike Taylor 3601.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

They were available with a 5spd. in 1976 as an option. Mine had a 4spd and I think it was a saginaw. Not sure,that was almost thirty years ago.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

No. It was an early version of the BW T-5, possibly called the T-50 or something like that. The only thing I remember from years in the transmission business that came with anything Doug Nash from the factory was the Corvette. And that was a weird piece that Nash made for the late models, mid eighties if memory serves correct.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

The '75 came with a Saginaw. The '76 came in more colors and a 5-speed. There was a recall or something on the 5-speeds as they could not handle a high RPM downshift (like coming into a curve) and the trans would lock up causing a crash.
But for a high RPM drag car, an aftermarket 5-speed in a Cosworth would be the way to go.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

You all are correct. The 76 cars came with the 4 speed Saginaw & a 5 speed BW T 50 option. I see having to replace the trans, clutch & rear end if you got serious with the car. I think you could do something else cheaper. Jim

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Guys,

Woody, Sherman and Tatum have one of these rides in stock up at their shop. Its in pristine shape from what I understand? Fuel injected stick shift fun... I think its for sale though. Parker may know more about it .

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Hugh,
Woody and I are going to run for the national championship if I can get the car on the index. We ain't letting you 3 get over on us. Sherman told me you could check the oil on their cosworth without raising the hood. We mite use it as a backup car . lmao
Hope you and dad are ok.
Jim

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

The vettes had I think it's called 4+2 Doug Nash was Super T-10 w/ Doug Nash box added on had hi/low range type setup,I think you could split gears like on truck with two speed axle,ie. 1st low-high-2nd low-high etc.
I know where one of those trans are in like new shape.
Mike Taylor3601
BTW I was young but I remember oil check procedure on vega was dump 3-4 qts. in then check see if oil would show on the dipstick.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

I don"t know about pristine shape but I do know if I go over there again its gona be missing some headlight rings
Josh Mackey

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Thanks for refreshing my memory, it was a 4+3, I'm pretty sure.

The thing to do with a Vega was to take the block and have it sleeved, and use regular pistons (the stock and stock replacement pistons had tin plated skirts to run on the bare silicone lapped aluminum bores). Once you did that, the oil consumption and blow by was eliminated, all you had to do was keep the anti-freeze changed. I know a guy who used to buy them, do that, up the compression, port the head, add a header, and upgrade the cam. Made a sweet little economy car after that.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

I worked at Economy Chevrolet in Alhambra from August '75 and February '78, and a few Cosworth vegas came along. They were black,had gold colored wheels, a gold colored engine turned dash, gauges, the most exotic looking engine you ever saw with a stainless steel header, dual overhead cams,a littlre better suspension,a stronger rear end,etc,and they were a rather lively piece.The engine was smaller than a regulat Vega motor, 122 cu/in as opposed to 140 for the regular Vega. I never worked on a Cosworth while a dealer mechanic,but the son of some of our friends had one in the late 1980's, and he was replacing the spark plugs,broke one of them, and the porcelain particles and the stem of the plug fell in the cylinder, and he didn't catch it.The resultant engine damage was the head,the cylinder wall,and the piston.Finding parts for it then was nearly impossible. The one difference to the stock 140 inch Vega block was a threaded hole for a steel fitting for an oil drainback pipe from the head and the block so oil could get back from the head to the sump.Putting the Cosworth head on the 140 block would result in insufficient piston to valve clearance,so a piston manufacturer would need to build a set of pistons with the necessary valve clearance eyebrows.Anything could be done if you're dedicated enough, just hope it would pay off. The trans in these cars I saw was an aluminum case Borg Warner T-50.When the Olds Quad 4 engine came along in the 90's, I had to admit thet I'd seen it all before. That's where they got the idea for it,I'm sure.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Jim - sorry I couldnt help it.. tss Im glad you found humor in it and Im sure Sherm and Woody got a kick out of it when you called. Im sure he'll be calling me after a couple more calls about the "pristine" cosworth for sale Ha! . First race car Ive turned down a chance to drive...ever..

Were hangin in there up here, I hope all is well for you down there as well.

Hugh

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Thats funny u mentioned a vega.There is a guy from my home town(LEBANON IN) they called Indiana George Williams that ran a vega in stk elim back in the seventys and won 4 or 5 national events! Some of the old timers on here might remember him.Good luck with this combo.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

I remember seeing a vega stocker at an IHRA event in the south in the early 80's. I see Pintos on the highway, but Vegas on the street are harder to find than hens teeth. Don Jackson

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

That's cold Mike...I had a '76 Vega too (unfortunately not the Cosworth), and I never had to do that in the 3yrs that I owned the car...2yrs of that being raced on Sunday, and I won one championship, and 7 races out of 8 final rounds (plus a semi-final) in '79 at the Div.V ET Finals held at Marion, Sd. for Team Bandimere! I liked that car so much that I remember the vin...1V77B6U220942, and wish I never would've parted with that car! :(

Mine had the Durabuilt 140ci 4banger with a Turbo 250 auto tranny. I don't know about racing a stick against you the stocker world in a car like that, but it would've been fun to try? If that car hasn't been scrapped, I'd try to buy it back, and re-incarnate it to what it was, then go forward to a stocker class car!!!

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

George Williams(Rampage) and Phil Marsh (Swampys Toy) ran 1971 90 hp (1 barrel) Vegas in Y/S (now W/S).

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Apples and oranges, sort of , read this: http://www.cosworthvega.com/FrankSloan.htm

Frank is a friend of mine, and since this article, I built him a dry sump pan, updated his cage and some tin work and the car has the new G/Pro record at 157 and change.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

There's one up for auction next month:

Lot F203 1975 Chevrolet Cosworth Vega 4 CYL, 4-Speed (http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=FL0111-102741)

If you sign up at the site you can see previous sale prices for Cosworths.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

Hugh, do you ever see or talk to Neil? If so tell him that I called a while back and left a message and please tell him I said hi. Thanks Frank Chastain

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

You can buy fairly decent examples starting at $5K and it's not hard to see sellers holding firm around $7500.
This auction Cosworth has 237 miles on it so who knows if there is a buyer that wants one that bad to pay a lot. Despite what went into these cars, they've never been able to keep up with inflation. A new 'Vette was cheaper than a Cosworth in 1975-1976.

Re: Cosworth vega?
 

The auction Cosworth is radio delete!

Go figure.