Cosworth vega?

[junior barns]

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

[Harry 6674]

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.

[Jim Cassels]

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

[Jeff Lee]

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.

[rawhide]

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

[Jeff Lee]

Originally Posted by rawhide

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

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.

[Chad Rhodes]

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

[Harry 6674]

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.

[Jim Cassels]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lee

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.

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

[Jeff Lee]

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