Cosworth vega?

[Jeff Lee]

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.

[Jim Cassels]

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

[Hugh Meeks]

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 .

[Jim Cassels]

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

[Mike Taylor 3601]

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.

[Alan Roehrich]

Originally Posted by Mike Taylor 3601

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.

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.

[Greg Reimer 7376]

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.

[Hugh Meeks]

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

[GarysZ24]

Originally Posted by Mike Taylor 3601

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.

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!!!

[TGould]

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