Cosworth Vega Race Engine

[Gordy]

I am looking for advice/opinions/other info as to the suitability of a Cosworth Vega engine for an old formula car I am building.

Don't really care if it's not period correct as the car itself is not very valuable. Are there sources for performance parts. Any thoughts appreciated.

[Ian Lenhart]

What about a more modern Ford (Cosworth Engineered) DURATEC 30 V6.
Aluminum block and heads, 200-240 bhp stock, fuel injected, cheap and easy to find.
Just a thought,.

Ian

[R. Pare]

From what I can tell, there basicly is nothing out the for replacement parts - what you get with the motor is all you are going to get.

Was an OK motor, as long as you didn't try to pull too much HP from it - the block would flex a lot. The few engines that were raced seriously never finished any races that I'm aware of - lots of cooling and oiling issues.

[Rick Kirchner]

Everything I've heard echo's Richard. Somewhere out on the web there's a site that talks about the cossie vega and the various shortcomings.

If anyone needs one I believe there's one out here in ridgecrest. saw it at one of the local shops in the back yard.

[Gordy]

Thanks for the responses. I was afraid that it might not be one of the better engines that Cosworth was involved with.

I'm looking for an older looking twin cam engine like the Lotus Twincam, without breaking the bank. Thanks for the suggestions and info, any other possibilities ?

[Offcamber1]

Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, Fiat.

[ghickman]

Link to a Lotus Twin Cam complete for $5,000 that's not a bad price at all.

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63265


if you could find an Alfa 1600 twin cam cheap enough that might be a good choice. Parts for these can be pricey though.

[Stan Clayton]

I'm looking for an older looking twin cam engine like the Lotus Twincam, without breaking the bank. Thanks for the suggestions and info, any other possibilities ?

Don't overlook a souped-up Kent. It's the same bottom end as a Twincam at half the price (or less). Check out Burton Power for go-fast parts. They happily ship to the States, and with a 1750cc version on twin sidedraughts you'd be at or above the power of a Twincam. Plus it bolts right in since it's essentially the same engine.

[provamo]

Gordy, what "old formula car" are you building pray tell?

[Rick Kirchner]

Bob Hatle has a hotrod kent in his FB titan for exactly the reasons Stan quoted - much cheaper than a Twincam, similar performance.

[Charles Warner]

Vega Cossie engine was used in the day but had to be built with the special GM-supplied racing block. Otherwise, as Richard says, it flexed way too much. IIRC about 185 hp was all you could reliably get out of the stock block. The special unit was used to build AJ Foyt's closed course record engine at over 600 hp. Non-turbo with a racing block should easily get 300.

[R. Pare]

Vega Cossie engine was used in the day but had to be built with the special GM-supplied racing block.

If i remember correctly, the "racing" block was cast iron.

[R. Pare]

Slight issues with the alu block at about 290 HP:

[Snakedriver]

That Fiat TC engine out of the 2000 Spider sure looks good.

Leo

[provamo]

Vega Cossie engine was used in the day but had to be built with the special GM-supplied racing block. Otherwise, as Richard says, it flexed way too much. IIRC about 185 hp was all you could reliably get out of the stock block. The special unit was used to build AJ Foyt's closed course record engine at over 600 hp. Non-turbo with a racing block should easily get 300.

i thought that record setter used an Olds Quad Four variant?

[LAJ]

Vega Cossie engine was used in the day but had to be built with the special GM-supplied racing block. Otherwise, as Richard says, it flexed way too much. IIRC about 185 hp was all you could reliably get out of the stock block. The special unit was used to build AJ Foyt's closed course record engine at over 600 hp. Non-turbo with a racing block should easily get 300.

I thought Foyt used the Olds Quad4 engine for his closed course record:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mQvE5lykic

Later the Quad4 went in the Sports 2000s for the pro series.

[R. Pare]

Yes, it was the Quad 4 in Foyts car in '87. the later record runs (1992) were with the Aurora V8.

600 hp wouldn't get you even close to the speeds AJ hit - the Quad 4's were pumping out a bit over 1000 hp.


ww.outrightolds.com/index.php/story-of-olds/spotlight-on/olds-aerotech

[Tigaman]

The Fiat 1608cc (80x80), 1756cc and 1995cc motors are terrific. As long as the oiling system is sussed, they live at high outputs for a very long time.

[provamo]

Slight issues with the alu block at about 290 HP:

gives new meaning to the term "engine cutawaY"

[Matt King]

Slight issues with the alu block at about 290 HP:

I think you could JB Weld that back together.