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Re: The Vega (No LBC)

To: "Elliott, Patrick" <patrick.elliott@attws.com>
Subject: Re: The Vega (No LBC)
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 10:55:32 -0700
Cc: "'Larry Macy'" <macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu>, Robert Van Kirk <racerbob@hotmail.com>, boxweed@thebest.net, dannyr@flint.umich.edu, Spridgets <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Organization: WFO Racing
References: <61A811DC8715D411BF0100508B94DB1C01F9CBAE@WA-MSG11>
For sale by chance????

"Elliott, Patrick" wrote:

> My neighbor has 4 (yes four) Cosworth Vega's in his back yard.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Larry Macy [mailto:macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 7:02 PM
> To: Robert Van Kirk; boxweed@thebest.net; dannyr@flint.umich.edu
> Cc: Spridgets
> Subject: Re: The Vega (No LBC)
>
> OK kiddies, I had a Vega. I have to agree the Cosworth was hot. But I had
> the std 2300cc engine. IMHO the only reason those cars got a bad rep was
> that they were not driven the way the engine was designed. The engine was
> a SOHC 4 cylinder engine, when most of the american engines of the time
> were V-8's. V-8's have a lot of power/torque with low RPM's. SOHC and for
> that matter, DOHC's, have their power range in the higher RPM range.
> American drivers wanted to drive the 2300 at low RPM's they just couldn't
> see 3 - 5000 RPM as a normal range for an engine. But the Vega, with its
> silicated aluminum cylinder bores needed that higher rpm range in order
> to keep the oil pressure high enough to keep the cylinders lubed. Yea I
> know a higher cap oil pump woulda helped. However american drivers drove
> them at at 1500 - 2000 rpm, just like the V-8.
>
> I drove mine (mainly because I didn't know better) at no less than 3000
> rpm. That was where the power was. After several years I blew the rod
> bearings, due to an oil pan leak. Bad design - the oil pan was lower than
> the cross member and it smacked on all the bad dips and rocky roads in
> the mountains. I rebuilt that engine (first one I ever rebuilt) and the
> cyl bores were great!! Very little wear, in fact you could still see some
> of the honing marks. and that was at nearly 60K.
>
> The 2300 Vega engine was a good design, just not enough drivers knew how
> to drive the dam car.
>
> Larry
>
> >>>>On 10/26/00 5:30 PM so and so (Robert Van Kirk) said. (And I quote:)
>
> >I wouldn't call a twin cam cosworth crap!!!  Remember those??
> >
> >
> >>From: "Wiedemeyer" <boxweed@thebest.net>
> >>Reply-To: "Wiedemeyer" <boxweed@thebest.net>
> >>To: "Danny Rendleman" <dannyr@flint.umich.edu>
> >>CC: "spridgets list" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> >>Subject: Re: The Vega (No LBC)
> >>Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 13:51:17 -0400
> >>
> >>The Vegas were beautiful cars.  Unfortunately, the engines were all
> >>crap.......but V8s fit in nicely!!
> >>
> >>Bob
> >>
> >>
> >> >Ah, the Vega.  I had a 72 GT and just loved it--until the engine
> >> >froze, of course.  But a great, quick little car until then.  If I had
> >>any
> >> >sense I should have put in a 350/375, too.  Who'd a thunk?  How in
> >> >the world did it fit?
> >> >
> >> >Danny
> >> >Danny Rendleman
> >> >dannyr@flint.umich.edu
> >> >74 Midget
> >> >GAN5UE153226G
> >>
> >
> >_________________________________________________________________________
> >
>
> Larry Macy
> 78 Midget
>
> Keep your top down and your chin up.
>
> Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
> macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu
> System Manager/Administrator
> Neuropsychiatry Section
> Department of Psychiatry
> University of Pennsylvania
> 3400 Spruce St. - 10 Gates
> Philadelphia, PA 19104
>
>  Ask a question and you're a fool for three minutes; do not ask a
> question and you're a fool for the rest of your life.


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