Hi Larry,
Wasn't there also a chronic overheating problem on these engines that led
to bore plating failure? The V-8's I understand were something else again
to change some of the spark plugs. Whoops! said the engineers!! On the
assembly this was very nearly an automated robotic assembly line for the
body..
Later, Paul A
FROM: Larry Macy, INTERNET:macy at bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu
TO: (unknown), INTERNET:dannyr@flint.umich.edu
(unknown), INTERNET:boxweed@thebest.net
"Robert Van Kirk", INTERNET:racerbob@hotmail.com
CC: "Spridgets", INTERNET:spridgets@autox.team.net
DATE: 10/26/00 10:30 PM
Re: 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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Subject: Re: The Vega (No LBC)
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 22:01:36 -0400
x-mailer: Claris Emailer 2.0v3, January 22, 1998
From Larry Macy <macy at bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu>
To: "Robert Van Kirk" <racerbob@hotmail.com>, <boxweed@thebest.net>,
<dannyr@flint.umich.edu>
cc: "Spridgets" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
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