Competetive 4-cylinders in Comp?

Axis Racing · 01-03-2012, 12:34 AM

Who runs a competetive 4-cylinder Comp car, and what engine are they running?

Al Ackerman (engine ?)
Frank Aragona Jr. (engine ?)
Greco?

Tony Curcio · 01-04-2012, 09:21 PM

I'm a 4-cyl comp wannabe racer, so I go to the staging lanes when comp lines up when I'm not in my own race.

The Aragona cars have had a Mopar DOHC four recently, which I think is the same as a Mitsubishi. They also made a Subaru engine work very well.

Ackerman had a splayed-valve Chevy head on what I believe is a Pontiac Super Duty block

Charlie Greco's Opel that was driven by Dave Yediny had a combo similar to Ackerman's, but his Cobalt has a custom made block, also with a splayed-valve head.

art leong · 01-04-2012, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Curcio

I'm a 4-cyl comp wannabe racer, so I go to the staging lanes when comp lines up when I'm not in my own race.

The Aragona cars have had a Mopar DOHC four recently, which I think is the same as a Mitsubishi. They also made a Subaru engine work very well.

Ackerman had a splayed-valve Chevy head on what I believe is a Pontiac Super Duty block

Charlie Greco's Opel that was driven by Dave Yediny had a combo similar to Ackerman's, but his Cobalt has a custom made block, also with a splayed-valve head.

Tony. Frank Aragona uses a 4 cylinder push rod motor (similar to the LA motor). Nothing resembles the DOHC Mopar motors. I run a 150 cube DOHC Modified production motor in my Superstocker SS/GS.
I believe the DOHC motors can be competitive at around 135 cubes. If you can get a car light enough.

Tony Curcio · 01-05-2012, 06:18 PM

Art, you may be right about their current combo. When the altered was first brought out,(maybe 2008 or 2009?), the engine had "MOPAR" on the big valve cover. I asked Frank Jr. what kind of engine it was as he strapping in, and he looked at me like I was stupid, and said "Mopar". I had clearly picked a bad time to be asking dumb questions.

art leong · 01-05-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Curcio

Art, you may be right about their current combo. When the altered was first brought out,(maybe 2008 or 2009?), the engine had "MOPAR" on the big valve cover. I asked Frank Jr. what kind of engine it was as he strapping in, and he looked at me like I was stupid, and said "Mopar". I had clearly picked a bad time to be asking dumb questions.

It is (was?) a Mopar 4 cylinder. Just not like the ones the power Neons or PT Cruisers.
Same number of cylinders after that there is nothing in common.

Tony Curcio · 01-07-2012, 07:20 PM

I understand now. In fact, the engine I was thinking of has 4 valves, which wouldn't be legal in the altered class they run.

So what year & model would this pushrod engine be from?

Dave Ley · 01-07-2012, 07:33 PM

Tony, It's basically half a Hemi. It was an engine that was used in the Indy Light series.

FED 387 · 01-07-2012, 07:39 PM

Aragona utilizes a Mopar A-4 cylinder block along with the new style Pro Stock Hemi head---if you are thinking about a 4 cylinder be fore-warned you will end up making/fabricating many of your parts and you have to either be a machinist have friend that will work for free or have access to a machine shop to do that---good luck "come in the waters fine"

art leong · 01-07-2012, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FED 387

--if you are thinking about a 4 cylinder be fore-warned you will end up making/fabricating many of your parts and you have to either be a machinist have friend that will work for free or have access to a machine shop to do that---good luck "come in the waters fine"

This is very true. I thought my engine would have a decent array of performance parts, because of the interest in the SRT4. Well I soon learned that if it doesn't have a turbo and a manual trans. You were on your own.
The first 2 years I ran my car I used an intake manifold from a dodge caravan. And cams that would check legal in a stocker. Camshafts were almost not available for a N/A engine (nobody had cores) My exhaust cam is a stock cam that has been welded to increase lift,
Things as simple as a 2 step were a challange. I had a trans brake made one of 2 in the world. My final drive (rear end gearing to you RWD guys) ratio is 3.94, and thats with custom made gears.
But little by little I'm getting it sorted out. I have had some help from the soft index. But with the amount of one-of's I need I deserve it.

david ring · 01-09-2012, 02:58 PM

You can run a four valve, four cylinder in H/EA-we have one in my car-Al Ackerman built it using a block and head out of the Colorado pick-up-it is a 2.9 liter motor (177 cubic inches) in stock form-we race it at 170 cubic inches. For H/EA, the motor must use carbs and the weight break is 8.25 lb.cubic inch. Fuel injection can be used in L/A or L/AA and the weight break is 10 lb/cubic inch (2 valve) or 10.5 lb/cubic inch (4 valve)..

Professor Dave

01-03-2012, 12:34 AM	#1
Axis Racing Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 14 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Competetive 4-cylinders in Comp? Who runs a competetive 4-cylinder Comp car, and what engine are they running? Al Ackerman (engine ?) Frank Aragona Jr. (engine ?) Greco?

01-04-2012, 09:21 PM	#2
Tony Curcio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 271 Likes: 1 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: Competitive 4-cylinders in Comp? I'm a 4-cyl comp wannabe racer, so I go to the staging lanes when comp lines up when I'm not in my own race. The Aragona cars have had a Mopar DOHC four recently, which I think is the same as a Mitsubishi. They also made a Subaru engine work very well. Ackerman had a splayed-valve Chevy head on what I believe is a Pontiac Super Duty block Charlie Greco's Opel that was driven by Dave Yediny had a combo similar to Ackerman's, but his Cobalt has a custom made block, also with a splayed-valve head. __________________ Tony Curcio 1860 STK

01-05-2012, 06:18 PM	#4
Tony Curcio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 271 Likes: 1 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: Competitive 4-cylinders in Comp? Art, you may be right about their current combo. When the altered was first brought out,(maybe 2008 or 2009?), the engine had "MOPAR" on the big valve cover. I asked Frank Jr. what kind of engine it was as he strapping in, and he looked at me like I was stupid, and said "Mopar". I had clearly picked a bad time to be asking dumb questions. __________________ Tony Curcio 1860 STK

01-07-2012, 07:20 PM	#6
Tony Curcio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 271 Likes: 1 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: Competetive 4-cylinders in Comp? I understand now. In fact, the engine I was thinking of has 4 valves, which wouldn't be legal in the altered class they run. So what year & model would this pushrod engine be from? __________________ Tony Curcio 1860 STK

01-07-2012, 07:33 PM	#7
Dave Ley Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Jersey , The 51st. State Posts: 424 Likes: 1,702 Liked 243 Times in 44 Posts	Re: Competetive 4-cylinders in Comp? Tony, It's basically half a Hemi. It was an engine that was used in the Indy Light series. __________________ Dave Ley

01-07-2012, 07:39 PM	#8
FED 387 VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,375 Likes: 423 Liked 301 Times in 161 Posts	Re: Competetive 4-cylinders in Comp? Aragona utilizes a Mopar A-4 cylinder block along with the new style Pro Stock Hemi head---if you are thinking about a 4 cylinder be fore-warned you will end up making/fabricating many of your parts and you have to either be a machinist have friend that will work for free or have access to a machine shop to do that---good luck "come in the waters fine"

01-09-2012, 02:58 PM	#10
david ring Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oneonta.,NY Posts: 889 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Competetive 4-cylinders in Comp? You can run a four valve, four cylinder in H/EA-we have one in my car-Al Ackerman built it using a block and head out of the Colorado pick-up-it is a 2.9 liter motor (177 cubic inches) in stock form-we race it at 170 cubic inches. For H/EA, the motor must use carbs and the weight break is 8.25 lb.cubic inch. Fuel injection can be used in L/A or L/AA and the weight break is 10 lb/cubic inch (2 valve) or 10.5 lb/cubic inch (4 valve).. Professor Dave