V8 vega

[vette5148]

Had a 72 Vega wagon back in the early eighties with a 327 turbo 350 and a 8 3/4 Chrysler rear end. Bought the Hooker kit with mounts and headers. Was a really fun car to drive. Was one of the fastest cars in town at the time. I ran low a low 13 at the track with street tires and full exhaust. Sounds slow now but was a lot of fun. I worked at a machine shop and sleeved several Vega motors. My dad had a 73 wagon that was fully loaded for a Vega and he loved the car. My brother and I are still trying to find a Cosworth Vega that's in nice shape for a reasonable price. GM performance even had a whole section in the catalog dedicated to the Cosworth motor. I know the Vega wasn't the greatest car but the Cosworth could really perform for only 122 ci.!! Even some of the old POS'S still had some rare one's that are worth something!!
.Almost forgot. My wagon had a flat factory hood!

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by vette5148

Had a 72 Vega wagon back in the early eighties with a 327 turbo 350 and a 8 3/4 Chrysler rear end. Bought the Hooker kit with mounts and headers. Was a really fun car to drive. Was one of the fastest cars in town at the time. I ran low a low 13 at the track with street tires and full exhaust. Sounds slow now but was a lot of fun. I worked at a machine shop and sleeved several Vega motors. My dad had a 73 wagon that was fully loaded for a Vega and he loved the car. My brother and I are still trying to find a Cosworth Vega that's in nice shape for a reasonable price. GM performance even had a whole section in the catalog dedicated to the Cosworth motor. I know the Vega wasn't the greatest car but the Cosworth could really perform for only 122 ci.!! Even some of the old POS'S still had some rare one's that are worth something!!
.Almost forgot. My wagon had a flat factory hood!

Back when I had the Vega I wanted to paint it gold and black like a cosworth. I never went for a ride in a cosworth but always thought a stock Vega engine was a terrible running engine. The Vega guy always said they were great engines after being sleeved but never heard one run after that being done.I remember while installing the sleeves thinking I?d much rather be spending my time improving something other than a Vega engine.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by outlaw

I never went for a ride in a cosworth

I did, it was a POS.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by vette5148

My brother and I are still trying to find a Cosworth Vega that's in nice shape for a reasonable price. I know the Vega wasn't the greatest car but the Cosworth could really perform for only 122 ci.!! Even some of the old POS'S still had some rare one's that are worth something!!

you're not trying to hard!

Step right up and buy this great example of a POS whose "performance" was

0 - 60 mph: 7.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.2 sec @ 85 mph
100 mph: 34.5 sec

WOW

https://www.classicautomall.com/vehi...vega-hatchback

[Billy Nees]

0 - 60 mph: 7.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.2 sec @ 85 mph
100 mph: 34.5 sec

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ wasn't slow in 1975-76.

[jimmyparker]

Billy, Jim Cassels had a Cosworth sometime in the last decade or so and wondered about its potential in what I think was V/S or so. He opened up the exhaust, took it to South Georgia and it ran within a few tics of the index, bone stock other than the exhaust.

I tuned in to see what was being said about the V8 conversions but i saw a picture of a big block engine in what looked like a F body or was it a Vega?

[vette5148]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

0 - 60 mph: 7.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.2 sec @ 85 mph
100 mph: 34.5 sec

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ wasn't slow in 1975-76.

Car and Driver said that 7.7 sec was the fastest of the year. They also said that it's balance was excellent. You have to remember what cars were like at the time. Also a sleeved one would run real nice and could easily go 100,000 miles or more if you didn't live in the rust belt!!

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by jimmyparker

Billy, Jim Cassels had a Cosworth sometime in the last decade or so and wondered about its potential in what I think was V/S or so. He opened up the exhaust, took it to South Georgia and it ran within a few tics of the index, bone stock other than the exhaust.

Hi Mr. Parker! Ya know, another prominent Racer was talking to me just a couple of weeks ago about doing a Cosworth Vega! Coincidence?
It's a T-U-V car, stick only. Probably the hardest part about doing the car (other than the parts it would take and the car itself) would be getting enough gear in a 12 bolt without having to resort to short tires which might cause traction problems. Maybe a Dana 44?
Maybe an under-drive trans?
If it were done correctly, it would probably fly!

[rsalemi]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Hi Mr. Parker! Ya know, another prominent Racer was talking to me just a couple of weeks ago about doing a Cosworth Vega! Coincidence?
It's a T-U-V car, stick only. Probably the hardest part about doing the car (other than the parts it would take and the car itself) would be getting enough gear in a 12 bolt without having to resort to short tires which might cause traction problems. Maybe a Dana 44?
Maybe an under-drive trans?
If it were done correctly, it would probably fly!

Billy
I have a 5.89 for a Dana 44 sitting in the garage - if that project ever happens!

1051 stk Bob Salemi

[Stan Weiss]

I got a 12 bolt with a 5.86 just rusting and collecting dust..


Stan