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Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2012 1:53 pm
by cosworth0135
I'll give you a "HELL YEAH" and a :( for bad it not being easier so i could do it too

'76 Cosworth Ecotec Vega Project - ON THE ROAD!!

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 2:16 pm
by 57todd
Well the car got to see the light of day for the first time in nearly 2 years. Any first road test that you don't have to walk home from is a good test. This was a good one. Got about 5 test miles on it and all seems good. I plan to check for leaks and any other surprises and put some miles on it tomorrow. I have what will be my resonator now as my only muffler. It is loud but tolerable for now.
1st_drive3_low.jpg

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 4:12 pm
by Kenova
:popcorn:
Well!? Does it "go"? :burn:

Ken

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 5:04 pm
by jon72vega
Excellent Todd!
Be sure to tell us how tomorrow goes.

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Sat May 05, 2012 6:31 pm
by BadBowtie
Its nice to see a cosworth built the way it was designed, just modernized :wink:

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:47 am
by hammerdown7
Tod,
A great combination of parts updating the basic car to 2012 specs. You're close by this years Cosworth Vega Roundup, it's being held in Greenville, SC. If you are interested PM me your address and I'll have the info sent to you.
Dick

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:27 pm
by ipspots
Love it! Keep us updated!

'76 Ecotec Cosworth Vega Project

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 5:09 pm
by 57todd
I had the exhaust done this week and it turned out nice. I used an 18" Flowmaster Hushpower for the muffler and put it where the cat would have been. I used another 12" Hushpower as a resonator at the exit. It sounds great. You can hear it but not obnoxious and no drone. 2-1/2" pipe the entire distance.

I have 60 miles on it now and gaining confidence. Hope to open it up later this week.

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Sun May 13, 2012 10:24 pm
by Kenova
Is the cat-con up beside the engine?
I'd ask for a video but my speakers went for a shit. :cuss:

Ken

'76 Ecotec Cosworth Vega Project

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 7:32 pm
by 57todd
Project Wrap
...for now.

I have 300+ miles on it now. Here are my thoughts so far:

- The car is fun to drive. A good balance of weight / power. The hydraulic clutch is light and the Colorado 5-Speed shifts nice. I used to KYB shocks and stock Cosworth sway bars, springs, etc. It handles well.
- 1/4 mile measured at 14.98, 90.2MPH. Lots of wheel spin at launch and from 1st to 2nd. I'm sure this could be better with practice.
- I took the car to a local truck scale. It weighed 2580 pounds with a 1/2 tank of gas.
- I got 18 MPG on the first tank of gas, but I really did not drive with fuel economy in mind and 90 percent of the driving was city. I hope this goes to the mid or upper 20s with normal driving.
- The engine is a very non-Vega like smooth at all RPMs. The modern balance shafts really make a 4 cylinder smooth.
- The Vega brakes stink. I know I was warned on here about the stock brakes. I didn't listen. I plan to drive it until Winter and do a brake upgrade then (S10?).
- The maximum caster I can get is -1/4 degree. Again, I was warned.... It doesn't seem to be a problem until about 65 MPH, then I get a bit of shaking. Not bad, but noticeable. I am sure it is the caster causing the shaking as before I aligned it, the caster was -2 degrees on one side and -4 on the other and the shaking problem was much, much worse. Some more on-center feel would also be nice. I may consider tubular a arms for more adjustment when I do the brake upgrade this winter.
- The car sounds good. I will try to get a video up soon.

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:01 pm
by jon72vega
Todd, it turned out VERY nice!

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:24 pm
by waybad
sweet,, we need videos!! congrats

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:12 pm
by HAULIN' IT
Cool Build for sure! Are you sure your referring to Caster? Only able to get a 1/4* max doesn't seem right & any number in the neg. would be nearly imposible for anyone to drive. What has been done to the suspension that would have caused this? Lorne

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:50 am
by hammerdown7
Great build, looking forward to see it at the Roundup. Caster is very hard to come by on h-bodies. A quick improvement for your brakes if you're still using the solid rotors is to change the rotors and calipers to the vented Monza design, you may have some slight rubbing of the rotor on the spindle. Mine were hitting the raised cast-on number, a little grinding did the trick.

Dick

Re: '76 Cosworth Project

PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:42 am
by jon72vega
hammerdown7 wrote:A quick improvement for your brakes if you're still using the solid rotors is to change the rotors and calipers to the vented Monza design, you may have some slight rubbing of the rotor on the spindle. A little grinding did the trick.
Dick


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