From:
kiva5198_REMOVE_367452_THIS_@yahoo.com
Mine was actually a 77 Pontiac Astre 5 speed, but it had probably
about 100,000+ by the looks of the motor it was attatched to. I
changed out the fluids, put Amsoil synthetic in it (compares to the
Redline in "independant studies") and raced it for one weekend then
blew it up on the drive home easing (I swear) the Cosworth up to
about 6500 since I was on the street. As soon as I went to shift,
BLAM! Sounded like a grenade went off, it was my new clutch and
pressure plate. I guess they couldn't stop that motor from 6500 rpm
instantly. The trans sounded like it was full of gravel as I rolled
to a stop only about 300 ft from my driveway, yes, I liked to enter
it fast.
I have another, early production Vega 140 5 speed that has around
200,000 miles on it. I bought the car with 110k and them put 30k on
it before v-8ing it. I then beat the crap out of that trans (this was
when I was 17) racing everyone everywhere I could. I tell you, first
gear is short with 300 ft/lbs. I then put this T-50 in my Cosworth
and autocrossed it for two years (primarily in first and second gear
high rpm 3.73 gears) and I shifted it hard, very hard...three
clutches hard. This trans I took out to put in the Pontiac one
because it developed a leak and I was having trouble passing tech if
I waited in line too long. After the Pontiac one blew, I put the
Vega 140 one back in, but have only about 30 miles on it since then.
On my G-tech, my Cosworth was putting out only 127 hp (+/-3hp
accuracy accoridng to Car Craft magazine) at the rear wheels. So I
don't personally think that power has anything to do with it.
Especially since I flogged that one for so long. It even had several
hours of 140ish mph when I was commuting from Wyoming to Portland
(don't ask/2.92 gears).
If you can get a Monza style shifter, they have a reverse lock out
feature that I have not seen on any Vega T-50s. When you are shifting
forward, it pushes the shifter over towards the second gear. To enter
reverse, you have to come at it from the right side. It is kind of
hokey, and I think a lot of them broke of over the years, it's just
attatched where the left front shifter bolt goes. The Monza shifter
is also bent to a greater degeree so it fits the 75 Vega body with no
modifications. The 76 Vega style shifter requires about 1/4" of metal
to be removed from the rear of the shifter opening.
Britt
--- In <a href="/group/cosworthvegas/post?protectID=219233066105193209050199029077192253163098100009128121188190230091025019053061151110147">cosworthvegas@yahoogroups.com</a>, "cv3122 <<a href="/group/cosworthvegas/post?protectID=061059113121099134218149203101129208071">ssafstro@n...</a>>"
<<a href="/group/cosworthvegas/post?protectID=061059113121099134218149203101129208071">ssafstro@n...</a>> wrote:
> so I take it the tolences were tight when new and the more you dove
> it without gettin on it, the wear in helped? I'm not completely
> comfortable shifting with this pattern so as not to hit the
incorrect
> gate under hard power. With 7600 mi on it I guess I'll let it wear
> in, I'll use my mustang 5.0 to beat up on.. thanks I'll look up the
> info for future knowlege....
> steve s.
> cv3122
[This is message #10298 by user kiva5198 on Yahoo! Group Cosworth Vegas:
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