Formula Ford - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chris W. · #16 11-23-2010, 01:06 PM

Good on you. The trouble is, it will spoil you for any other autocross vehicle, which will now seem like a body-rolling tank, even the Miata. A million years ago I did the Jim Russell school in Mont Tremblant, Quebec, which was in FF cars. I am about 6'-3" (shrinking now!) so in all the photos I really stick out. They had one car for tall folks...

It was in that school I determined that I would never be a great driver. During one of our breaks in the school, a bunch of club racer FF's went out to practice, and they were approximately 1000 times faster/smoother/better than me. I figured I could practice forever and never reach that level.

A half million years ago there was a guy in South Louisiana where I used to live who autocrossed what I think was a FF chassis with a mega built VW motor and that thing always set FTD, no one could touch him. It was like a grown-up's shifter cart. Incredibly fast.

Have fun!

Rgds,
Chris W.

mgburg · #17 11-23-2010, 01:22 PM

Get some pictures posted ASAP. Gotta' see your new gofast!!!

t walgamuth · #18 11-23-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

Go for it, Tom! That way, maybe I can bribe you to let me take it for a spin someday when I'm up your way. I have always dreamed of picking up an old racer like one of those. Here's a pretty one on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-Crossle-16-F-Formula-Ford-/170569021658?pt=Race_Cars_Not_Street_Legal_&hash=item27b6b4b8da

That is lovely and nearly triple what I will be paying for the 85 Reynard.

Tom

cscmc1 · #19 11-23-2010, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

That is lovely and nearly triple what I will be paying for the 85 Reynard.

Tom

Wow -- is the Reynard somewhat local? Good luck with the purchase!

tbomachines · #20 11-23-2010, 01:57 PM

You might want to consider swapping the ford engine out for a 1000CC bike engine (if possible?). More power, about 1/2 the weight and a sequential gearbox.

t walgamuth · #21 11-23-2010, 03:24 PM

I don't think that woudl be legal in C mod. The beauty of C mod is rules stability. Since the rules are static the cars remain competitive for decades. The reason I am going D mod is so I won't have to spend money for much of anything except tires.

Tom

Bill Ladd · #22 11-23-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

not these engines.
your thinking of the 2300cc engines.the later ones in rangers had 8 spark plugs.the valve cover looped over the end cam journals.and they threw timing belts like candy in the winter.if they ever did use em in pinto's mustangs etc i never saw one.which was kinda weird as whenever i called for parts they asked if it was a 2000 or 2300.but i never in 18 yrs saw a 2000cc engine.

I always heard the Kent 1600* wound up in early Pintos. Never really checked it out, though.

*FFs are 1600 -- their big brothers with wings and things, Formula Continental, used the early 2000s and have since gone to a newer 2 liter Ford powerplant. Zetec or something like that.

Bill Ladd · #23 11-23-2010, 03:36 PM

And speaking of Ford-powered 2-liter racecars, my all-time favorite and the class I would've raced had I been rich is S2.

S2/Sports2000:

Bill Ladd · #24 11-23-2010, 03:38 PM

Anway, get that Reynard, post up some pictures and have fun with it!!

t walgamuth · #25 11-23-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Ladd

And speaking of Ford-powered 2-liter racecars, my all-time favorite and the class I would've raced had I been rich is S2.

S2/Sports2000:

I love the looks of those too!

yes it was a pinto motor. nice simple pushrod straight four.

MS Fowler · #26 11-23-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Ladd

I always heard the Kent 1600* wound up in early Pintos. Never really checked it out, though.

*FFs are 1600 -- their big brothers with wings and things, Formula Continental, used the early 2000s and have since gone to a newer 2 liter Ford powerplant. Zetec or something like that.

According to the Standard Catalog of American Cars, ( 1971)"Pintos were available with either a British-built 1600CC overhead valve four cylinder engine or a second, more powerful ( and much more popular) German-built 2000cc engine which was also a four" 1600cc 98 cid 3.19X 3.06 CR 8.4:1, 75 Brake HP at 5000 rpm, 5 main bearings.
The same engine was carried over into 1972, rated at net 54 HP. The engine was not offered in 1973 domestic products.

The drop from 75 gross to 54 net HP is revealing!
The engine described in a post above was the 2300 OH CAM, the Kent engine is a push rod one.

gerkebi · #27 11-23-2010, 06:25 PM

Skip Barber was using Formula Fords when I went through the school. Fun cars, though the 0-60 time is optimistic.

Then I went up to slicks and wings in Formula Mazda for a few years in SCCA. Great fun. I'd say go for it!