Restore Your Tank! - Cosworth Vega Owners Association`s

The Official Publication of the Cosworth Vega Owners Association
Issue #94
4th Quarter 2007
16
Restore Your Tank!
6
4
12
4) Now, About That Other Cosworth
The continuing story of a man and
his Cosworths.
6) A One Tank Trip
Take a journey with us and discover
proven techniques and products to
restore your rusted, leaky fuel tank.
11) The Web Corner
12) Racing With the Enemy
The open road, a fine day,
a smooth running Cosworth.
16) Roundup 29 Preview
Read about all the fantastic activities the
boys from Michigan have lined up for
this year's Detroit Roundup.
22) SIDE VIEW MIRROR
Cosworth Vega
Owner’s Association
Quarterly Magazine
Official CVOA Web Site
www.cosworthvega.com
President
Tim Morgan
Valley Stream, TX
Twincams@aol.com
Membership/VP
Mike Rupert
147 Hiram Street
Pittsburgh, Pa 15209
(412) 821-8429
CVOAInc@aol.com
Merchandise/VP
Bob Slusarek
24616 Lincolnway Street
Plainfield IL 60544
(815) 439-8108
cswrth0321@ameritech.net
Magazine Editor
John Williams
202 Mile Road
Tunkhannock, Pa 18657
(570) 836-8024
CVOAEditor@cosworthvega.com
Contributing Editor
Brian Harpst
Greenville, Pa
Registrar
Steve Larson
164 North Clark Drive
Palantine, IL 60067
(847) 934-3672
Fax (847)934-4023
aaquariums266@aol.com
Any car information that was not
supplied with your membership or
renewal application, send to above
for CVOA records
Steve Larson Web Page:
www.larsonpage.com/cv
2
CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
Twin Cam Talk
By Tim Morgan
Hey Y’all
Well it’s that
time of year
again where I
won’t see the
light of day until
May, which is just in time for the
Roundup June 20 to 22 in Detroit. So
this will be another short letter.
I am looking forward to attending
my second Roundup in Detroit and
our hosts this year, John Cowall,
Dick Baumhauer, Paul Wicker and
John J. Cowall have a full slate of
events for us this year including a
trip to the GM Warehouse (where all
the show, custom and historic vehicles are stored) and a top notch autocross on Belle Island hosted by the
Michigan Sports Car Club. Sadly I
will not be bringing a Cosworth, but
I plan on having a 3rd generation
Chevrolet Twin Cam car at the
Roundup.
For me it has already been a very
busy and trying year after trying
again to obtain an SBA loan...and
being strung along for almost two
months the lender dumped the loan.
However, I did buy out my partner
using creative owner financing and
now it is all mine (including the head
aches).
Well it is back to the Salt Mines!
– so until next time –
Happy Cosworthing!!!
Later
Tim
Message from the Editor
Hello All,
Let me begin by
saying that the
dates for the
Roundup
this
year, to be held in
Detroit, are June
20, 21, 22. Our
Roundup
hosts
made the change
due to the sudden availability of an
awesome autocross site. The schedule of events is simply amazing. Details can be found in this issue, starting on page 16.
* Your Attention Please *
The Roundup Dates for the 29th
Roundup, to be held in Detroit,
Michigan, have been changed. The
correct dates are June 20th, June
21st, and June 22nd, 2008.
* Your Attention Please *
A Roundup registration form is included in this issue. You can also
register online on the club website.
Besides GM celebrating its 100th
birthday, 2008 also marks the 70th
year of the Tonawanda Engine plant.
Thanks to an e-mail from plant communication manager Mary Ann
Brown, we now know that there will
be an Open House to the public on
Thursday and Friday, Sept 11-12, at
the plant. The tentative date for their
20th Annual Classic Car Show and
Auto Expo is Saturday, Sept 13th.
Other special events are in the
works, details of the week's activities
will be published in our next issue.
(Continued on page 3)
The Cosworth Vega Magazine is published Quarterly by the Cosworth Vega Owners
Association Inc., P.O. Box 5864, Pittsburgh, Pa 15209. Subscription rate of $30 per
year or $75 for three is paid through membership dues. The CVOA is a Delaware notfor-profit corporation. Opinions and comments made in columns in this publication do
not necessarily reflect official positions of the CVOA, Officers or Directors. In no
event shall the CVOA be liable for incidental or consequential damages from reading
this publication. Send all correspondence to CVOA P.O. Box 5864, Pittsburgh, Pa
15209. Submission of articles/ letters gives right to edit and publish. You may also email to: cvoainc@aol.com
cosworthvega.com
2007 CVOA Director’s Meeting Minutes
The Meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by President
Tim Morgan
Directors present:
• Brian Wetrich
• Art Treta
• John Cowall
• Jerry Smith
Dan Newman
Financial Reports distributed:
Merchandise Sales and Purchases
Sales up $2000
Major Purchase of Radiator Hoses
Currently 254 members; 123 expired
Down from 270/90 expired last year
Most people are going to the Internet and not joining.
New Business:
Elections:
Tim Morgan
President
Mike Rupert
Vice President
Bob Slusarek
Merchandise VP
Re-elected unanimously
Purchase of Lower Radiator hoses:
As they did not fit, Tim recommended scrapping them.
Dan Newman motioned that we save them as they
are ‘usable’ until finding something with a better
fit. Possibly sell at a discount.
Brian Wetrich seconded the motion to save the hoses
Vote in favor to not scrap the hoses.
June 22, 2007
Parts Cross Reference Database compiled by Brain Harpst
(member who is a parts man at a GM Dealer) has been
worked into the web site by Mark Rock and Jerry Smith.
Future Roundups:
The 2008 Roundup will be June 20-22 Weekend in Detroit. Presentation by John Cowall and Dick Baumhauer.
Additional hosts: Paul Wicker and John J. Cowall.
Bob Maloy’s daughter is looking for information on her
father. Mark Rock is corresponding with her regarding
having a Roundup at her winery in 2009, 2010 or 2011.
Location is Pasa Robles, California, 1 ½ hours south of
San Francisco.
Mike Rupert has expressed an interest in possibly having
another one in the Gettysburg,Pa area.
Ken Rock has expressed an interest in having one in
Northern Virginia
Dan File/Jeff Romeo potentially in Colorado
Website Updates:
Jerry Smith gave a demonstration on the CVOA Website’s
new Part Number finder and membership locator systems.
Motion to adjourn at 9:47 by Jerry Smith. Second by Art
Treta. Motion passed and meeting adjourned.
Submitted by John Cowall, acting secretary.
Editor
(Continued from page 2)
Old Business:
None
Open Discussion:
Mark Rock advises that our By-Laws are in need of Revision. Tim will get with him during the coming year.
Art Treta requests more help in the Concours judging.
Much discussion on necessity of following Duke
Williams' previously published strict rules vs
‘streamlining’ them. Issue also with consistency among
classes. A ‘casual’ class was suggested.
A committee was formed for revising Concours rules.
Volunteer members include:
Art Treta
Dan Newman
Bob Adams
David Dempsey
John J. Cowall
Duke Williams
(possibility)
Many of you will be looking for Brian Harpst's third installment of "The Cosworth Vega Parts Cross-Reference"
development articles. Due to his busy schedule and the
tremendous amount of time it takes to write an article of
this nature, it won't appear until the next issue.
I'll bet many of you didn't know that you can view the
current issue of our Magazine online, and in full color.
You can! It is easily accessible on our club Website; check
out "The Web Corner" on page 11 for instructions.
A big thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue.
The bad weather is finally easing up here in the Northeast
and soon I'll be able to dust off old #3400 and take her out
for a spin. I can't wait!
John
cosworthvega.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
3
Now, About That Other Cosworth
I’m back from Florida, having just made another too
infrequent appearance at a Roundup. I have always wondered what keeps members from attending. In my case it
is usually my job. Oh, I tell myself it is something else,
but I enjoy every Roundup I attend, so I don’t know why I
don’t attend them more. It is easy to say that the
Roundup is too far away and it will take more time and
money than I am willing to spend on bringing a Cosworth. But with my job, it is usually the time involved
and what situation I am in that year.
This year 0046 attended the Roundup for the third
time since I owned it. I have attended only seven Roundups, and only took a Cosworth to five of them. Even
though I have owned 2100 longer than 0046, she has only
attended two Roundups;
2001 in Louisville, and 2003
in Austin (this should tell
you something about its history). 0046 attended 1988 in
Reno, 1989 in Des Moines
and just recently in Deltona.
By Shawn Parsons
“Could that be a Cosworth?” I asked myself.
I immediately stopped, and sure enough there was
a 1976 Cosworth Vega, numbered 2100, with just 12,000
miles on it. Black with black vinyl interior, and a five
speed transmission, she was basic Cosworth. With what
little light there was, I could see that it had some body
damage and two large “Camaro” racing stripes running
from the hood, over the roof, and stopping at the end of
the hatchback. “I wonder what it's doing here?” I thought.
No other thought crossed my mind as I stood there admiring it. I was thinking that this will be my only chance in
owning a Cosworth Vega. I had to have it, no matter
what!
The next day I stopped by
the bank and inquired about
the Cosworth. Yes, it was
for sale as being repossessed.
This should have told me
something right off, but I
was in love and was willing
to overlook several faults
I have put far more
2100 had. A bidding war
miles on 0046 than 2100,
over the Cosworth started
probably because of its hiswith the bank manager. The
tory compared to 2100. The
bank manager wanted the car
funny thing about 2100 is
also to drive back and forth
that I can trace the ownerto the main branch through
ship of this Cosworth
the curvy roads of southeast
through the five previous Shawn's Cosworths in Ohio, circa 1994-1999
Ohio. He wanted the bank to
owners, but I knew nothing
keep the car, and I wanted to
about it before I bought it in 1979. 0046 has had only one
purchase the thing. Eager to get this Cosworth, I kept
previous owner and I knew and contacted him about 0046
upping my bid. Several weeks later, after upping my bid
after I purchased it finding out its complete history before
to $3500, I now owned 2100. But what did I get for my
I owned it.
money?
My luck with Cosworths has its ups and downs,
especially with 0046. 2100, until recently, mostly had its
downs.
Now about that other Cosworth…
0046 may have been the first Cosworth I saw, but
it was not the first Cosworth I owned. I had wanted a
Cosworth Vega after owning a regular Vega since 1976,
and especially after seeing 0046. I never thought I would
ever find one. In the fall of 1979, one literally showed up
right next door.
My family had a business in Little Hocking,
Ohio, which was located right next to the local bank. One
night, in 1979, passing the bank I spied a black Vega
parked in the second unused drive-thru lane.
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CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
cosworthvega.com
2100 was in sorry shape for being only 3 years
old. She had been rode hard and put away wet. It still ran
and tracked true, but oh what punishment it had taken in
the hands of four previous owners and of course being
repossessed didn’t help with the last one. Besides the two
large racing stripes, there was a large Harley-Davidson
decal covering the entire back window. The front had
been lightly hit with the front bumper being pushed in, the
front valance and chin spoiler missing. The right front
fender had a crease running through it, continuing down
the passenger door and ending in a big dent in the right
quarter panel right behind the passenger door. The now
spare wheel was smashed and broken (probably from
whatever did the front end damage). The interior had a
faded dash bezel and numerous cigarette burns in the carpet. But it was all mine, and I enjoyed driving it every
minute I could.
It was fun to pull up to a stoplight next to some
un-Cosworth educated, decked out Pinto and proceed to
blow them away. I even managed to do that to some
Mustangs as long as they kept racing until I could catch
them (you know how Cosworths are off the line). But the
real treat was driving the curvy roads of southeast Ohio,
back and forth to school and the surrounding area in a car
that handles well and truly has the power to do it.
Four to six months and 600 miles later, my
brother was driving 2100 when the engine seized up outside of Belpre, Ohio. He said that he was just driving
home from work, but later I found out that he was racing
a friend and probably over revved the engine. Now starts
my education on Cosworth Vega repair and rebuild. I
pulled the engine out to find that #3 piston was burnt with
the rings welded to the piston and the cylinder scored.
The crank was also scored and the main thrust bearing
was melted. It looks
like a lot of labor, machine shop work, and
parts are required to put
2100 back together
again.
replaced. The engine is put in and the body work is done
with the car painted and stripes applied. But it is still not
running. Just when I am about to finish 2100, we get orders to move to Columbus, GA. So I load up the Cosworth and move.
2100 did not stay long in Columbus, Georgia,
about two nights. There is no place for it there, so it is off
to Ohio to join 0046 in storage in my brother’s garage.
Being back in school, there is no time to bring 2100 to
Georgia to work on it and when 0046 dies, it comes down
to which Cosworth will be worked on first. Five years
pass with no work being done on 2100.
After several more moves (Huntsville, AL and
back to Columbus, GA), we settle in Newnan, GA (just
southwest of Atlanta) and I bring both Cosworths back
down from Ohio. Since the engine is out of 0046, I concentrate on getting
2100 up and running.
After several attempts,
2100 is up and running
in 2001, 21 long years
since the day it died. It
joins 0046 in 2002 as
both Cosworths are
running for the first
time since I got them.
But now I am
not out of driving a
Cosworth. It is 1980,
and 0046 has shown up
with me purchasing it
2100 goes to its first
for less than what I paid
Roundup in 2001 in
for 2100. Having one
Louisville, KY. August
r unning C os wor t h
2002 brings us to Auplaces the non-running
gusta, GA and the Cosone on the back burner
worths go back to Ohio
for time and attention.
for storage while mov2100 is moved from my Cosworth Vega #2100 looking fine in Austin!
ing. I bring both back
parent’s garage to a
where they are parked
garage in Vienna, WV, for storage along with 0046
and covered in my driveway. 2100 attends the Roundup
during the winter. The engine is slowly rebuilt over the
in 2003 in Austin, TX. It is seen around Augusta, GA
next 4 years in the basement of my parent’s house.
numerous times as I take it out to run every once in
awhile. In 2005, while I’m deployed to Afghanistan, my
1984 rolls in and a job opportunity has opened in
wife oversees the building of our off site garage in Apsouthern New Mexico. I move to El Paso, TX leaving
pling, GA. When I come home on R&R I move both
both Cosworths behind. I return home about every 6
Cosworths into the recently completed garage where they
months but for only a week, so there is no time to work
stay until this day.
on 2100. Finally in the winter of 1987, I decide enough is
enough and bring 2100 back to El Paso to put the time,
Deployments and subsequent assignments keep
effort and money in it to get it back together. Through the
me from attending Roundups until this year. 2100 stayed
next 5 years, I gather parts (fender, door, etc) from the
back this year as needed body work and repainting prenumerous Vegas that don’t rust in the West Texas heat
vent it from being the best Cosworth I have to attend the
from various junk yards, order parts from available dealer
Roundup. Hopefully, someday, the Roundup will be in a
stock, and from other CVOA members. The entire front
location close to home where I can bring both Cosworths.
suspension is taken off, stripped, painted and rebuilt. The
Of course, as soon as I can get one of my children to drive
underbody is stripped and repainted. And the rear underone I can bring both anyway. Until then I just keep toilbody, including the suspension and axle is taken off,
ing away to keep both Cosworths running and trying to
stripped and rebuilt. The carpet and dash bezel are
scheme my way back to the Augusta area with the Army.
cosworthvega.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
5
A One Tank Trip
Most of you don’t know Neil Zurcher, (http://
www.cetconnect.org/writenowohio/zurcher_bio.asp) and
there’s no reason you should. I don’t know him personally, but I know of him. He was
a local TV station travel reporter
who garnered a modicum of
fame in northeast Ohio with his
“one tank trips” shtick. His
popular “One Tank Trip” reports
are the longest-running local
travel segment on television.
Looking for adventure on a
beautiful Sunday? Take a drive
somewhere in Ohio, enjoy a special site or attraction, and return
home that evening with gas left
in the tank. He did so well that he collected his tips and
trips and published them. Do an Amazon.com or large
public library search of his name and you’ll see.
Neil was, I think, a bit like we Cosworth owners: Young
at heart and adventurous. He didn’t own a Cosworth of
course; but he did own and drive a unique car—a Nash/
A u s t i n M et r o p o l i t a n !
(http://www.geocities.com/
m o t o r c i t y / ga r a g e/ 7 8 9 6 /
metropol.htm ). He was, if
anything, a kindred spirit. I
thought of him when contemplating a title for this article.
I considered “Journey to Discovery II”, but I had only taken a trip, not a journey, to
discovery. One gas tank? A Trip? Viola!
My one tank trip started out innocently enough. Tom
Lippert, my son Ken, and I had purchased three Michigan
Cosworths from former CVOA member Jim Bartuska.
Two were in a frightful state, suitable only for the scrap
yard after the useful parts were scavenged. Tom and I
promptly dismantled one. He and his son Jake removed
the gas tank, the inside of
which smelled horribly
of varnish. The car had
sat at the back of Jim’s
property exposed to the
elements for about 10
years. I had hopes that
the tank could be saved,
though in my more lucid
moments I doubted it. I
became even more convinced after I dumped its
vile contents into a five
gallon
b u c k e t . Yuk!!!
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CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
cosworthvega.com
By Mark A. Rock
Once empty, I shook the
tank and heard what
sounded like a handful of
sand inside. I tapped the
tank hard on the concrete
floor several times and
shook it again, and this time
it sounded like two or three
handfuls of sand sloshing
around. Dismayed, I removed the fuel pump and
sending unit assembly and peered inside. All I could see
was thick and dark red rust and sand everywhere.
Amazed, I dangled my new digital camera inside and took
some photos. Pretty disgusting!
I immediately wrote off the tank in my mind, but couldn’t
quite bring myself to put it on the curb for the Monday
trash collection. I knew that CVOA Region 7 member
Harlan Kempf had cleaned up the inside of his gas tank
years ago in a rather ingenious way. He got himself a
large assortment of nuts and
bolts of various sizes and
dumped them inside. Then he
sealed up the openings tightly.
Next he tied his tank to a
small portable concrete mixer,
the kind that bricklayers often
use, and he turned it on. As
the mixer rotated the nuts and
bolts banged and clanged and
tumbled around inside the
tank, knocking loose all the rust and crud. Then he turned
the tank over and tied it on again and mixed some more.
Alas, I was out of luck as I didn’t have a concrete mixer,
or access to one, and cobbling up a Rube Goldberg gizmo
seemed too much work for too little gain.
Eventually I began to think that there must be another
way, so I did a Google search to see what I could find.
What I found was the franchised Renu process. The interior of the tank is sandblasted to “white” metal, cleaned,
and then coated with a patented sealing material. The
exterior of the tank is cleaned as well and a heavy tar-like
coating is applied. The tanks then are shipped back with
a lifetime warranty! It seemed that even a tank this bad
could easily be Renu’d. I was intrigued. I read all that I
could about the process, and sent off an inquiry for a price
quote to the Moyer Fuel Tank Renu franchise in Greensburg, PA that sports a website, http://www.gas-tank.com/.
The quote came back but it was not good, $225 to $275,
depending on size, plus shipping. This was way too expensive for my blood, so I put this project on the shelf,
along with the gas tank.
A restored tank from Renu
Not long after, I began to
search locally for a radiator
shop to re-do the radiator for
Crispy Critter. Parma Radiator seemed like it fit the bill,
and their Yellow Pages ad
said they were a Renu franchised dealer as well.
Hmmm. Small world. I’ll
ask about the gas tank when I
take the radiator in.
Grant, the owner, happily showed me a variety of gas
tanks in various stages of reconditioning. I learned that
they are able to sandblast the entire inside of the tank because they cut some half-dollar size holes in each tank to
give them complete access, then insert plugs and braze
them in place once the tank is clean. He also quoted me a
$175 price, and no shipping and handling as I would be
dropping it off and picking it up. Renu was sounding better, but still above what I wanted to pay—penurious is
what they call me, but they use a five letter word instead.
Further, I hesitated to install a tank with the exterior
coated with a black tar-like substance. I’ve been moving
in my thinking, away from just making it work, to making
it work while retaining the original appearance. “All
original” collector cars always bring a higher price than
those that have been mucked with.
So I investigated further, and learned of Bill Hirsch’s solution, purportedly the “World’s No.1 Gas Tank Sealer”
with “Over 2,000,000 sold to date.”
http://
www.hirschauto.com/newpages/gastankrepair.htm. The
only problem was it had to be used in a clean tank. Well,
I thought, I have a sand blaster and a compressor, but I
don’t have the nozzles to blast from half dollar size holes
cut in the tank. Gee, I thought, if the two halves of the
tank were separated, then I could do a perfect job of blasting it clean myself. So I looked at the tank’s construction
carefully. The two halves are electric resistance welded
together at the flange. If you look closely you can see the
1/8”
wide
weld
run
entirely
around the
t a n k .
Plainly if I
took an airpowered
cutoff tool
and a narrow cutoff
wheel and carefully sliced through only the flange on the
top half of the tank, just inboard of the weld, I could separate the two halves and achieve complete access to the
interior. It would take a steady hand, but I should be able
to do it in about 15 minutes.
It worked as I expected. The two halves came apart with
little fuss. And as I already knew, the interior was a mess.
But after scraping away the loose excess, a thorough
sandblasting took me down close to pure white metal.
Seen above are the inside of the bottom and top halves of the
tank before sandblasting. Note the baffle on the left, you
won't find one of these in a "regular" Vega fuel tank.
There was a problem however, caused by the special tray
installed only in Cosworth gas tanks that acts as a baffle
to keep fuel around the pickup during spirited driving.
The problem was dual in nature. First, there was rust and
crud underneath this tray. There was no way to access it
without removing the tray. Second, there were two holes
in the tray leading to passages to the side of the tray that
were plugged with rust and varnish. These holes and passages had to be cleaned out, something that could most
easily be done by removing the tray. (Does the condition
“Restorationitis” (http://www.streetracing.org/paris/
dictionary/sro-dicr.htm ) ring a bell here?) These holes
allow gas to flow into
the tray, and prevent it
from draining out
quickly if the gas outside the tray suddenly
climbs a side of the
tank upon acceleration,
braking or in a hard Clogged holes in the tray prevent
proper fuel level.
corner.
It is medically well established: When infected with Restorationitis, your fate is sealed. I couldn’t help it. I had
to remove the tray. To my mind, that was the “only” solution. Initially it appeared that the tray was
brazed to the tank, but
after sandblasting, the
tell-tale yellow color
had disappeared, leaving
several silver amoeba
shaped pools. Applying
a “hot wrench” revealed
that the tray was merely
soldered in place—it came out easily, but not before setting the crud underneath on fire! If possible, the area underneath looked and smelled worse than the rest of the
tank. The gunk was over ¼ of an inch thick, and packed
solid, but yielded readily to forceful use of a scraper.
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4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
7
After the sandblasting that followed, two things became
clear. First, as I already knew, the passages designed to
fill the tray and to meter the flow of gas into and out of
the tray were packed tight with crud. Second, and what I
didn’t know, was that
there was a plate that
appeared to be soldered
over those passages
that would have to be
removed in order to
clean them thoroughly.
So, while Ken held a
mounting tab of this
plate with a pair of pliers, I applied the hot wrench and melted the solder. But
no joy--the plate wouldn’t come loose. Ken got a screwdriver, and I heated the plate orange, but it still wouldn’t
come loose. We plainly needed to reconnoiter.
We let the tray cool, sandblasted away the dark blue scale
that now discolored the metal, and looked more closely.
Yep, shoulda known. It was not only soldered, it was
spot welded to the tray. Sigh. Also, the cover plate was
now all bent and warped and wrinkled. Why is nothing
easy? Faced with
another decision, I
opted to drill out
the spot welds. As
I grabbed the drill,
Ken suggested that
I use the air chisel
instead. I thought
about it for a second and said ok.
We were now
pressed for time, as Ken had to leave soon, so I sharpened
the chisel and inserted it in the air hammer. All but one
of the welds separated easily; that one tore a hole in the
metal of the tray. Oh well, no big deal. It will seal up
when we reinstall the plate.
We sandblasted the passages in the tray and the underside
of the plate, and I gave Ken the job of trying to straighten
and flatten the plate, rejecting his suggestion that we fabricate a new plate from some sheetmetal we had lying
around, saying “I don’t have a laser to cut it with.”
“Good luck!” I said mentally as he began his hammer and
dolly work. He actually
did pretty well, and I
only had a little tweaking to do to make it serviceable. Then he made
a good suggestion. I
was moving toward
brazing the plate in place
when he suggested that I
first spot-weld it.
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CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
cosworthvega.com
His idea was excellent, mine wasn’t. Brazing was not the
hot ticket, as I should have known from the fact that the
plate had been soldered during manufacture. If you know
anything about brazing, you know that both pieces need
to be heated to the same temperature before they can be
brazed. That turned out to be nigh on impossible, at least
for impatient me. Chalk it up to a lack of experience and
being in a hurry. It has been a long time since I have
done any brazing, and I paid the price. The plate ended
up with more peaks and troughs and swells than a stormy
ocean. Sigh. And it leaked slightly as well.
So I put this project aside
as Ken bolted out the door,
and I didn’t go back to it
until a few days later. I
again sandblasted, did
some minor metal bumping, and deemed it fully
serviceable. It wasn’t as
bad as I had imagined, and
it would “work” fine.
Next came the fun of soldering the tray assembly in place,
as this actually worked better than did the brazing effort,
but only because I had the help of Brian Harpst who
stopped by for a brief visit and ended up staying four
hours and helping me with the tank.
Brian’s dad had taught
him a thing or two
about soldering, I had a
bit of plumbing experience myself, and so we
opted to go for it.
Some soldering paste,
some 60/40 acid core
solder ,
an
ox yacetylene torch and
some courage were all
we needed.
We
learned what it means
to bring solder to the
paste stage, and we
learned to be careful
with the massive heat
from the torch, and we Contributing Editor Brian Harpst
learned to wear gloves. is always ready to lend a helping
We also installed the hand!
tray, sticking it firmly
in place with nothing more than the paste and three rings
of solder. We were pleased!
I then double-checked the inside of both halves of the
tank, determining that they were acceptably clean and
ready to be welded together. I lifted the top half to set it
in place and a glint of light where there shouldn’t have
been any caught my eye. Uh oh!
“What’s the matter?” said Brian, with
a puzzled expression on his face.
“Hey Brian, do you have another
penny?’’ He again dug into his pocket
and sure enough came up with another
suitable candidate. That led us to discuss
seriously all the bad jokes that could be
made about “for two cents I’d …” I will
spare you the agony, gentle readers. But
the tank does have two pennies soldered
inside.
“I think we might have a pinhole
leak”, I replied with concern. I again
held the tank in the air with the light
behind it and moved it back and forth.
Yep. Sure enough there was a hole,
and it wasn’t just a pinhole. It was
about 1/8” in diameter! Wow. I
never expected a hole in the top half
of the tank.
“Well, we need to figure out how we
are going to fix this,” I said to Brian
as I began to consider the possibilities. I had barely begun to think
about tinning the area with solder and
about brazing when Brian recalled
and recounted a solution his father
had taught him. Solder a penny
over the hole. Not one of the new
ones that are nothing but copper
plated zinc, but an older, copper
through-and-through penny. It was
the right size, it was strong, and because it was copper it would solder
easily.
Now it was time to weld the two halves
back together. I took a deep breath.
1982 was the changeover year for pennies, from copper to copper plated
zinc. So be safe and use a pre '82 for
your soldering needs (do avoid using
the '40's wartime steel ones, too).
OK. I’m game. “Do you have an
old penny?”
Mig welding appears deceptively easy; if
it were really that easy anybody could do
it well. Anybody can do it, doing it well
is the trick. Minor differences in technique—yes, there truly is technique involved—make major differences in
the final result. Equipment counts
too—the right gas mixture can
make all the difference in the
world. The thinner the parts being
welded, the more critical the arc
volts, wire speed, gas pressure, and
gas mixture. Burning holes when
welding thin metal is frustratingly
easy. I took many deep breaths,
and with Brian watching with interest, began, promptly burning a hole
right through the flange. Hmmm.
A bit too hot. Hmmm.
Turns out he did. He checked the
date and it was all copper. We were
Brian chimed in again. “What you
in luck. I spread soldering paste
need is a copper paddle to put bearound the hole, burnished the
hind the weld to hold the metal in
penny on the wire wheel (wearing
place while it cools.”
leather gloves of course), and set it
in place. A little heat and a bit of Quite easily done!
He was right, of course. But
solder and, just like
that wasn’t the only solution.
sweating copper tubing,
I could go slower. I could be
the hot penny sucked the
more careful. I could invest
solder underneath and we
in another tank and regulator
were done. All that reand use a “better” gas mixmained was to clean away
ture that would reduce the
the remains of the solderheat needed to weld. Of all
ing paste. A quick test
the solutions, his seemed the
revealed that brake
best. I dug around and locleaner worked well, so I
cated a scrap of copper pipe.
sprayed the area thorI hammered one end flat and
oughly. As I picked up
used the other end for a hanthe top of the tank I
dle. Brian held it under the
looked at the outside. It
flange and I welded, and it
was dry where the penny
worked perfectly. We got
was soldered, but damp in
about half the flange welded,
another area. We had Patience and proper technique are key when welding thin metal. and at that point Brian had to
another leak!
head on down the road.
cosworthvega.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
9
Fortunately, by then we had
done most of the thinnest
portions, and I saw that I
could Vise-Grip the spoon
to the flange and get by
without a helper. I bid
Brian adieu and finished the
job.
Then came the sealer.
Hirsch’s is a very thin liquid the color of whole milk
and only a little thicker. It
is known as a slosh sealer.
You pour the entire quart in
your cleaned tank, seal up all of the openings, then shake
the tank in all directions to slosh the sealer around and
around and around. It coats the interior with a very thin
film, getting into every nook and cranny and sealing each
and every tiny pinhole in the tank. I quickly found that
though I thought I had done
a masterful job of welding, I
nevertheless had about a
dozen pinholes along the
weld at the flange. White,
milky trails outside the tank
were my first clue.
Once the sloshing is done,
you pour the excess out of
the tank, put it in a warm
and well-ventilated area, and
allow it to cure for 72 hours.
If you desire, you can repeat
the process just to make sure. Your tank is then sealed
and ready to use. It looks kinda funky inside, but
2,000,000 people can’t be wrong. It must work.
Next I turned my attention to the outside of the tank. I
had originally intended to leave the outside alone, though
it was a bit rusty. I hit it lightly with the sand blaster,
then set
it
aside. When I
returned to the
tank a month or
so later, I found
that rust had
begun again. It
looked pretty
ugly, and I
feared that once
installed
it
wou l d
r us t
from the outside in, but with a vengeance this time. Time to stop the
rust. I had some of Eastwood’s Rust Encapsulator left
over from the engine compartment of Crispy Critter, so I
10
CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
cosworthvega.com
opted to use it. It is black and unaffected by UV rays. I
wire brushed the loose rust away and proceeded to apply
a single coat of paint. The result is a satisfactory and serviceable, though not original, appearance.
Finally, I needed to install a new in-tank pump and a new
sealing o-ring. Normally the sealing rings for the sending
unit assembly come with
the new pumps. I already had a pump on my
shelf but I had pilfered
its ring for another project. None of the local
parts stores even had a
part number for the ring.
A trip to my friendly local Chevrolet dealership
netted me the GM part
number. Chevrolet calls it a gasket and lists it in Group
3.112. The current GM part number is 22515965. It features a metal core to provide rigidity and to keep it from
being squeezed out of place during installation. In May
of 2003 it listed for $7.82. I bought one and used it to
seal the sending unit opening when I used the Hirsch’s to
seal the tank, and re-used it for the final installation of the
reconditioned sending unit assembly. It worked flawlessly.
I’d like to say that the tank is now installed and works
great, but I haven’t reached that point with Crispy Critter,
its eventual home. For now it just sits on the floor, patiently awaiting its chance to take Crispy Critter on a
One Tank Trip.
TIPS AND TRICKS
KNOWLEDGE BASE
VOLS I & II
Vol I - 344 pages of 10-pt type w/7 page
table of contents. Collecting and organizing a
wealth of Cosworth Vega information
primarily for 6300+ Yahoo postings:
$60, Plus shipping
Vol II - 397 pages of 10-pt type w/10 page
table of contents. Featuring the essence of
over 4200 Yahoo postings, plus vital
information from a variety of other sources:
$60, Plus shipping
View the TOC at
www.cosworthvega.com/member_mdse/Tips_Tricks.html
Send E-mail inquiries to
markarock@gmail.com
Free shipping if you buy the pair.
(440) 236-9669
The Web Corner
http://www.cosworthvega.com
There's "down on the farm", and then there's "Paree".
"How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm once they've
seen Paree?" That's an age-old question.
What does this have to do with the CVOA
website? Well, just this. Have you seen
the last issue of this Magazine? Were you
as impressed as we were? Hopefully so.
But if you were impressed with the issue
you received in the mail, be prepared to be
blown away when you see the full color
version posted on the website. It is a little
known fact that we post the color version
of the latest CV Magazine on the website
right about the time the postman delivers
your hard copy.
Check out Photo Registry (different than Photo Gallery)
to see our latest update, the first in almost two
years. Navigate by clicking CV Registry, then View the
Registry, then Photo Registry, then
click the Cosworth Vega Photo Registry
link in the center of the page. We now
have photos documenting more than
425 Cosworths. And boy do we have
photos. We have over 5700 photos of
these 425+ cars, or an average of 13+
photos per car. If your car is not represented, send us some pictures and we'll
include them in the next revision, which
is planned for later this year. Upload
them by using the functionality on the
Photo Registry page.
If you haven't seen the last issue in full
Don't forget the "Feedback" button.
color, you have a treat in store. Just naviWhile it is convenient for reporting
gate to the www.cosworthvega.com webproblems with the website, you can also
Besides being in full color, the
site, then click on "The CVOA" button at
ask questions or make suggestions.
online version opens up in a new
the top. This will open up a "drop down" window for your enjoyment.
Something you would like to see? Just
menu. Choose "Publications", then click
send us a Feedback and let us know.
on "Latest CV Magazine". Be prepared for
Are you competent in creating web
a brief wait, as the Adobe file is large. You will soon be
pages? Want to prepare something for us? We welcome
rewarded with the rich full color version of the Magazine.
all submissions.
Details on the June 20, 21, 22 Roundup are set and are
"up" on the website. Navigate to the "Upcoming Roundups" page for all the details. We even have a link to
Google Earth so you can zoom down and check out the
autocross pavement on Belle Isle.
The WebCrew
Mark "Crew Chief" Rock
Jerry "Nuts/Bolts" Smith
Sonny Rossi's Cosworth Vega
Intake Manifold Revisited
Faithful readers of CV Magazine will recall
reading about Texan Sonny Rossi's newly
fabricated intake manifold on page 29 of the
last issue. Pictured at left is Sonny's race
motor, complete with manifold and Holley
carburetor.
For a better look at this fine piece of craftsmanship, go to our club website
http://www.cosworthvega.com and check out
the Magazine in full color. If you don't know
how to access the Magazine on the website,
instructions are readily available in the Web
Corner Column in this issue.
cosworthvega.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
11
Racing With the Enemy
Some things you put off for a long time and you know
you don’t want to look back at your life at the end knowing you never did them. Still, insight isn’t exactly courage and the will to make decisions often runs away like a
cockroach when the lights go on. It isn’t regret exactly
that keeps us from revisiting our fields of dreams, but the
practical assurance that things weren’t all that they used
to be and, sadly, things, by which I mean our heart and
soul, were never fulfilled by our maunderings quite as
well as we remember.
Thus it was when I received the call from Bill in Hallandale to come down for a weekend that I accepted, my
weekends being hardly more than time-consuming respites between long work weeks. I really didn’t want to
drive down, but I had a new car that needed some sorting
out. I would use the excuse of a trip to shake the cobwebs
out of my work-addled mind and at the same time check
on the few mods to the new car.
It was 1981 and I had just purchased, sight unseen, a 1975
Cosworth Vega from my car dealer friend Mark in Leesburg, Virginia. The idea of the purchase was to replace
my aging Honda 600 which, in all fairness, had served me
well since 1972 when I was at the University in Miami.
The Honda was the first car I ever bought new and it had
been with me through many a journey. One summer in
74 I had taken it on a very long trip indeed, as far as Halifax, Nova Scotia. It had never missed a beat, but it was
showing its age: I had replaced the engine not six months
ago, but the replacement engine wasn’t as good as one
would have hoped. In addition, I now had a respectable
job, was earning decent money, had several collector cars
to my name and should have been driving something a bit
more exciting. I wasn’t quite ready for a four door sedan
and the new cars of the era sort of bored me to death. I
wanted something that would fly under the radar, so to
speak, without chickens on the hood and the Vega fit the
bill.
I had parted with $2700 for the honor of owning the Cosworth and Mark had kindly given me a very decent price,
I thought. When I had been in Charleston, SC a few
months before moving down to Tampa Bay, I had driven
a Cosworth Vega which had been going for more than
$3500. However, it was the first one I had driven and the
car excited me as it always felt like it was ready to start
moving at higher RPM’s. It was exactly the kind of car I
thought I would like to drive on a daily basis.
My friend Marshall and his wife had been kind enough to
drive it down for me. They took the train back after a
week and I was left with the Cosworth 0442. I loved that
number as I had been fond of the late 60’s and early 70’s
12
CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
cosworthvega.com
by R. K. Byers
Oldsmobiles of high performance fame. I remember one
night watching the needle buried in a college chum’s 69
442 convertible going across the causeway to the beach.
I’m still wondering how we survived.
The Cosworth had been missing a few things when it arrived, not the least of which was a speedometer cable and
a radio. When I had called to chew Mark’s butt about
these, he made me feel petty and pointed out I might want
to get some new front tires sometime soon. He reasoned
that I was still about $800 dollars ahead of what I would
have spent on the other car, so I had no real room to complain. Good salesmen are a rare and interesting breed.
The speedo cable fortunately fixed my problem except for
one thing: the car seemed to be going considerably slower
than it felt. When I took the car out at night, I was careful
to set the tachometer at 3000 and observed that the car
was traveling about 55 mph. At home I calculated the tire
size and tried to recover from the shock. It didn’t take me
long to realize that, first, the speedometer was accurate
and, second, what I needed was a fifth gear. With the
3.73 rear axle, the little engine was going to see nearly
5500 RPM’s before I broke 100mph. On the other hand, I
thought the engine was probably good for 7000. The
question was how it would cruise at better than 70 mph. I
didn’t want to break my newest acquisition in the middle
of Florida redneck swamp country.
The second problem was that as nice as the engine was, it
felt like it was strangled by the exhaust pipes, which were
suffering from a bit of wear. Several conversations later
with a fellow named Bill Hutton in Tennessee, I was the
proud owner of a catalytic converter “test pipe” and a new
free flowing muffler. The test pipe simply replaced the
catalytic converter. As the catalytic was a source of some
strange rattling anyway, I didn’t feel bad about violating
the law and getting rid of the weight. After much grunting and cursing lying on the garage floor, I had run a
completely new exhaust system. With the muffler in
place at the back, the Cosworth had a new throaty rasp to
the throttle and it ran immeasurably better, especially
when coming away from the stop light. Bill had suggested that I would pick up around 8 hp by this mod and I
was grateful for each of them.
Next the poor old thing was riding around on ancient
Delco shock absorbers. They were probably worn out
after 20k miles, like all the others in GM cars. The car
now had 44k miles but then I wondered how long the
odometer had been quiet along with the speedometer. I
had a choice of replacing them with Konis which would
have eaten most of my weekly budget for food for a
month. I decided to try some gas charged red Ryder
shocks from Gabriel and they were indeed an improvement. At work I had a friend carve a new set of polyurethane front sway bar bushings as the rubber ones were
purely cosmetic by this time. With these changes, the car
had begun to handle immeasurably better and it almost
felt tight. The tires were the last and final part.
The lovely Cosworth gold-spoked alloy wheels were
works of art. Originally they had carried a BR70x13 inch
tire. Somewhere along the line, the tire manufacturers
had neglected to continue making much in the way of
BR70 series tires. I found a single source for them, this at
a Goodyear tire store in south St Pete and the price was
astronomical. In addition, they would have to order them.
I wasn’t standing in line to be taken for a ride, so I ordered two retread 205/60x13 inch tires from a place that
advertised in Car and Driver. By the time I had them
shipped, mounted and balanced, they were still a considerable savings over the Goodyears. In fact, being somewhat shorter and wider than the stock tires, I was a bit
worried about them rubbing, but they didn’t and I was
overjoyed at the difference in handling. The car looked
much better in profile. God bless Downey Tire of California!
I had treated the engine to an oil change upon
receiving it and of course new plugs. I had no oil
leaks and everything seemed great except for the
silly looking air cleaner. Like so many other
things on this car, this was apparently one part
that was borrowed from some piece of farm
equipment. It not only appeared restrictive but
the filter element cost a relative fortune. However I didn’t want to dork the engine compartment, so I left it alone, replete with a clean filter
element. At least it had new plugs and good oil.
The car was just about perfect by this time save for the
large gaping hole where the radio once existed. Now I
was in no way sorry to see a stock Chevy radio disappear
as this gave me reason to put a really good system in the
car. There was only one major difficulty: there was no
good place to mount the speakers! In a hatchback car,
there aren’t a lot of places to put speakers without cutting
the door panels. In addition the rear hatch didn’t provide
much in the way of side panels for speaker mounting.
Fortunately I had been experimenting with stereo speaker
cabinets for the past several years and had outgrown the
need for two that were sitting idle in the closet. By utilizing a few brackets, I managed to mount two relatively
small speaker cabinets behind the rear seat. In each were
housed a single eight inch round speaker and a 3 inch
tweeter with an active crossover. It wasn’t ideal, but the
result was that the Craig tape deck was pressing all of
what must have been maybe 10 watts per channel into
some very fine sound. Ultimately, the deficit was that the
sound came from behind me, but I could live with that.
The real music was the engine anyway. The radio aerial
was in the front windshield so even with a generally good
receiver, one couldn’t pick up a lot of music. That’s why
God invented tapes.
As the day drew closer, I had yet to pick out my route. I
knew that previously I had traveled from Miami to Tampa
via route 27 and picking up 60 into Tampa. The problem
was, I was farther south now and there was no sense going over to Tampa just to have the pleasure of some good
highway. Hence I plotted a route across the Skyway
bridge and then across route 64 and 66 and then picking
up 27 around Lake Okeechobee and down to the coast.
After that, I was sure I still remembered the way, although six years had me wondering. The night before I
left I took the Cosworth out for a short hop down the
highway and, despite seeing over 3800 RPM on the tachometer at about 70 mph, I was fine. I decided to let the
car tell me where it was comfortable to drive. Why hadn’t someone at Chevrolet put in an oil pressure gauge instead of the stupid clock? Car clocks are the only thing
we set according to our watches.
I left work around 2:00 to get a
jump on the weekend traffic, having
packed my bag the night before. I
estimated the trip at about four
hours if I traveled a bit above the
limit, which I normally did.
I was looking forward to seeing Bill
and Debby and Bill’s latest venture
into high powered mud racing; Bill
had built a 440 Dodge for a big
Dodge truck and raised it off the
ground about five feet. It wasn’t
exactly my cup of tea for racing, but
it was a new adventure. Dangerously sensitive about falling into the norm of the middle class, I was ready to try
almost anything.
As I cruised over the Skyway bridge, I took pride in the
new sound my exhaust made against the inside barrier of
the bridge. I also turned a few heads when I passed some
slower cars on the right, even causing one woman to
wince and roll her window up as I passed too slowly for
her. It made me grin and brought the feeling of being a
rebel back, almost like Marlon Brando. The idea made
me laugh and loosen up a bit. I had my driving gloves
and my aviator shades and everything was feeling so fine.
I kept it right around 3800 RPM all the way to where I
exited to route 64 around Bradenton. Getting off the exit
felt like leaving the last vestiges of civilization. Downshifting into second I let the engine growl back down to
an idle before the stop sign. I was headed toward
Sebring!
(Continued on page 14)
cosworthvega.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
13
I wound the little engine up a bit, in first and second, listening for sounds of trouble and watching the temperature
gauge carefully. In third gear, I let it wind past 5000
RPM just because I liked the sound. Finally I pulled the
crappy shifter slowly back that half mile into fourth gear,
blipping the throttle in between. The speed limit on the
road was 55 and I was traveling about 70 still. It felt
really good. I slipped in the only Stones tape I owned,
High Tide and Green Grass. Satisfaction blared through
the speakers as I turned up the volume and sang along. It
was a great driving song for the Cosworth.
The call of the engine forced me to edge the tach up a bit
past the 4000 mark. Listening for complaints and hearing
none, I leaned back in the seat, listening to her sing happily. Not only didn’t the little engine feel strained, but
she actually sounded like she wanted to stretch her legs.
The exhaust was blatting happily, practically begging me.
However, I was hesitant: what would I do if something
broke out here? The idea of a redneck wielding a pry bar
and a hammer over my little jewel made me involuntarily
shudder. The spring air, the exhaust note, the engine
turned gold dash and a pair of overhead camshafts overruled my sense of caution. I gave it a go about 15 miles
outside Zolfo Springs. There was absolutely no one on
the road.
Stepping on the gas slightly, I picked up a bit of vibration
at 4500. Was it the wheels? Yes, I could feel it in the
steering wheel. I had watched them balance these tires
myself, insisting that they balance them faster than normal. I backed off and felt nothing odd. I approached
4500 again. I felt the same thing but this time continued
slowly through it. Around 4700 RPM the shake went
away and the engine was now having fun. Checking the
steering and finding it rock steady, I let the rope out towards the century mark. This kept getting better and better. Mick was in fine voice.
I knew that 100 would be around 5500 RPM so I decided
to take it briefly to 6000, if it would be willing to go. I
had read that the hp peak was around this point so I
thought I would have no trouble reaching it, unless something were going wrong. The temperature gauge hadn’t
moved a hair, so I was good to go, as they said in New
York. I was so glad to be out of that place forever!
After I hit 5500 I knew I was over a hundred, but the engine, not yet sounding frantic, but only excited, like it was
doing what it was built to do, told me I had to try for an
even 6000. I knew that was just short of 115 and I vowed
that was where I would stop: despite the care I had given
it, I had no real idea bout the condition of the engine inside and pressing things was not a good idea. I crept up
to and held it at 6000 RPM feeling like I was near to
breaking the sound barrier, the little car still feeling remarkably stable on the reasonably straight and narrow
road at times. I really liked to run up there.
14
CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
cosworthvega.com
When after a mile or so I backed down slowly, I listened
to the grumble of the exhaust; she was like a greyhound
and she wanted to run. My grin was practically ear to ear.
No satisfaction indeed!
That grin was caught short when, just as I was slowing for
the last five miles before Zolfo Springs, a very familiar
bubble gum machine zoomed past me, seemingly out of
nowhere. I couldn’t see the eyes of the state policeman,
but his dark glasses met mine with a sense that indicated
serious business. Quickly looking down, I realized I had
been doing about 4000 RPM. That was about 72. Expletive deleted! Mick was singing for him to get off of my
cloud but it had no effect.
Watching behind me in the rear view mirror, hoping
against hope, I saw him apply his brakes hard and pull to
the side of the road to turn around. Cursing to myself, I
brought the car down below the speed limit of 55 and
waited for the inevitable. At less than 3000 RPM, the
poor car felt like it was hardly moving.
I have decided that you know you have been pulled over
too many times when the sight of the police car lights in
your rear view mirror doesn’t immediately send your
heart to your stomach. Instead I automatically reached
for the glove box to get the registration as I pulled over
and stopped. I thought I might get an edge by being polite. Hoping to meet him at his cruiser, as soon as I
opened the door, I heard a very stern, “Remain seated inside the car!” over his bull horn. I pulled the door closed
again, making sure my seatbelt was still properly fastened. Would he see the gold dashboard and the four
speed and automatically think “hot rod”? There was no
way to disguise the fact. Would he find my tickets from
South Carolina? I had no idea whether they shared information, but I hoped not. I wondered how fast he thought
I was going. I started to reprimand myself, but it didn’t
work; I told myself to keep my attitude positive and my
answers polite.
“License and registration!” came the demand suddenly at
the window on my left. Startled, I immediately handed
him both just as a green Chevy Impala drove past well
below the speed limit, the middle aged female passenger
looking at me as if I had just spit on the American flag.
I just knew she was married to someone who molested
sheep. The engine ticked as it cooled next to the big field
of grass. My ears were still ringing a bit from the high
speed. The relative silence felt awkward and strange. I
could feel the sweat rolling down my back against the
white vinyl. I looked up, trying to appear relaxed, at the
broad brim and the sunglasses, the mouth quietly chewing
gum like a hay bailer working before a storm. I just
hoped he wouldn’t spit.
“D’y’all know how fast you was goin’?” he asked matter
of factly, still looking at my license as if to determine I
was an extra-terrestrial.
“No sir! I just bought this car and I’m not sure how accurate the speedometer is, but don’t think I was going over
60.” I hoped that God would forgive me for lying about
speeding.
He didn’t miss a beat and without missing a chew, he
said, “Over 70 is more laak it!” he snapped. I wished I
had seen what model of radar he had. I could see the gun
on his dash but I didn’t know which one it was. I decided
it best not to ask at this point.
“As I said, sir, I realize I was going a little too fast and I
apologize for that,” I said trying to sound repentant. Politeness counts with policemen sometimes.
“What kind of work d’ya do?” he asked without an intonation change. I wondered how often they had to practice
sounding like Jack Webb. He wasn’t all that authoritative, but he was wearing the uniform.
“I’m an electronics engineer for the US
government,” I replied, trying to make
this into a bit of flag waving. He wasn’t having any of it and chewed away
steadily.
“Where are you headed in such a
hurry?” he asked, still writing things
down. If I didn’t dissuade him quickly
I was going to have a fine on my
hands.
“I am driving to Hallandale for a business meeting, officer” I lied again. I could feel God writing down my remarks for the future reference.
“Well, sir, I clocked you at 72 miles per hour and that’s
reckless drivin’!” he said emphasizing his pride in the
ellipsis. Finally my heart hit my feet.
“Well, I’m very sorry, sir, but I really didn’t think I was
going that fast and…” he cut me off.
Handing me his metal clipboard and the pen, he announced, “This says that you were going 63 in a 55 mph
zone. We both know you was goin’ faster, so consider
this carefully before you drive this fast again.”
I took the clipboard and signed the ticket. It was amazing
how familiar this procedure had become in my life. There
was absolutely no way I was going to get out of this so I
took it with the spirit of getting, at least, a break.
“Do you know how much this is going to cost me, officer?” I asked.
The cost schedules are written on the back” he said looking off into the field across the street at something else
that may have been violating his Nazi law. His jaws
never missed their regular motion. I found it amazing that
he could talk like that.
With a practiced hand, he tore off my portion and handed
it to me. As I took it, he said, “And you better get that
speedometer checked before you go that fast again! We
patrol 27 pretty closely this time of day so you best keep
it down to the speed limit,” he said looking me squarely
in the eye for the first time. I nodded at him, partially
grateful for the courtesy.
I thanked him and leaning over, I carefully tucked the
ticket and registration back into the glove box. I eyed
him in the rear view mirror, watching him return to his
cruiser before starting the car. As I pulled out slowly, he
followed me for a mile or so and then turned off into a gas
station. Probably he was going to wait there for some
other poor slob to come by. It gave new meaning to the
Stones’ lack of satisfaction. At least I now knew what
they meant!
I stayed at the speed limit for all of about
10 miles and then dared the world a bit as
I crept up past 60 to right around 62. It
seemed like I was crawling now and although the little engine never complained,
I could tell that it just wanted to run. I
found myself wondering whether I should
have checked the oil while I was stopped.
I passed four police cars on the remaining
trip, catching my paranoia short of thinking they were all
out there to give me tickets. It was, after all, a Friday
night approaching a weekend. Bubba probably used this
road going out to get some joy juice before he went home
to the trailer park to womp on his old lady with the
stringy hair and the grubby litter of kids. It was a part of
Americana I wanted to know nothing more about other
than what I had seen. The good old troopers had to be
vigilant to keep Bubba’s pickup truck out of the weeds.
I pulled into Bill’s driveway just past 6:30. The trip
odometer read 257 miles so I had made pretty good time
at just over 4 hours, even with the speed traps and having
to travel 50 in a few places. Nevertheless I was wound up
tighter than a drum. What a great friggin’ trip this had
started out to be!
Knocking on his door, I looked back at the pretty black
car and smiled. She had performed well for her first outing, ticking as she cooled down for a well deserved rest. I
would come out and check her oil later. She really was
quite pretty with the black and gold, even with the bugs
spattered on the windshield. I wondered where Bill’s
truck was as I waited for him to open the door.
cosworthvega.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
15
Roundup 29 Preview
Detroit, Michigan June 20-22
WELCOME All Cosworth Vega Enthusiasts to the Big
“D“, the Motor City, Motown, The Automotive Capital of
the World! Yep, Detroit is still a BIG City, once down on
its luck, but we’re coming back. And so are YOU! You’ll
see that a lot has changed for the good in Detroit since our
last Roundup here in 1995!
Holiday Inn Southgate-Banquet & Convention Center
Southgate, Mi. 48195 (734) 283-4400
Courtesy of Our Roundup Hosts
And the WebCrew
I’d love to see you & help arrange or advise regarding
activities in the area. The hotel is very close to "The
Henry Ford", previously known as the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, along with their newest attraction, a tour of the Ford Rouge Assembly Plant.
For those coming early on Friday, we highly recommend
the following:
GM Heritage Center, Sterling Heights, MI
The Holiday Inn Southgate is our host Hotel. It is located
Friday June 20, 2008 3:00 PM - 4:50 PM
at 17201 Northline Rd, just east of the Northline Exit off
I-75. This is in the “Downriver” area,
According to Autoblog:
about five miles south of the City of
Detroit, and is in my neighborhood.
"In a nondescript looking building
We have blocked 40 rooms for Friday
on a side street somewhere north of
& Saturday night, plus 20 rooms for
the General Motors Technical CenSunday night for those who wish to
ter, there is a facility that few peoleave on Monday. The room rate is
ple outside of GM know exists, but
$93.99 + taxes. A selection of single
most car nuts would love to visit if
king or two double beds is available.
they could. Therein lies the rub,
Rooms MUST be reserved by May 30,
most people can't get in. The GM
2008 to get the CVOA rate. After that
Heritage Center is not open to the
date, our allotted rooms will be republic. It's an archive for the comleased to the public. Call the hotel @
pany's historic documents, artifacts
734-283-4400 and ask for rooms as"The GM Heritage Center is as much and cars."
signed to the “Cosworth Vega Owners
about the future as about the past," said
Association”.
Thomas Kowaleski, GM vice president of According to the GMHC Website:
communications. "As GM prepares to cele-
We have a lovely, secured parking area brate our 100th anniversary in 2008, the The GM Heritage Center is not just
surrounded by grassy islands with GM Heritage Center will play a key role in a museum but rather a cross besmall trees. There is separate parking showcasing the company's rich history of tween the ultimate automotive enfor our trailers & tow vehicles. Of success and linking it to our future aspira- thusiast’s garage and a living re(photo
course there is a pool in the hotel, as tions and accomplishments."
pository of automotive history. A
courtesy of www.thecarconnection.com)
well as a small water park next door at
constantly changing variety of
the YMCA! They’ve had car clubs here
about 175 examples of the 700 vehicle GM Heritage colbefore, and will provide a washing area, and there’s also
lection is displayed in the GMHC’s 81,000 square feet of
car wash & quick-lube across the street. The banquet will
flexible space. Historically significant concept and probe held at the host hotel on Sunday evening. We’ve eaten
duction vehicles from various eras showcase a wide
at the restaurant in the hotel many times, and the food is
range of GM design, technology and innovation.
Great!
We’ll have a room set up off the hotel lobby on Friday at
11:00am for Check-In. The same room will host the Directors' Meeting on Friday night. Your registration provides a full buffet breakfast in a large dining room on Saturday & Sunday between 8:00am & 10:00am.
If anyone wishes to come into town before Friday, call me
(John Cowall) at 313-388-1026 after 6:00pm, or at 313841-8600 (ask for JC) from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
16
CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
cosworthvega.com
The CVOA has arranged a visit to The GM Heritage Center for members who can arrive in the Detroit area by
early afternoon on Friday. The Heritage Center's hours
restrict its use to weekdays from 8:00am to 5:00pm, so if
you can get away early enough to arrive in the Detroit
area by 2:00pm, please make a point to join us for a
memorable visit at the Heritage Center. As we understand, there will be a limited number of members and
families who may attend, so admission will be first comefirst served.
We are requesting a $10 per guest ticket fee, which will
be in addition to the Roundup registration fee. Don’t be
concerned, it is well worth the time and cost. To learn
more about the GM Heritage Center go to any web search
engine and type in “About the GM Heritage Center” and
you’ll be rewarded with a nice overview of the Center.
Roamin’ Chariots Cruise In, Sears Parking Lot
Southfield & Dix, Lincoln Park, Mi.
Friday June 20, 2008 - 5:00PM - 8:00PM +
A few miles from the Hotel, one of our local clubs hosts
this event every Friday evening with 80 to 150 cars in
attendance. All are welcome, and you may come & go as
you please. If you're in the mood to "hang out" you can
bring your own dinner. I’ll try
to get an area for the CVOA.
They’ve seen my cars before.
A dozen of ‘em will be impressive. Two dozen Cosworths
will blow them away!
Henry Ford II and is now the World Headquarters of General Motors! Then we’ll proceed south to see some of the
Ford Rouge Facility, formerly the largest manufacturing
area in the world. We will finish the rallye at
Annual Concours De Cosworth Vega
Holiday Inn Southgate Parking Lot
Saturday June 21, 2008 4:00PM - 6:00PM
(or maybe after dinner!)
There is not much to be said about the highlight of the
event! While tomorrow it will be "run whatcha brung",
this afternoon it will be "show what you brought!" "You
park 'em, we’ll judge ‘em." will be our motto. Bring stuff
for Sell & Swap, too! Also, don't forget about creature
comforts! Be sure to bring some
“umbrella” or other type of folding
chairs. It’ll be easier to relax here
at the Concours and tomorrow at
the autocross.
Cosworth Vega Images from
GM Archives Holiday Inn
Saturday June 21, 2008
Time TBD (Late Afternoon
or Early Evening)
GM Warehouse Tour
Sterling Heights, MI
Saturday June 21, 2008
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
A one hour after-dinner presenGeneral Motors maintains a
tation of a selection of the Cossignificant fleet of show, cusworth Twin Cam Vega images
tom, and historic vehicles.
from the GM Archives. InAbove
image
from
the
GM
Archives
was
taken
from
When not on the road or on
the
home
page
of
our
club
website,
cluded will be a brief narrative
display, these vehicle are
http://www.cosworthvega.com
of each image by Paul Wicker,
maintained, serviced, and
(photo courtesy of the GM Photostore).
one of the Roundup hosts and
warehoused in Detroit. Here
former CVOA historian. So
is an opportunity to see, first
take an hour, grab a drink, relax and sit back for a
hand, the inner workings of this rarely publicized global
thirty year retrospective of images about the developoperation. Our tour will include an opportunity to view
ment of the Cosworth Twin Cam engine, our special
the layout and functions of the organization and its incar, and a few other odd images only a CVOA member
triguing (and unusual) fleet of vehicles. Plan on standing
could love (or even understand!)
in front of vehicles you may have seen in magazines and
on TV and to see some you’ve never seen or heard about
Pic-Nic & Autocross, Belle Isle Park
before. Bring your camera and comfortable shoes for a
Detroit River, Detroit, Mi.
few hours of walking. Please no heavy rings, wristSunday June 22, 2008 10:00AM-3:00PM
watches or belt buckles, we don’t want to scratch any
paint! Lunch will be served as part of the tour.
After breakfast we’ll travel a few miles north (from the
hotel) to downtown Detroit and Belle Isle, in the middle
Road Rallye Tour Through Detroit
of the Detroit River. On one side is Canada, on the other
Well, at least through Five Cities!
side is the U.S.A.! Just north of the bridge we’ll cross is
Saturday June 21, 2008 - 1:30PM - 4:00PM
the site of Gold Cup hydroplane races.
We’ll take you from the GM warehouse, in the northeast
Our autocross lot is the site of the Detroit Belle Isle Grand
suburbs where GM’s Technical Center, some GM assemPrix! Actually, we’ll race in the paved paddock area. The
bly, and a lot of Chrysler manufacturing are located.
ChampCar/IRL race is actually on the island roads.
We’ll rallye through some of old Detroit to Downtown,
where you’ll see the signs of Detroit’s renewal, including
its hub--the Renaissance Center--which was built by
(Continued on page 18)
cosworthvega.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
17
(Continued from page 17)
This year we'll be carving cones in style!
Good times ahead, just like in Roundups past.
Ladies! & gentlemen, this is not your normal autocross
site, a barren sea of asphalt in an industrial complex…
No! Our sea of concrete is surrounded by grass & trees!
And a RIVER! So we’ll have a Pic-Nic to go along with a
little racing.
The autocross event is hosted by the Michigan Sports Car
Club. They will set it up and tear it down. They only ask
for help in “chasing pylons”. So you’re here to have FUN
& enjoy a day at the Park!
Annual Banquet
Holiday Inn Southgate-Banquet & Convention Center
Sunday June 22, 2008 - 6:00PM - 10:00PM
Cosworth Vega Muscle Car
Silver Frame Watch
with Metal Band
Features: Quartz Movement, 1 ATM Water Resistant, Silver Oxide Battery, packaged in a white gift box. Specify mens or
ladies please allow 10 days for production
and shipping. $32.95 plus $6.00 shipping .
Art Treta
(315) 831-8457
C1451@aol.com
Cash bar is available from 6 to 6:30 or 7, when we’ll have
a three-meat buffet dinner. Please help with door prizes!
We’ll have awards for the Rallye, Concours, & Autocross. Scheduled guests include members of the Cal Wade
& Lou and Harriett Marr families. Our speaker(s) will
regale us with stories of early Cosworth engineering &
racing exploits.
After-the-Roundup Breakfast
Holiday Inn Southgate-Banquet & Convention Center
Monday, June 23, 2008 - 7:30AM - 8:30AM
It is traditional for those leaving on Monday morning to
gather in the hotel restaurant for coffee or breakfast before hitting the road. It is a time for reviewing and reliving the events of the Roundup, talking to folks you just
couldn't find time to chat with on the weekend, and for
saying goodbye to your many Cosworth Vega friends new
and old until next year.
We look forward to seeing old faces and new in Detroit.
Your Roundup hosts,
Want more torque, more horsepower, lower and
smoother idle, higher vacuum, lower under hood temperatures, better throttle response and greater fuel economy while remaining emissions legal? Get a set of camshaft sprockets precision machined by
Roy Linenberger.
Only $125 + $10 S&H Exchange
Contact: Mark Rock at markarock@gmail.com
OR:
(440) 236-9669
John Cowall
Dick Baumhauer
Paul Wicker
John J. Cowall
18
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
Re-Indexed Camshaft Sprockets
www.cosworthvega.com/member_mdse/cam_sprocket.html
cosworthvega.com
CVOA
Regional Directors
Region 1 - MA, RI, NH, ME, VT, CT
Presently merged with Region 2
Region 9 - IA,KS,NE
Presently merged with Region 11
Region 2 - NJ, NY
Art Treta, 107 Deer Run Road
Forestport, NY 13338
(315) 831-8457
C1451@aol.com
Region 10 - IN, KY
Phil Rust, 5840 Norwaldo Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46220
(317) 253-4480
Prustindy@aol.com
Region 3 - PA, DE, DC, MD, VA, WV
Dan McNally, 7248 Shannon Road
Verona, PA 15147
(412) 793-6652
Joemcnal@bellatlantic.net
Region 11 - IL, MO
Brad Stone, 1807 Nina Street
Cortland, IL 60112
(815) 756-1025
B86stone@juno.com
Region 4 - NC, SC, GA, TN, MS, AL
Presently merged with Region 12
Region 5 - FL, PR, VI
Jerry Smith, 1220 Section Line Trail
Deltona, FL 32725
(386) 574-7503
Cwvega76@earthlink.net
Region 16– CA
Director Needed
E-mail Tim Morgan with interest
Region 17– ND, SD, MN, WI
Bruce Jahnke, 5423 South 200th St
New Berlin, WI 53146
(262)679-0550
Darwar80@aol.com
Region 12 - TX, OK, LA, AR
Dan Newman
25014 Butterwick Drive
Spring, TX 77389
(281) 351-6187
Dan.Newman2@GTE.net
Cosworth Vega Muscle Car
Gold Frame Watch
Region 6 - CO, WY
Presently merged with Region 14
Region 13 - AZ, NV, NM
Presently merged with Region 16
Region 7 - OH
Brian Wetrich, 4619 7th Street NW
Canton, OH 44708
(330) 478-5138
Bwetrich@neo.rr.com
Serious Punctual
Interested Directors Wanted:
Region 8 - MI
John Cowall, 9677 Fox
Allen Park, MI 48101
(313) 388 -1026
jcowall@hotmail.com
Region 14– OR, WA, ID, MT, AK.
UT. HI, British Columbia, Canada
Jim Rigg, 2865 S. Portside Ave
Boise, ID 83706
(208) 367-1004
jwrigg@msn.com
If you would like to be a Director in a Region that is presently
merged with another, please
contact Tim Morgan@
Twincams@aol.com
Features:
Quartz
Movement, 1 ATM
Water
Resistant,
Silver Oxide Battery,
packaged in a white
gift box. Specify
mens or ladies
please allow 10 days
for production and
shipping.
$29.95
plus $6.00 shipping .
Art Treta
(315) 831-8457
C1451@aol.com
Available from Sonny Rossi's Back Yard Shop!
Cosworth Vega Engine Tools:
Cam Holder/Turner, Belt Tension Tool and
Valve Shim Adjustment Tool
$175 for the set plus $10 S&H
Contact: Sonny Rossi, 15620 Geronimo Loop
San Antonio, TX 78254
(210) 688-3711
cosworthvega.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
19
CVOA Merchandise
CVOA-MAN-5 Duke Williams - Twin Cam Times Portfolio
- Complete set of Duke's work on the Cosworth while Director for Region 16.
Stapled Issues with an index. $ 33.00
CVOA-PUB-3 Phone Directory - Complete listing
of the latest roster of CVOA members. Great to have when you are traveling
in your Cosworth on long road trips. March 2005 is latest update. $ 4.00
CVOA-MAN-6 1975 -1976 Engine Assembly Manual Loose leaf--you will need a small three ring binder for this manual.
CVOA-ACC-1 Key Ring - "Spanish Gold" Alloy casting of the horn emblem.
Enameled blue/black logo. Large diameter 1.75 inches. $ 9.00
$ 11.00
CVOA-MAN-2 Five Speed Service Manual - From Borg
Warner, 12 pages, spiral bound. $ 8.00
CVOA-ACC-2 Kan Koolers - Foam thing to keep a can cool.
Yellow with 20th Anniversary logo. $ 4.00
CVOA-MAN-1 Fuel Injection Diagnostic Manual - Comb
bound photocopy of manual written by Phil Good, one of the Bendix engineers who developed the Cosworth Vega EFI. $ 17.00
CVOA-ACC-3 Window Decal - New design, static cling type
Affixes to inside of window. White Background $ 3.00
CVOA-MAN-3 Tech Bulletin Set - CVOA Technical
Bulletins that have been published in the CVOA Magazine. They cover many
important topics. Last Update 12-94. Spiral bound copies. $ 22.00
CVOA-MAN-8 1975 Cosworth Vega Assembly Manual Loose leaf--you will need a three ring binder for each manual. $ 39.00
CVOA-MAN-9 1976 Cosworth Vega Assembly Manual Loose leaf--you will need a three ring binder for each manual. $ 39.00
CVOA-PUB-4 Cosworth Vega Owners Association
Concours & Autocross Rules (free to current members)
CVOA-PUB-1 Cosworth Vega Magazine Back Issues - All back issues of the
CVOA magazine are available as photocopies. $ 5.00
CVOA-PUB-2 Complete Set Cosworth Vega Magazine Back Issues
*Certain back issues are available only as photocopies* $ 165.00
CVOA-ACC-4 Jacket Patch - Club Patch...older design
3" round, WHITE background. $ 4.00
CVOA-ACC-4B Jacket Patch-Club Patch….older design
3" round, BLACK background $ 4.00
CVOA-PT-16 Exact reproduction hood pad.
Molded fiberglass, prepunched mounting holes.
Retainer clips not included. $195.00
Retainer clips are available from Art Treta.
For This Part ONLY Contact Region 2
Director Art Treta
CVOA PARTS
Engine Parts
Other Parts
CVOA-PT-01 Upper End GASKET Set. Includes cam cover, cam
carrier, intake and exhaust. $ 39.00
CVOA-PT-11 GM-RC-36 Radiator Cap - Genuine replacement.
Type differs slightly from original. $ 11.00
CVOA-PT-02FP Head Gasket (Fel Pro) with instructions
For making the oil restrictor. $ 26.00
CVOA-PT-12 3M "27" Tape - The special white insulating tape used on the
left engine wiring harness. 7ft roll (enough to do one car) 75 or 76. LIMITED
SUPPLY $ 11.00
CVOA-PT-02V Head Gasket (VICTOR) with instructions
for making the oil restrictor. .045 Thickness $ 26.00
CVOA-PT-13 Fuel Injector "O" Ring Kit - Includes (4) fuel rail
grommets, (4) injector manifold seals, (8) injector to rail seals, and instructions. $ 11.00
CVOA-PT-03 Lower End GASKET set - includes oil pan set, oil pump set,
rear main set (rope seal), with water pump gasket. $ 45.00
CVOA-PT-05 SEALS - Camshaft/Distributor drive
(set of three) $ 28.00
CVOA-PT-15 Reproduction Complete Stripe Kits - Excellent
quality done on computer controlled equipment. Lettering is gold with die-cut
black background as found on 95% of the cars. $ 190.00
CVOA-PT-16 Reproduction Hood Pad $195.00
CVOA-PT-06 O-Rings - Distributor O-Ring Set
3 0-rings. $ 5.00
CVOA-PT-17 Timing Cover Set
*** see note above***
Included in Lower End Gasket Set
CVOA-PT-19 Neoprene Rear Main Seal $ 17.00
CVOA-PT-07 Distributor drive belt. $ 17.00
*Items sold to Current Members Only*
CVOA-PT-08 Cam drive belt. $ 75.00
Fel Pro Water Pump Gasket - No Charge with Belt Set Only
CVOA-PT-09 Water Pump - Water Pump w/Updated Bearing Set $85.00
Water Pump purchase requires core to be returned. Gasket Included.
CVOA-PT-10 Heater Box Rebuild Kit - Reproduction kit with
seals. You will also need to get a small tube of 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive and some 3M Strip - Caulk from your local parts store. $ 22.00
New Valve Shims - Limited Supply. These were VW shims milled to fit our
Cosworth engines. Please use a micrometer on your old shims in order to
determine the size you need. The number (if readable) may not be accurate on
your old shim. The following are currently available for $10.00 each
(thickness in inches):
CVOA-PT-04-137
CVOA-PT-04-138
CVOA-PT-04-139
CVOA-PT-04-140
CVOA-PT-04-142
20
.137 thick
.138 thick
.139 thick
.140 thick
.142 thick
CV Magazine
CVOA-PT-04-143
CVOA-PT-04-144
CVOA-PT-04-145
CVOA-PT-04-146
CVOA-PT-04-148
4th Quarter 2007
.143 thick
.144 thick
.145 thick
.146 thick
.148 thick
cosworthvega.com
Best Way to Buy:
Order Online-- Go to cosworthvega.com
Click on "order online" link on the lower
right corner of the home page and use PayPal
OR:
Mail check or Money Order (Payable to CVOA) to:
Bob Slusarek
24616 Lincolnway St
Plainfield, IL 60544
Prices include shipping to the lower 48 states only (no PO
Boxes). Contact the Merchandise Director for shipping
charges to Alaska, Hawaii, and foreign countries.
Please allow four weeks for delivery.
CVOA Approved Vendors
CVOA Technical Advisors
Questions and advice, calls on your dime
Vega Parts, New and Used, Repro Front Air Deflector
DAVE’S VEGA VILLAGE, Anmore, B.C. Canada (604)
469-9979 Monday-Saturday 1pm to 6pm PST
Vega Engine Parts: New/Used/Racing parts, Engine Rebuilding
Sonny Rossi, San Antonio, TX (210) 688-3711
CV Rebuilding / Repairs - Total or Partial
HME, Clarksville, TN (931) 648-1119
Carpets - Molded Floor, Rear Cargo & Material
Auto Custom Carpets Inc. Anniston, AL 1-800-633-2358 (see note below)
Make sure you get the right year, 76 carpet is longer than 75
*NOTE* The CVOA has an account with ACC which gives club members a
37.75% discount. Barbie Dunn is the point of contact, her extension is 249.
Her E-mail address is bdunn@accmats.com
The account number is 036784
Reproduction Dash Bezel
HME, Clarksville, TN (931) 648-1119, Note: Two piece design
Reproduction Labels
Jim Osborne Reproductions, Lawrenceville, GA (770) 962-7556
Their catalog has a small Vega and Cosworth section
Triple A Enterprises, P.O. Box 50522, Indianapolis, IN 46250
Reproduction Window Price Stickers
Http://www.window-sticker.com
Computer Repair
Bob Stallwitz, Pekin, IL (309) 353-2450 Email: rstallwitz@grics.net
Superior Water Pump Exchange
2341 W. Cypress Phoenix Phoenix,
AZ85009-2713
(602) 252-7398FAX (602) 252-7000
Email: autoh2o@aol.com Contact:
Sharon Magruder
Seat Upholstry- Material
Original Auto Interiors, St. Clair, MI (810) 727-2486
SMS Auto Fabrics, Portland, OR (503) 234-1175
High Pressure Fuel Pump Rebuilding
Fuel Injection Corporation, 1701 E. Edinger Ave. Building C, Unit C1, Santa Ana,
CA 92705 (714) 835-4064 Contact is Don Burnhart, call for pricing. Money Order /
Cashier’s Check only (also rebuilds MAP sensors and Fuel injectors).
Fuel Injector Cleaning and Testing
Superior Automotive, 2675 W Woodland Dr., Anaheim, CA 92801
(Send them your injectors, they’ll clean them, test them and return them with a report. $100 set of four, includes shipping)
(714) 835-4064 Contact is Joe Jill Sr.
Seat Belts- Repair/Remanufacture
Ssnake-Oyl Products, Seat Belt Restoration and Sales
114 N Glenwood Blvd Tyler, TX 75702 1-800-284-7777
Remanufactured Vega Steering Boxes
Contact Earl at: Lares Corp. - Reman Steering Components
13517 HWY 66 NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304 (612) 754-2853
Weatherstrip for your Cosworth
Metro Molded Parts 1-800-878-2237
Item
Hatchback doors
Wagon and sedan doors
Hatchback Hatch, sold by the foot
Part #
LM 13
LM 13-A
LP 46-C (need 20 ft)
Cosworth Vega Professional Wheel Refinishing
Wheel Medic
600 Shoemaker Ave #4, Columbus, OH 43201 (614) 299-9866
Contact Robert Boley
Karl Bell of Hutton Motor Engineering, TN
(931) 648-1119 8-3 CST, Tues-Fri only
*Engine and EFI related issues
Bob Chin, Bloomington, IN
(812) 339-0838 4pm-9pm EST
*Restoration and Mechanical
BobC997615@aol.com
Keith Meiswinkel, Wallkill, NY
(914) 895-3027
7:30pm-9pm EST Every Day
*15 years experience, Mechanicals, Parts, Availability, Restoration and Detailing
Cosworth@frontiernet.net
Tim Morgan, Houston, TX
(281) 589– 0449 9pm-10:30pm CST M-F
*EFI, Webers, Engines, Performance Parts, Suspension, Body
and Interior
Twincams@aol.com
David Quarterman, Anmore, B.C.Canada
(604) 469-9979 1-6pm PST, Mon-Sat
*Dave’s Vega Village, All H-Body types, V6 & V8 Conver-sions,
20 years of study
Mark A. Rock, Columbia Station, OH
(440) 236-9669 after 7 pm
*Editor, Cosworth Vega Tips and Tricks Knowledge Base
Volumes I, II, III
markarock@gmail.com
Maurice Schecter, Williston Park, NY
(516) 294-4416 9-11pm EST M-F
*Troubleshooting Fuel, Electrical and Drivetrains a
Specialty. Working on Cosworths since 1979
Mauricsch@cs.com
Duke Williams, Redondo Beach, CA
(310) 372-5527 6pm-10pm PST & weekends
*Maintanence, Engine, 5 Speed Trans, Brakes, Fuel, Elec-trical
System, General Technology and History
Dukewilliams@netzero.net
Neil Williams, Bellflower, CA
(562) 920-7168 After 5PM PST
*EFI, Webers, Engine Assy, Electronic analysis, 30+ Years performance OHC Experience. 16 Years CV port/polish, etc, etc
Cosworth Vega Muscle Car License Plate
Plastic
6" x 12" Printed with durable sublimation ink.
$22.95 plus
$6.00 shipping
cosworthvega.com
Art Treta
(315)831-8457
C1451@aol.com
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
21
SIDE VIEW MIRROR
Back in the days of cheap fossil fuels I got into the habit
"failing to give a proper signal," "passing a school bus" or
of taking one of my cars out for an early morning Sunday
"driving with an obstructed view." The same $1050 asdrive to pick up some goodies from a nearby bakery. As
sessment applies, but the conviction remains on the record
you can probably guess, the route I chose most of the time
for eleven years.
wasn't a direct one; sometimes I would rack up well over
a hundred miles. What was the big attraction, you might
Although the amount of the tax can add up quickly, the
ask. The truth is I'm a sucker for a winding road, and
law forbids judges from reducing or suspending it in any
about ten miles north of where that little bakery is there
way. The tax applies only to Virginia residents, so that
are some good ones. Many a morning I'd take my '71 Forout-of-state motorists only need to pay the regular ticket
mula Firebird or '73 Vega GT, equipped with an IECO
amount. Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas also
stage V motor and suspension mods (the Cosworths
impose a somewhat more modest driver responsibility
would come later), out for a run.
tax, which they apply to out-ofDriving through the well-to-do "The purpose of the civil remedial state residents.
areas I would on occasion flush
fees imposed in this section is to
out an enthusiast in a Pantera or
If you think this revenue generatgenerate revenue"
Ferrari or Porsche with similar
ing nonsense only happens in the
ideas, which was all the more fun.
USA, think again. Canada's OnOne time that sticks in my mind was when, during a
tario province recently spent nearly $2 million on sophis"spirited drive", I got pulled over by a cop in an unmarked
ticated surveillance equipment, airplanes, and 55 addicar; his only intention was to look under the hood of the
tional police officers. If you're caught going 31 miles per
Vega ("what, no V8?") and ask me about all the modificahour or more over the speed limit in Ontario, the Canuck
tions I had done. After about a half hour of "show and
cops will impound your car for a week, take your license,
tell" and a handshake, I was on my way.
and hit you with a $10,000 dollar fine - one of the most
expensive traffic tickets in North America. You could
I wondered what would happen under the same circumeven get up to six months in jail. Your official crime
stances today. So I did a bit of online research and found
would be "street racing", even if there is no other car on
some interesting articles on www.thenewspaper.com, a
the road. It is all part of the Safer Roads for a Safer OnWeb Site that claims to be "a journal of the politics of
tario Act.
driving". What I found might interest those of you who
like to "put the pedal to the metal" once in a while.
The lunacy goes beyond North America, too. In January,
the top legal speed in the Northern Territories of Australia
For example, did you know Virginia motorists convicted
was lowered to 80 MPH (many roads were limit free) in
of minor traffic violations now face a new, multi-year
an effort to generate revenue with a new traffic police
tax? Signed into law June, 2007, a "driver responsibility
force collecting newly doubled fines. Saving lives is not a
tax" was tacked onto a larger transportation bill. Traffic
concern, otherwise they would drop the speed limit; statickets now come with assessments of up to $3000 in adtistically highway deaths in this area have risen since the
dition to an annual point tax that tops out at
new law went into effect. It seems that govern$700 a year for as long as the points remain.
ment isn't too concerned about the local economy, either. The city of Alice Springs has
"The purpose of the civil remedial fees imtaken a financial hit of up to A$9 million a year
posed in this section is to generate revenue,"
in lost hotel and tourism revenue. Automakers
the new law states (Virginia Code 46.2from around the world used to jump at the
206.1). Well at least they admit it!
chance to travel there to test vehicles at their
maximum speed in a warm climate. With the
Driving as little as 15 MPH over the limit
new speed limit, however, the testing business
on an interstate highway now brings six
has moved to other countries.
license demerit points, a fine of up to
$2500, up to one year in jail, and a new Who, me?
So what does all this mean to me when I take
mandatory $1050 tax. The law also imposes
my Cosworth out to pick up some fresh bagels?
an additional annual fee of up to $100 if a prior convicNot much from the ride standpoint; I've slowed down in
tion leaves the motorist with a balance of eight demerit
recent years, although running through the gears will
points, plus $75 for each additional point (up to $700 a
never lose its thrill for me. Besides, if I do get the urge to
year). The conviction in this example remains on the reget a bit extreme there are track days to be had. I do feel
cord for five years. Other six-point convictions include
sorry for the ignorant motorist who drives a bit too fast in
(Continued on page 23)
22
CV Magazine
4th Quarter 2007
cosworthvega.com
CVOA ADVERTISING
POLICY
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Full page inserts—$70 if inserts
provided
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(all above priced per issue)
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CVOA members are entitled to one free
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color combination and options) must be
included.
Non-member ads are charged $15 for an
advertisement in two consecutive issues.
Please mail all Advertisements/
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Classified Ads
Cosworth Vegas for Sale
Parts for Sale
75-0266
Black, black cloth, 94,000 miles. Positraction, swing-out windows, rear defroster, windshield antenna, rear
speaker, after-market AM/FM Cassette
radio, new decal kit. Good interior,
glass, and chrome—poor body shop
work which needs to be redone. Stored
10 years, can’t get time to work on it.
Needs a good home. Car is located near
Marysville, Ohio. $1000
Bill Lyon (937)666-3292
after 6pm EST
Set of New Hood Pad Retainer Clips $8
Art Treta
(315) 831-8457
C1451@aol.com
No ads at this time.
Cosworth Vegas Wanted
No ads at this time.
Parts for Sale
Vega (140) Cyl. Head; Ported, larger
stainless valves, P.C. seals, Crane valve
springs & retainers, Crane cam
F 240/470-8 Racing part # 120971,
lifters, new cam bearings, cam
seal ,sprockets. All New– Ready to
Race! $900
CVOA is not responsible for any advertised claims, products or services from
independent or commercial vendors.
However, reoccurrence of complaints
may result in denial of advertising space
and reference to members in future issues.
All kinds of used stock engine parts &
new racing parts. Also automatic transmissions.
When was the last time you
checked your
expiration date?
Renew your membership before you miss any news!
You can now renew online with
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www.cosworthvega.com
Looking for a Tail Light lens for '77
Vega hatchback (actually one lens for
the tail light, brake, turn and back-up
lights...colors are red, amber, and clear.)
Dick Rogers
(951)360-8565
Non-Cosworths for Sale
CV Magazine
John Williams
202 Mile Road
Tunkhannock, Pa 18657
OR:
E-Mail:
CVOAEditor@Cosworthvega.com
Remember to send all address
changes to the CVOA!
Parts Wanted
Cosworth Crower Street Cams-E-5387
$150.00-plus shipping. Cam sprockets,
$50.00-plus shipping.
Sonny (210) 688-3711
Drip Rail Molding
Jerry Smith
(386) 574-7503
cwvega76@earthlink.net
Cosworth Vega engine, basket case
Make Offer!
Dick Rogers
(951) 360-8565
Good Used Parts!
For 1975 1976 Cosworth Vega
Engine, Drivetrain, Body, Interior
Reasonable Prices (for me)
John Williams
E-mail millwillcos@yahoo.com
(570) 836-8024
cosworthvega.com
Pictured above is Tom Lippert, admiring
the good tread he found at the Deltona
Roundup..
SIDE VIEW
(Continued from page 22)
the wrong place; the punishment
definitely doesn't fit the "crime". I
also cringe when I read bureaucratic
claims that lowering and enforcing
speed limits save lives; most of the
evidence I've found points to driver
education as the key to safer driving,
and not the kind you get from your
local high school. But, alas, it seems
that most governments on any level
are more concerned with revenue
than saving lives.
So the next time you are buzzing
down the interstate anxious to get to
the Roundup in your recently restored Cosworth Vega, keep in mind
what can happen if you venture too
far above the posted speed limit. Big
Brother is watching, and waiting to
take a big chunk out of your wallet!
4th Quarter 2007
CV Magazine
23
JUNE 20, 21, 22 2008
THE MOTOR CITY
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
John Cowall
Dick Baumhauer
Paul Wicker
John J Cowall
Details Start on Page 16!
Round Up Registration Form Inside!
Cosworth Vega
Magazine
P. O. Box 5864
Pittsburgh, Pa 15209
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