Cosworth DFV

[canadair]

Very general question, but just how available is this engine today?, in either rebuildable or fully running form.
Are there shops specializing in the engine, preferably the short version, ( early)
what is available in terms of parts,
just how user freindly is it to run,
what are the costs of both rebuldable, and fully restored?
There must be some people here with this kind of expertise.
Cheers.

[Adam43]

A very interesting question. I an't help, but I bet as old F1 engines go you couldn't ask for a better situation. Practically all the runners in TGP use them, someone must know. There could well be a market for reproducing them!

[imull]

Phone Martin Stretton Racing. If anyone has one it will be him...

Think its a case of "if you ahve to ask" as far as price is concerned.

[zefarelly]

I saw one for sale for £30k in a mag last month, so not cheap, but it would make a Cortina go pretty quick

[imull]

What do you mean cortina? I was thinking of a Reliant Kitten...


or amybe a mini.

[Bostik]

There are plenty around. Prices vary between £20-£40k depending on spec / use etc. Rebuild costs anything from £8- £15k depending on how deep you go. Life is around 600-800 miles.
If you're serious, call John Nicholson or Leo Wybrott (MD) at Nicholson McLaren on +44 1189 738 000 - they are the experts and will probably tell you more than you need to know!

[canadair]

thanks for the contact information. I would hope to find a rebuildable core as I would need it for fitting long before I need it running! anyone got a core?
Cheers

[blackx]

There are a few of these engines being used in speed hillclimbing..
Not sure how many miles they do in a season but most tend to have at least a strip down over the winter just to check them out.
On average they tend to produce around 600bhp but running them on methanol can increase this but the obvious drawback to this is more engine wear.........

[canadair]

I received a note the other day, saying that Cosworth of Northampton, has committed to producing all components of the DFV again, and has begun doing so.
Does anyone know just how far they are going? ie long, short, and does this include case and cranks as well?
This is interesting, as while I am sure the cost of a "new" engine will be quite high, could this bring the cost of rebuildable and well used engines down some?, or is this still such a specialized powerplant that the numbers will be too small to matter?
any opinions?

[NissanGTP]

Cosworth are the mainstay of TGP and Group-C and, therefore, bits are readily available. I have been using Nicholson Mclaren for a few years now and would highly recomend going there. All our engine from Nicholson have been excellent and very trouble free.

Cost is largely dependent on spec, which is largely dsependent on what regs you run to.

[CFD-9]

Try looking here!

http://www.racecarwarehouse.co.uk/frames.htm

[Mackmot]

http://www.tgp-f1.com/files/carmark.htm#DFV

[zefarelly]

a DFV in a reliant Kitten imull?

only if your running standard brakes and wheels surely, youd ruind the fun otherwise

[Carlos Gilbert]

I know this is an old thread, but why start now a new one with the same title? Now, my question is: Looking into some reviews of sportscars of the early 70s (Lola, March, etc.) I see that some models had DFV installed but I read also these versions had no big success mainly due to vibration problems of the engines, this being the main reason for low reliability. The truth is the DFV does not seem to be a good engine for endurance racing for the reason mentioned. Does anyone know the reason for those vibrations? I thought every 6-8-10-12 V engine to always be very smoothly running...
Thanks, CG

[zefarelly]

For endureance they're a very highly strung F1 engine high revs and an old V8 . . . . depends on the crank, 6's are best for natural harmonics/balance I believe. DFV is complicated as well, comprared to say a 289 Ford throwing out similar power now.

a 289/302 is a fracxtion of the cost as well.

Richardson will take your house for a DFV . . . . £30k ish for a new 289

[GORDON STREETER]

The flat plane crank I believe was often blamed for the vibration problems along with the high amount of revs that it was capable of. I also remember reading that somebody had some new camshafts made that altered the firing order and claimed it rectified the problem.