1980 Cosworth DFV engines
#1
Posted 21 May 2009 - 17:41
I'm looking for information on the DFV engines used by the WDC teams in 1980. I have them at around 485 HP @ 10,750 rpm, but I would like to know who maintained them and if there were notable differences in performance between the eventual tuners. Did McLaren Engines USA tune the McLaren ones for instance ? Did Osella tune its engines as they liked to do ? Were most DFVs of the top teams tuned and rebuilt by Cosworth ? I guess it was the case for Williams via the Leyland connection - but what about the others ? And what about the smaller teams such as RAM Racing, Ensign, ATS ?
Thanks in advance
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#2
Posted 21 May 2009 - 17:45
#3
Posted 21 May 2009 - 18:22
#4
Posted 21 May 2009 - 18:36
Didn't John Nicholson build McLaren engines at one time?
They formed a company for that very purpose, Nicholson McLaren Engines. Very good engines, but I think the main experimentation was in shorter stroke and different cam profiles. McLaren DFVs were reckoned to be about the best, but I can't recall seeing outputs quoted.
#5
Posted 21 May 2009 - 18:36
#6
Posted 21 May 2009 - 18:42
#7
Posted 21 May 2009 - 20:39
I'm struggling to remember, but I think that Judd, Nicholson McLaren and Hesketh were the first three Cosworth licencees.
I though Osella only did BMW F2 units, not DFVs? I understood his DFVs were Maders or Judds? I may well be wrong on that though.
#8
Posted 21 May 2009 - 20:40
The names Heini Mader and Langford & Peck spring to mind. But I am not sure if that was for F1 DFVs or for F3000
Dick Langford is preparing them to this day; one powered the ex-Ronnie Peterson March 761 to victory at Donington in the hands of Katsu Kubota the weekend before last.