16 replies to this topic

[thomaskomm]

Hello!
I have a question:
How often could a DFV rebuilt or refreshened? And How many miles in F1 Configuration (500 HP about 10800 revs) they usually between rebuilts? I had read that a typical rebuilt cost aprox. 400 Pounds Sterling (1970).
How much cost a DFV today?
Thank you for answering

Thomas

[exFSAE]

Probably considerably more expensive now given that the parts aren't exactly easy to come by.

[zumeto]

Originally posted by exFSAE
Probably considerably more expensive now given that the parts aren't exactly easy to come by.

Considerably more expensive because of inflation but parts are mostly available or still in production because of the number of F1 cars that used the engine still being run in historics and veteran series. Where there's a demand, there's a supply.

[thomaskomm]

Hi, thank for response, clearly today cost are much higher! But i wonder there is little about this amazing engine online (mean more technical development and evolution about the engine)! The onliest book is the Andrew Noakes book, but a customer review told that book is not much about technical!


Thomas

[zumeto]

There was a to-the-point article in the British magazine "Cars & Car Conversions" years ago. The magazine still exists, but I think they've changed the name. I might have a copy of the article still, I'll check to see. The article informed about the rebuild schedules, lifing of various parts, which components had been developed, modified, or replaced with newer ones, along with some estimations of costs, which wouldn't be relevant now anyway.

[NRoshier]

Why not just contact Cosworth and ask who does most of this work...and the price? It's not like they have as much to do ATM!

[cheapracer]

Originally posted by NRoshier
Why not just contact Cosworth and ask who does most of this work...and the price? It's not like they have as much to do ATM!

Ha!

Just want to add that based on my experiance with BD series, rebuild intervals are dependent on RPM's you extend too, the more revs the shorter the intervals.

[thomaskomm]

Originally posted by zumeto
There was a to-the-point article in the British magazine "Cars & Car Conversions" years ago. The magazine still exists, but I think they've changed the name. I might have a copy of the article still, I'll check to see. The article informed about the rebuild schedules, lifing of various parts, which components had been developed, modified, or replaced with newer ones, along with some estimations of costs, which wouldn't be relevant now anyway.

Yes zumeto!
That is it! I would be glad if you can post it anyway Cosworth to ask ? Perhaps or maybe there will answering?
Maybe the DFV crankcase was very strong built for many cycles of rebuilding. The Champcar engine was very economic built for advancing uses.

I love raceengines there was built of economic basic. The DFV was a pinnacle of such ideas.

Thank you very much for posting in advance.

[rhm]

Nicholson McLaren build DFVs for historic racing. You could email them and ask.

http://www.nicholsonmclaren.co.uk/

[Paul Ranson]

You may find some interesting stuff in

http://www.cosworth....v_1973_spec.pdf

and

http://www.cosworth....r_3500_spec.pdf

Paul

[zumeto]

Originally posted by thomaskomm



Yes zumeto!
That is it! I would be glad if you can post it anyway Cosworth to ask ? Perhaps or maybe there will answering?
Maybe the DFV crankcase was very strong built for many cycles of rebuilding. The Champcar engine was very economic built for advancing uses.

I love raceengines there was built of economic basic. The DFV was a pinnacle of such ideas.

Thank you very much for posting in advance.

I've had a look for the article and wasn't able to turn it up, sorry. But, if you can find an index for the magazine "Cars & Car Conversions", the article was named "Pieces of Eight". Probably published during the '80s, while the DFV was still in F1, although not a frontrunner by then.

[thomaskomm]

Hello!
buy the book: Cosworth: The search of Power. Here i have a source for a couple of details about the great DFV and his devirats: The engine cost 1974 9266 Pounds Sterling inclusive VAT and a usually rebuilt 500 Pounds Sterling plus 200 Pounds for a test-bed ! All 600 miles the engine have to rebuilt. Rebuilds are very often ! 1982 Power of the long stroke DFV was about 495 HP! 1983 the 16 degree small-stroke engine had 520 Hp by 11.000 RPM. 1989 the engine cost test and full built about 46.000 Pounds Sterling inclusive VAT. Aaahh, thank you Paul for the links! Have to reedit causing failures about reading ! Very amazing engine!! I love the sound and the Power

Thomas

[JtP1]

The mid 70s cost of a DFV was normally quoted as £5000 for a std rebuild at 500 miles, that is without damage. Blocks were regularly reused and one regularly did Le Mans over a number of years. Unfortunately I can't remember the drivers name at the moment, but he was the ace sponsor getter of his day and got Mopar (the parts marketing department of Chrysler) to sponsor a Ford powered car at Le Mans! His DFV was said to be the most perfectly line bored block ever made for a DFV. Memory banks searched, it was Guy Edwards.

If the block was replaced, I believe the norm was simply to restamp the block with the original number. Though possibly with an R suffix or similar. Frank Williams in one of his short of cash periods once got a block replaced and the rebuilder forgot to charge him for it on the bill.

[thomaskomm]

Originally posted by JtP1
The mid 70s cost of a DFV was normally quoted as £5000 for a std rebuild at 500 miles, that is without damage. Blocks were regularly reused and one regularly did Le Mans over a number of years. Unfortunately I can't remember the drivers name at the moment, but he was the ace sponsor getter of his day and got Mopar (the parts marketing department of Chrysler) to sponsor a Ford powered car at Le Mans! His DFV was said to be the most perfectly line bored block ever made for a DFV. Memory banks searched, it was Guy Edwards.

If the block was replaced, I believe the norm was simply to restamp the block with the original number. Though possibly with an R suffix or similar. Frank Williams in one of his short of cash periods once got a block replaced and the rebuilder forgot to charge him for it on the bill.

Thank you JtP1 for your memorys. Amazing that Mopar sponsored a Ford-powered Car! Yes i can imagine that they respamped the new block with the original number. I understand now the economic rebuilding process back in the seventies. Today a F1 engine is a piece of junk after 1000 miles and that is in terms of 19.000 rpm many miles, but this procedere is really not economic racing!

About Frank Williams they said, that he always payed his bills but in his short cash periods he needed a little bit more time......

Thomas

[phantom II]

http://www.classicca...cosworth-engine

[cheapracer]

Originally posted by phantom II
http://www.classicca...cosworth-engine

Ha! I thought I got the wrong link, tried twice and looked at that engine 3 times before it hit me

[phantom II]

The wheels aren't wood and the brakes are not drums. There was an article in Hot Rod Mag.

Originally posted by cheapracer


Ha! I thought I got the wrong link, tried twice and looked at that engine 3 times before it hit me