Engine Mods for Group S

[Glenn Campbell]

It did not take long to realise that I need to do plenty of work (and $) on the engine.

Any help and suggestions for the following will be gratefully accepted:

- Electronic Ignition system
- Carbys - I have been told 48DCOE are OK to use - any specs
- Camshafts
- Cylinder Head mods
- Pistons

Anything else?

Regards
Glenn

[branko.gt]

- best to confirm in the current cams manual but i do not believe you can use electronic ignition unless it was supplied on the model originally. This would make a no go for all alfas for group S.

- all engine internal modification are OK with a max bore out  +1.5mm and no stroke change allowed

- no addition of metal allowed for cylinder heads

- camshafts are free

- pistons are free

- carbies are a bit of a grey area with people using 48, but the strict reading of rules may make that illegal

other things where you may spend money on and stay within rules :

gearbox internals free as long as you retain the number of forward and a reverse gears

diff internals free

clutch free

flywheel

crank lightening

exhaust

radiator is free in size but cannot be made of aluminium unless original for the model

electric fan is OK

[alfagtv58]

Branko is correct in everything but the 48's (which are fine)....not sure how you come up with that one Branko, my spec sheet says "Carburettor bore size is free", further to that I can choose from Dellorto, Solex or Weber!!

As for specific spec's on head work/cams/pistons etc.  I suggest ring Vin Sharp at PACE (9844 0147), he is the guy that would be best to answer those questions (I would be just offereing 2nd hand knowledge!).

Oh yeah, Electronic ignition is a big no no....and this is something they are regularly looking for.......cos electronic ignition makes the car look modern 

[branko.gt]

the actual wording is:
"Carburettors or fuel injection systems must be of the same make, type and number originally fitted
to the vehicle. Carburettor bore size is free. Carburettor inlet manifolds are free except that they must be of a
type compatible with the period."

one could argue that DCOE40 and DCOE48 are same make and type but there is also possible argument that they are no. One could read the bore size freedom as such that you are permitted to use as large choke as you like that fits into DCOE40 that was standard on the car.

As I said, bit of a grey area ....

[Jekyll and Hyde]

I understand where Branko is coming from, but to my mind that interpretation would seem to make the rest of the engine freedoms rather pointless, as well as free inlet manifolds.

My reading of the 'same make, type and number' rule would be:

Same make (so in this case obviously Weber/Dellorto).  Same type being twin throat sidedraughts, as opposed to single downdraughts or whatever else.  Number being the number of carby assemblys, in the case of Alfas being 2.

I suspect this rule is more aimed at preventing cars that came with crappy carby setups from upgrading to a better style, for example Datsun 240/260z's from converting their twin single throat SU copies for triple Webers.  After all, most cars running in this class didn't come out of the factory with a carby throat for each cylinder like an Alfa.

[branko.gt]

talking about pointless, rules let you make your engine go as much as you can but you are not allowed to upgrade brakes   

[alfagtv58]

talking about pointless, rules let you make your engine go as much as you can but you are not allowed to upgrade brakes   

here, here.  particularly for an Alfetta

[Paul Gulliver]

Phil,

Stopping at the end of Conrod Straight with brake pads half the size of a box of matches must get your attention every time.

[Gary Pearce]

P.B. once said good drivers don't need brakes.

[Paul Gulliver]

Just Big Balls

[alfagtv58]

P.B. once said good drivers don't need brakes.

That must be Peter Brock.....'cos I sure as hell didn't say that!!

brake pads half the size of a box of matches

Shhh. I need to pretend to forget about that for my own sanity.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Get hard, ya big puffs. 

I thought Group S was supposed to be about recreating "period" racing.  Why should you have more braking than they did back then?  Besides, I thought your brakes were pretty good for an old car Phil (well, that's what I thought after I outbraked myself into Honda and had a spin, then remembered it was an old car ).

[Paul Gulliver]

Sheldon,

It might be bad manners , but i have been meaning to ask what's going on inside your avatar .
It looks like the either the little bloke and or the car have just been given 240 volts in a damp area.

Or maybe he's warmimg up for some line dancing???

[Sheldon McIntosh]

That little bloke is the one-and-only Gary Coleman doing a little tap dance in front of KITT, with hydraulics, while David Hasselhoff taps his foot (knowingly) and gives the thumbs up (if you look closely you can see David's thumb popping up).

[Paul Gulliver]

Either i was away that day or my mum wouldn't let me watch that American rubbish.