Group A SD1 Vitesse

Group A · Post by **Group A** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:41 am

I am currently doing a University project which involves, amongst other things, creating a computer simulation of the Group A Rover Vitesse touring car engine. As such I am trying to find information about the internal dimensions and specifications of the engine, particularly the Twin Plenum induction system. I know the size of the throttle butterflys but am still searching for details on the plenum dimensions, trumpet arrangements and the size and length of the individual inlet runners. Some indictaion as to the position of the fuel injectors would also be useful.

I would be very grateful for any help or suggestions anyone can give.

Cheers

Gp. A

Robrover · Post by **Robrover** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:51 am

Lot of useful info and contacts re the racing Rovers on here

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81326

Group A · Post by **Group A** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:36 am

Robrover wrote:Lot of useful info and contacts re the racing Rovers on here

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81326

Cheers for the link. Unfortunately this thread seems a bit short on tech info but its still damned interesting; I'll be back to read it just for fun once the project is out of the way!

Just as a point of interest, I've managed to get a basic model of the engine running using dimensions roughly scaled off photos. Its producing 350bhp at 7000rpm so revs about right but power fractionally OTT. Still not bad for an estimate!

Cheers,

Gp. A

v8rob · Post by **v8rob** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:31 pm

depends on whether you want what was supposed to be in the engines or what was actually in the engines!

Group A · Post by **Group A** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:14 pm

v8rob wrote:depends on whether you want what was supposed to be in the engines or what was actually in the engines!

You're not insinuating there may have been underhand tweakery going on are you?!

Seriously though, at the moment the engine is staying legal. I think the the slightly wild power figure was down to errors in the estimated dimensions for the plenum etc (unavoidable until hard data is obtained) and a tinymishap with the cam timing; lots of power but severely doubt it would have run for real!

Gp. A

Lewis · Post by **Lewis** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:27 pm

Hey, using Ricardo Wave perchance? Keep us up to date with how you get on, sounds quite interesting.

Something I keep meaning to do but at the moment don't have the spare time between coursework and exams

Group A · Post by **Group A** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:48 am

Yup, I'm WAVE-ing (or possibly drowning!). Not getting on too badly with it but model is still fairly basic as yet. I think it gets a whole load more exciting/infuriating as you start to attend to the details; friction, burn characteristics etc. Can definitely recommend having a crack at it though, Lewis but I know what you mean about course work and exams! What course are you doing by the way? I'm doing Motorsport Engineering at Swansea Institute.

Gp. A

Lewis · Post by **Lewis** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:14 am

Sounds good!

I'm doing Motorsport Engineering

The same, but at Coventry!

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:15 pm

I had the oppotunity to see some raw/un machined GrpA blocks, If that was a factory casting Ill eat my hat, every web in the block was about twice the size of a SDi block, although it had SDi casting marks there was NO WAY it was a factory block, for that reason alone, I have assumed there must also be GrpA heads kicking around as well, so the potential for extra porting must have been there, and possibly bigger valves??

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 3:51 pm

Are you implying the group A SDI engines might also have been a bit dodgy as far as the rules were concerned!!!

Surley third world racing would not have used unhomolagated engines as well as body shells with "special" export suspension mountings

I am horrified at the sugestion
Mike

Group A · Post by **Group A** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:06 pm

ian.stewart wrote: ...possibly bigger valves??

Under Group A regs valves should have been standard size but I decline to comment on whether they were!

Gp. A

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:49 am

kiwicar wrote:Are you implying the group A SDI engines might also have been a bit dodgy as far as the rules were concerned!!!
Surley third world racing would not have used unhomolagated engines as well as body shells with "special" export suspension mountings
I am horrified at the sugestion
Mike

after all they did usr VOLVO rocker arms, and were only caught when a scruteneer looked in the oil filler hole and saw the words VOLVO on the top of the rocker arm

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:37 am

I haden't heard that one

what a professional outfit! I still liked the "Egyption market " excuse for moving the suspension mounts so they could fit wider wheels (specifically banned in group A) and then forgetting to tell BL so none of the drawings were submitted for homologation.
I remember hearing lots of roumers about "specially selected" head castings at the time (ie made to totally different casting patterns)
as I said, what professionals.
Mike

v8man · Post by **v8man** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:27 pm

group A rockers on my car

Robrover · Post by **Robrover** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:56 am

There was an unconfirmed rumour I have heard that the TWR 1984 Bathurst class winning Grp A cars were actually 3.9. Seems unlikely. With Buick 300 heads perhaps?