http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosworth_Vega
This copy below may be a little easier to read. sorry
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From: corvallis@peoplepc.com [mailto:corvallis@peoplepc.com]
Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 12:21 PM
To: 'spridgets@autox.team.net'
Subject: RE: [Spridgets] Austin Gipsy....what's this thing worth??
"GM Research Labs had been working on a sleeveless aluminum block since the
late 50's. The incentive was cost. Getting rid of those liners on a
four-cylinder block would save $8, which was a substantial amount of money
back then. Reynolds Metal Corp. came up with an alloy called A-390, composed
of 77 percent aluminum, 17 percent silicon, 4 percent copper, 1 percent
iron, and traces of phosphorus, zinc, manganese, and titanium. The A-390
alloy was suitable for faster production die-casting which made the Vega
block less expensive to manufacture than other aluminum engines. Sealed
Power Corp. developed special chrome-plated piston rings for the engine that
were blunted to prevent scuffing. Basic work had been done under Eudell
Jackobson of GM engineering, not at Chevrolet. But then, suddenly, Chevrolet
got handed the job of putting this ohc sleeveless, aluminum block into
production-a feat never before attempted. According to Jackobson, "The
aluminum blocks were impregnated with sodium silicate before shipping to
Tonawanda (engine plant). Machining through the outer skin exposed areas
that had not previously leaked, so various leak tests were required as the
block progressed through the machining line. As I recall, if a part still
leaked after three tries, it was scrapped.""
Porsche got it right about 10 years later. ...bill in oregon
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