Bubbacluby wrote:
What, does a race engine only last 14 races and then time for a rebuild?
An engine rebuild is what $4000+, sounds like an aweful lot of money for a motor that that will run 14 races then a rebuild?
Am I missing something? Or is this the norm?
Brenton
it's the norm - 14 races is a bloody good effort for a race motor. Some Top fuel dragsters rebuild their motors after each run down the dragstrip - that's basically a rebuild for no more than a maximum of about 20 seconds running time. F1, V8 supercars, NASCAR etc. have regulations forced on them about how often they're allowed to rebuild, otherwise they'd have a crate of fresh motors ready and swap them over each race
A race motor is built to make the most power possible, and is run at full noise all the time. The stresses on the components are far beyond what a normal road going motor sees, so yes, they wear out very quickly... and any wear might also be costing some power
Motor racing is expensive, if you want to be at the top, you've gotta have the money to back it up. The rebuilds might not be a full rebuild, it might just be a stripdown, check and replace the rings and bearings, but it might be more than that too
GR obviously gets expert labour for free cos he does it himself, but I think that crankshaft you're looking at is $4500 or thereabouts.