Unleaded Gas Coming to NASCAR

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NASCAR officials are telling engine builders to prepare, again, for a possible changeover to unleaded racing fuel. And NASCAR is polling teams about switching to aluminum engine blocks.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-29-2004)
 
Interesting. Sunoco and some other outfits have had unleaded race fuel for quite a while now. I remember an article Circle Track did about 10 or so years ago. This can be a good move, as long as the "other things" in place of the "lead" aren't worse!

I don't know about the alloy block deal???? Maybe this is a driver behind nsacr wanting Ford to put a new block out with their new heads this year?...to get all the manufactures on the sme time table?

I personnly run the alloy Windsor block. It's about 90 lbs lighter than it's iron counter part. That will give the teams more flexibility with where and how they place weight in the car (from a verticle perspective). They'll give up a little hp, and have a whole new set of machining and maintenance issues. An alloy block can be welded up when broken. It also adds a lot to expansion when hot compared to cold...and the expansion rates are all over the map down the length of the block. Oh! And when the bore measurements go out of spec, you dodn't need to trash the block, you can knock out the old liners and bang in a new set.

In the end, the initial $1400 plus different machining will spike costs, but in the long run may help contain them?...I guess that will all depend on what the duty cycle will be?
 
The rest of this story may be:

Garage sources told TFR [Team Ford Racing] that NASCAR is advising the teams and the manufacturers, to start thinking about next generation motors and that they should get concepts ready for discussion sometime in the future. The message was delivered that NASCAR is looking to go to a “small box” (tight tolerance) motor, but no specifics as to what the sanctioning body might be seeking were advanced during the initial conversations. Apparently everything is in play. Even displacement seems to a “work in progress,” according to one Detroit engine designer. This engine builder went on to suggest that now might be the time to tone down the motor’s capability. But that’s a discussion that will spark debate as some engine men, including as Yates, like a smaller cubic inch displacement configuration as an option/ Meanwhile, others believe a smaller carburetor, maybe fuel injection, is a better way to go. These talks look to be very preliminary in nature, with the timing of any changes being a couple of years off, possibly to coincide with Toyota’s expected appearance in the Cup Series in 2007.(Team Ford Racing)
 
It kinda makes sense to come up with an engine program that is closer to what is massed produced today. Most companies make some pretty cool stuff and at smaller displacements.
 
I'd like to see this happen, the different engine configuration that is. Maybe in the process they could do away with the restrictor plate...lol wishful thinking huh? <_<
 
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