Scholar engines

Author
Discussion

Brett Nield

Original Poster:

79 posts

126 months

Tuesday 24th September 2013
quotequote all
I have heard of some impressive figures for the 1.9 upgrade by scholar , has anyone fitted one? I read an old article by Dave walker of emerald fame, the one he worked on was achieving 226 bhp when he started with it. Thing is does the extr power result in fragility like the R500

TeflonT

1,655 posts

262 months

Wednesday 25th September 2013
quotequote all
My car had a Scholar 1.9 with 259bhp in it when I bought it. I believe this was the Carmichael/Walker/Andrews finest moment in building high power K's. I apparently cost £12k to build.

Having come from a 300bhp Vauxhall car, which although powerful was also tractable and torquey, I thought this K would be fine, but the reality was that it was so unbelievably peaky it was undriveable.




DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Wednesday 25th September 2013
quotequote all
Err.. That is a long way short of the finest moment...

But that aside, I have a number of issues in recent years with Scholar blocks, the main reason for using them was the increase in capacity available. I have built quite a number of 1900s and some of these have been stonkers, however later ones have exhibited problems with cylinder leakage.

Oily

BertBert

18,929 posts

210 months

Wednesday 25th September 2013
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PC always talks very fondly of it!

BSA

98 posts

157 months

Friday 27th September 2013
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I would stick to 1800 cc , We had issues with the 82mm Wossner Pistons that came with the 1.9 basically they were a stock item not intended for the job in the end Fred at Omega kindly made me a one off set of 82mm Pistons but i had a very long wait, As for the Liners we were lucky we didn't find any issues but there have been plenty.

DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Friday 27th September 2013
quotequote all
I stopped using scholar for blocks around 3 years ago after some continuing aggro. Since then I have use VGK blocks, but these too have not been without their problems..

1800cc using decent spun cast or ductile iron liners and Omega pistons are relatively bomb proof.

Dave

Brett Nield

Original Poster:

79 posts

126 months

Friday 27th September 2013
quotequote all
Thanks everyone
I guess that has put that avenue to rest

BSA

98 posts

157 months

Friday 27th September 2013
quotequote all
I wouldn't be put off you can still build a great 1800 cc Engine circa 220 BHP that will still be very tractable on the road and pleasant to drive, I would agree with Arnie my Engine is just shy of 260 BHP although its a track car and hardly ever used on the road the power delivery is rather manic

jimmyslr

797 posts

272 months

Saturday 28th September 2013
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I have a 1900 scholar set up. Built by DVA many years back from a vhpd engine, mapped by emerald. It's since been rebuilt by minister when it was due a refresh after a cople of racing seasons. Around 250bhp, reasonably driveable and reliable. Mine has seen serious usage rather than casual road driving and all good.

I'm sanguine about it going pop one day, but it's awesome right now. We didn't race the last year or so, but we were front of field vs the CSR eurocup race cars.

James

TeflonT

1,655 posts

262 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
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DVandrews said:
Err.. That is a long way short of the finest moment...
What, out of interest was?

DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
quotequote all
1900 286BHP at 9300 still climbing, 1800 263BHP at 9200 still climbing, 1700 245BHP, 1600 232BHP.

Dace

TeflonT

1,655 posts

262 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
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Blimey!

BSA

98 posts

157 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
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I take it that will be using the 34.5 & 28.5 mm Valves they must be a very tight fit to machine new seats in to the VVC head
Does the mid range torque suffer at all Dave ?


Matt

DVandrews

1,315 posts

282 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
quotequote all
33.5mm inlets, 28.5 exhausts.

Torque a still pretty good, drivability very good on part throttle when off cam. Good power from around 48-5000.

Dave

BSA

98 posts

157 months

Sunday 29th September 2013
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Very interesting thanks Dave

Kghaas

173 posts

150 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
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Here is a link to a detailed tech article about Scholar, and their craftmanship. I was not impressed..
(No afiliation to any party involved..)

http://www.ebbt.no/caterham-7-engine-build-rover-k...

Gatecrasher

29 posts

195 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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I don't know whether anything has changed recently but I've got a Scholar block in my R500 and everything's fine. It's a 1.8 and is extremely tractable with a very predictable power delivery, it just builds and builds through the rev range with a slight step when the cams come in at around 5k. It'll pull smoothly from 25mph in 6th gear if you want it to. The block was done by them a good few years ago (early 00's) by the previous owner who developed the car a long way from standard R500 spec when racing in the JCC endurance championship. It develops over 250bhp on an airbox and quiet can.

TeflonT, your 1.9 engine may have had extreme cams or not been set up very well to give the drivability problems you experienced. I don't know whether the previous owner ever let you drive it but you know my car. It beat K2 RUM at Santa Pod in a fair fight, with timing strips and photos to prove it, PM me if you need a clue ;-)

TeflonTurd

1,655 posts

262 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Gatecrasher,

Your car beat my car at Santa pod many time s to the 60'marker, but that was because i 3was running a 3.38 diff. I have some good videos of how Jason got about 50' on me every time and all but once I realed him back in and crossed the line first :-)

I'm just refitting the Scholar engine to my car, having acquired it back from Poweder Puff who never fitted it. It does not have anything welded or screwed to the top of the block, everything is witihn the std casting. Its on 1227 cams but sinmce its first incarnation in the car I've ditched the sequential box (whihc had no gear indicator) and fitted a steering wheel whjihc enables me to see the rev counter. Should be running next weekend so I will report back on the peakiness issue.