Competition Engines - Formula Junior
World champions, including the great Jim Clark, started their single-seater racing careers in Formula Junior cars and in the mid '90s enthusiasts showed renewed interest in these nimble 1100cc machines that were the Formula Fords of their day.
Naturally Swiftune was soon building 1098cc race engines for the front-engined chassis including Elva 100 and Gemini and the Elva 200, Cooper 56 and Huffaker with the engine behind the driver. Swiftune engines can now be found in a dozen of the superbly turned out Juniors that make such a great sight at some many classic meetings and put on a great show at their blue riband event, the Goodwood Revival.
In the past Junior engines gained a reputation for being unreliable as the engine revs were pushed ever higher in a bid to boost power; connecting rods and cranks breaking was a familiar experience together with the resulting large bang!
Swiftune concentrated on improving reliability while also raising power output in what is a very competitive series where every bhp counts. High grade components, including a steel billet crankshaft and superior rods and the latest high tensile steel bolts are used and, together with very careful assembly, the result has been greatly improved reliability for the Swiftune-powered machines.
Some 90bhp was the typical output in the mid’90s. Starting with the original BMC works XSP spec for essentially the 1071cc engine, detailed development has been carried out on the cylinder head and camshaft using Swiftune’s in-house air flow rig. Currently Swiftune Junior engines produce an impressive 115bhp at a heady 8500rpm. But development never stops!
Nick Swift says: "Formula Junior racing is really close at the front so we are always developing the cylinder head and cam profile to gain a few more bhp each season. Owners have been amazed at the reliability of their Swiftune engines despite the dizzy high revs they often use when the red mist comes down."
Service
Throughout the season Swiftune offers ready advice on keeping your engine in peak condition; Nick Swift is also on hand at many of the historic meetings. Mid-season exploratory checks, dyno sessions, 'freshen ups' and full rebuilds are the key to the performance of the engine.
We are always pleased to take on an evaluation of your existing race engine for rebuilding or upgrading.
Please contact Nick Swift for full details.