Repco-Brabham Changes

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31409, 30 June 1967, Page 9

Repco-Brabham Changes

'THE design team at Repcox Brabham Engines, Ltd., Melbourne, has modified the formula one engines for 1967 in several respects, resulting in a power increase of between 20 and 30 b.h.p M more robust construction, and a weight saving of about 301 b compared with the 1966 version. '

The revised engine known as Type 740, is regarded as an interim model, and is undergoing further development. ■ The most obvious changes are the crankcase, and a rearrangement of the single-camshaft cylinder heads and camshaft drive, which has resulted in a changed and more compact exhaust layout.

The crankcase has been completely redesigned for greatly increased rigidity, and is now completely manufactured in Australia. It is cast in aluminium alloy. Most important changes are the use of wet cylinder liners and cross-bolted main bearing caps. There is also a system of main bearing studs which distributes stress right through the crankcase. The main bearing studs are screwed into the crankcase, and then continued with reduced diameter to pass right through the top of the crankcase, where they are provided with nuts which are tightened to a specified torque after the main bearing nuts have been tightened. The cylinder head and modified camshaft drive at

present being used were developed for the 1967 Tasman Series of races in Australia and New Zealand, but larger valves are used than were fitted to the 2.5-litre Tasman engines.

Support for various racing projects has delayed production plans to put the RepcoBrabham engine on a commercial footing; but the wellequipped factory is now working on a two-shift basis and is rapidly making up the lag. Several Repco-Brabham engines have been sold overseas. Repco also exports many Aus-tralian-made parts for Coventry Climax and other racing engines used by overseas competitors.