Classic Aurora Racing Heritage

[JimW]

In response to Aurora40 and his desire for some history on the Aurora racing history

www.autoworld.com/news/Oldsmobile/IRL_Aurora.htm

Aurora Sources

In contrast to the engine leasing programs that have been adopted by manufacturers in other open-wheel series, the IRL allows teams to buy, sell, rebuild, and modify their engines. IRL regulations require that all approved engines be readily available at the IRL-specified price of $80,000. In this open market, the IRL Aurora V8's combination of performance, packaging, and proven reliability has made the IRL Aurora V8 the overwhelming choice of IRL teams. In this year's Indianapolis 500, 97 percent of the starters used Oldsmobile powerplants.

"Oldsmobile has to take care of its customers in racing -- the teams that have chosen IRL Aurora V8 engines -- just as Oldsmobile retailers have to take care of their customers in sales and service," noted Dennis Weglarz, Oldsmobile Specialty Vehiclenager. IRL teams are free to use any approved engine, and the motors are interchangeable in the chassis. Oldsmobile does not have any factory teams or special deals. We have to earn the right to be in the race with our on-track performance and our commitment to providing an exceptional level of service to IRL engine builders and teams."

The IRL Aurora V8 is based on the production 4.0-liter DOHC 32-valve Aurora V8 that is available exclusively in the Aurora luxury performance sedan. As required by the IRL rules, the competition engine retains the production Aurora V8's basic "architecture" -- its 102mm cylinder bore spacing, 90-degree bank angle, and chaindriven camshafts. The street and racing versions also share similar technology, including lightweight aluminum construction, dual overhead camshafts, multi-valve combustion chamber design, and advanced electronic engine management. The production Aurora V8 engine produces 250 horsepower at 5,600 rpm on unleaded gasoline; the methanol-burning IRL Aurora V8 racing engine produces over 700 horsepower and revs to 10,500 rpm

www.autoshoppingcenter.com/modelcars/engines/aurora.html

Displacement: 3.8 C1"
Bore: .915"
Stroke: .723"
"V" Angle: 90
Valve Train: Dual Overhead Cams
Valves per Cylinder: 4
Compression Ratio: 15:1
Lubrication System: Dry Sump
Fuel: Methanol
Fuel System: Mechanical Injection
Block Material: Aluminum
Head Material: Aluminum
Cylinder Liners: Cast Iron

[JimW]

Some pics

[Amanda]

Thanks Jim, good work

[JimW]

Another great link courtesy of Steve LS at BC

www.villagevisions.com/ckent/96aurora/96aurora.html

[R4D30N]

i had all them pics

[Mr. Javi]

man that looks dope.

[cheapjim]

Hoe to mod your Aurora for real performance:

Engines 1995 - Present
This is the Aurora DOHC V-8 engine, the A8. The words "Manufactured by General Motors exclusively for Oldsmobile" appear on the intake manifold's tuned runners.

What CIDS
CID Years Bore Stroke VIN Color Notes
4.0L '95 - 87mm 84mm A '95 introduced in '94.
(244)




Engine Performance

Year CID CR HP Torque
'95 244 (4.0L) 10.3:1 250@5600




Indy Car Engine
Production Aurora V-8 Indy Aurora V-8
Displacement 4.0 liters (244ci) 4.0 liters (244ci)
Cylinder Angle
90 degrees 90 degrees
Cylinder Bore Spacing
102mm 102mm
Valvetrain
Dual overhead cams Dual overhead cams
Valves per Cylinder
4 4
Camshaft Drive
Chain Chain
Cylinder Head Material
Aluminum Aluminum
Cylinder Case Material
Aluminum Aluminum
Cylinder Liners
"Dry" iron "Dry" iron
Crankshaft Design
90 degrees 90 degrees
Fuel System
Sequential EFI Sequential EFI
Engine Controller
Delco Electronics Delco Electronics
Maximum rpm
6,400 10,500
Horsepower
250hp @ 5600 rpm 600+ hp
Fuel
Unleaded gasoline Methanol
Bore Diameter
87mm 93mm
Crankshaft Stroke
84mm 73.4mm
Deck Height
8.84" 8.1"
Compression Ratio
10.3:1 13-15:1
Throttle System
Throttle Body Individual Runner
Lubrication System
Wet Sump Dry Sump


The Aurora will have white diamond metallic paint with black and gold highlights (sounds like the performance colors of about 28 yrs. ago) with Indy 500 graphics. A power sunroof, 3.71:1 transaxle ratio (included with the Aurora's optional Autobahn package), chrome plated aluminum alloy wheels and Goodyear Eagle P235/60R16 tires rated for sustained 150 mph speed. The non-stock items that will be installed are those mandated by USAC which include a roll bar and a five-point safety harness for the driver and passenger.

[ Thanks to Glenn for this information ]



Drag Race Competition Engine (DRCE)
The Olds DRCE, as raced by Warren Johnson is basically a set of Olds block and head castings designed to accept big block Chevy internals. One interesting note is that it uses a BOP bellhousing bolt pattern instead of the Chevy bolt pattern. Front cover and water pump interface is Chebby, however.

Olds tried to ensure that all the shortcomings of the Chebby motor were eliminated in this new design. The block was designed to accept up to a 650 cu in displacement. Heads are unique and, interestingly, use ten valve cover bolts per side, just like "real" Olds motors. Note that since Olds has dropped out of NHRA racing sponsorship and Pontiac has become the body style of choice in Pro Stock (due, in no small part, to Pontiac contingency money replacing the Olds contingency money), the DRCE II is now a "Pontiac" motor.

[ Thanks to Joe Padavano for this information ]

[kobalt]

Good info! Sticky perhaps?

[Aurora40]

The Aurora IRL V8 has very little in common with the Aurora V8 in your car. They share bore spacing, and a general architecture of being an aluminum 90-degree DOHC V8. But that's about it.

There was also an Aurora IMSA V8 that I believe was a bit more like the production engine. This was in the Aurora GTS-1, and in the R&S Aurora WSC car in 1996.

Katech is the company that worked with the Aurora IMSA V8, and also built some of the Aurora IRL V8's (several companies offered Aurora IRL V8's to IRL teams). They also build the Corvette C5-R engines and the Cadillac CTS-V Racer engines: www.katechengines.com/index.htm