Honda HPD midget engine update
The engine will be available starting May 1st or sooner.
HPD engineers and USAC have worked thru the winter to get the mapping correct on the ECU for the ethanol fuel and to sort out the final wiring harness and designs. There was time spent on the dyno as well as track testing in North Carolina as the weather permitted. Over 700 laps have been run with this engine and multiple times on the chassis dyno.
The first 10 engines will be offered for $9,995.00 and then the price will go to $10,995. The exhaust and fuel pump are purchased separately from USAC. The current prototype exhaust is stainless steel and we are working with Waterman Pumps to spec a less expensive quality fuel pump (electric).
This engine includes a custom oil pan, custom intake manifold, barnes dry sump oil system, wiring harness, ECU, injectors and fuel rail, air filter, throttle pedal, power steering pump, mini alternator, bell housing, clutch and flywheel.
It will bolt right up to an existing focus motor plate and use the existing throw out assembly and input shaft.
Since taking over this project in October every part needed designed, tested and sourced out. Solid Model drawing were made for every part, patterns fabricated and prototype parts fabricated. We have been very lucky to have some great people in the Indianapolis area help to make this all possible. Thanks to Danny Drinan and Jeremy Warren for working with USAC and myself in getting this project professionally engineered. The engines will be assembled in Brownsburg Indiana at RPN engines by Andy Nock. The wiring harness will come from BMRS - Wade Brown and his crew.
The stock of parts to build the first batch of engines in addition to stocking parts for sale is nearly complete and there are currently 7 engines in stock in Brownsburg waiting to have the parts bolted on. We have worked very hard to make these parts for use in this spec engine and to also allow them to be used in further midget engine development which will be ongoing to help offer an alternative for the midget racers. We have worked very hard to keep the costs down without taking away from the durability of each component.
The engine puts out 230 HP unrestricted and 170 restricted to run with the focus engines. And working on some very interesting ideas that could give a boost to midget racing in the future.
Rebuilding of the series is ongoing and will take some time to fix many of the issues that developed over the past several years. A challenge that I enjoy (most of the time).
If you have any questions please give me a call.
Eric Rankine
HPD Midget & Honda Pavement Midget Director of Competition
eric@usacracing.com
317-771-6596