Scat Chevy V4

[nimrod]

Does anyone know anything about these engines? How reliable? Who works on them? Intake and exhaust systems? what kind of distributer? Where do you get gaskets? How long between rebuilds for a 300 HP engine with 12 to 1 compression?

Thanks for any info.

[Gearhead2185]

From what I've heard, they are a small block chevy chopped in half and rewelded back together. With that, they have a lot of power for the weight, use semi common SBC parts, but are running on the edge most of the time. They are also pretty pricey. Of course this is all mostly second hand info, so don't quote me on this.

[nimrod]

Thanks, I've seen some that put out over 500 HP. I think the one I'm looking at is a lot milder. 300 hp, which is still a bunch for a 4 cylinder.

[mexracer10]

the reliabilaty is pretty good, the only down side to those engines is that the way they fire it causes lots of vibrations and seems to destroy the trany. Those engines came in and took the class ones by storm and then they phased right out, only few race cars still use them like Hovey in his old class one which he kicked *** in.

[FABRICATOR]

Pricey, shakey, or brutal, they were instrumental in running the very popular Porsche engines out of town. They are, in effect, the front pair and rear pair of cylinders of a V-8 with uneven firing. Very much like 2 Harley engines. That's why they are hard on gears.

[nimrod]

Any ideas on builders? Contacts?

[NIKAL]

Any ideas on builders? Contacts?

Check with Jim Horne, I think he was doing Hovey's and some others using that motor.

Jim Horne
HP Engines and Dyno
14368 Old Highway 80 in El Cajon
619-443-9990

[nimrod]

Thank you. I really apreciate all of the advice and input.

[scottm]

Whats wierd and cool about them is they still sound like a regular v-8!

[LENNY]

Adam Wik builds 1 bad azz scat motor.He built them for the Wilsons and know 4 Tom Koch.Ive drove Tom single seat its quicker then most LS1&2 Cars just dont have the top end

[Marty]

Adam Wik builds 1 bad azz scat motor.He built them for the Wilsons and know 4 Tom Koch.Ive drove Tom single seat its quicker then most LS1&2 Cars just dont have the top end

OHHH !!!

[randomracer]

wayne morgan and tom leib at skat developed that motor for the desert way back b4 a-arm cars were running. skat sold all that v4 stuff but not sure to who.that motor was really made to run in a midget roundy round stuff. ive never heard of one making 500 hp though . 325 or so is the norm.i guess the hot ticket is to cut a pair of nascar v6 grand national heads and weld them up.and i think the reason they fadded out is all the crate motors from GM make lots of reliable power and are cheap

[DailyPedal]

If my memory serves me...the motor was developed to be a cost effective and dependable motor for midgets to replace the big and explosive VW motors running in the 80's. And although a few ended up in off road cars and sand rails, Scat's primary market was the midget class racing across the country as off road was a small market at the time. Probably would have continued to be popular but factory interest and development of inline 4s from Dodge (Ed Pink?), Ford (Esslinger) and others really hurt the program.

[Fourstroker]

wayne morgan and tom leib at skat developed that motor for the desert way back b4 a-arm cars were running. skat sold all that v4 stuff but not sure to who.that motor was really made to run in a midget roundy round stuff. ive never heard of one making 500 hp though . 325 or so is the norm.i guess the hot ticket is to cut a pair of nascar v6 grand national heads and weld them up.and i think the reason they fadded out is all the crate motors from GM make lots of reliable power and are cheap

I heard a rumor (reliable) that the Scat out of Wayne's old Class 2 will be available for sale real soon

[HotRod82]

Last I heard, no one is currently making the blocks or cranks. They are cute, but waaay too pricey. Fortin was spending 22K just in parts alone, not worth it IMO. If you want 300 RELIABLE HP in a lightweight package, look no futher than a nearly STOCK Acura 3.0 V6.

[nimrod]

Thanks guys. Scat told me that they sold the rights and all the molds (Blocks and heads) to Arlen Ness. He is the Chopper (motorcycle) guy. I heard he plans to put them in Motorcycles. I contacted Ness and they were no help at all. Doesn't sound like they plan on developing the program. Since no one is making parts except for custom cranks from Scat the motor is slowly dying.

They sound like they are pretty incredible though. I found one on Alcohol and blown making right at 600 HP. this is the kicker, it weighed under 300 LBS.

[picone]

What is this for?

Call Adam Wik. I think he's got more Scat's offroad than anyone:
Wik's Racing Engines
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(714) 956-9457

[FABRICATOR]

It might be possible to mellow the V-4 out a bit with a new crank having offset throws, like most V-6's.

SCAT probably won't admit it but they were also messing around with aluminum V-8 SBC blocks many moons ago. I don't think any got out the door. They looked suspiciously like Milodon's.

[TUBETECK]

I know one thing though, when one of the motors goes by me in a race I dont hear it comming and buy the time I see it, its way out in front of me. Man are they fast.

[nimrod]

What is this for?


I found it during a goggle search. I believe the guy was from Reno and he was putting it in a sand buggy......I think he's gonna need a pilots liscense :D

[Moneypit]

Did you see the one in the classifieds? $7500, ad#7920

[Sandtazam]

I have a supercharged Scat V-4 for sale or trade if anyone is interested. I sold the car so it's just sitting, waiting for its next owner. =-)
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/21455929/352889071.jpg

[tcrperformance]

The biggest issue with the Scat V-4 is they are all used up and have been butchered, I would recommend you purchase one that is disassembled so you minimize the surprises. Keep in mind these things are old, require precision machine work and many components for the high out-put builds are no longer on anyones shelf. The Scat cyl. heads never made real good power, but cutting up a pair of 18 degree bow-ties with welding is not cheap. Cam bearings get beat up fast 1000 - 1500 miles and is their number 1 maintance item, make damn sure the cam is perfectly straight everytime you freashen it up. And like most common pin 4 cyl engines they can be hell on manual trans.

[Sandtazam]

My motor is one that the cam issue was resolved. This motor has the cut Edelbrock heads. If you notice in the left of the pic you can see the weld where they added material to the head. It also only has 1 dune trip on it so there should be plenty of life left on it. If I ever get a chance to build another car I'll keep that in mind though, thanks for the info. If it sells, it sells. If not, hopefully I can build another car.
http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2109/11908737/21455929/352889075.jpg

[07FJRog]

Last I heard, no one is currently making the blocks or cranks. They are cute, but waaay too pricey. Fortin was spending 22K just in parts alone, not worth it IMO. If you want 300 RELIABLE HP in a lightweight package, look no futher than a nearly STOCK Acura 3.0 V6.

the acura 3.5 can make 300 maybe, with some mods, the 3.0 does not even come close to that. benchmark performance in ramona does many many honda motors for offroad, and to the wheels the 2.4 accord put down the same 138hp as the 3.0. reliable yes, 300 hp, no way.