Esslinger's EST Midget engine is 161ci, spins to 9,400 rpm, and makes 340 hp.
Can a sealed Midget engine compete with an open engine? Should it? The crew at Esslinger Engineering thinks so. They have taken it to the next level, proving that you can not only compete, but win with the EST sealed engine. And the kicker is, it puts out about 35 less horsepower than its open engine counterpart!
On a recent trip to Southern California we got to spend a little time at Esslinger's facility in South El Monte, California. We talked racing (mostly Midgets), toured the shop, and grabbed some lunch. When we asked what Esslinger had that was new and exciting, the company said, "We have a new sealed EFI Midget engine, but you probably aren't interested." Our ears instantly perked up when we heard EFI. When we asked how competitive it was, and Esslinger told us it has already won a few races, that sealed the deal for us (pun intended).
The Hardware
Esslinger's EST sealed EFI Midget engine is a 161ci four-cylinder. Fuel and spark are electronically controlled, and an Electromotive TECS system manages both. There is one fuel injector per cylinder, and a throttle position sensor (TPS) and a temperature sensor help keep the air/fuel mixture on point.
Beyond the induction, the engine starts with one of Esslinger's aluminum blocks. The cast unit is filled with a 4340 billet crankshaft, 4340 billet connecting rods, and a set of JE pistons. The short-block is topped with Esslinger's ARCA cylinder head, equipped with a spec camshaft (0.650/0.650 lift, 290 degrees of duration at 0.050). The ECU has a locked fuel map, 9,400-rpm rev limiter, and the engine is capable of 30-plus races before a rebuild is needed. Serialized seals are put on the oil pan, cam, and cylinder head.
The package cranks out a healthy 340 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. While you might be asking yourself how an engine with 30-35 less hp can compete, that's where the magic of EFI comes in. Although it's not necessarily magic, EFI certainly has some advantages, and the EST engine takes full advantage. The torque curve changes with EFI, and it's for the better. With torque number higher and coming on earlier, drivers can get off the corner quicker. This increase in exit torque equates to higher speeds down the straights. Throttle response is also dramatically increased in EFI application, which is part of the torque increase. The EFI systems uses 1/3 less fuel, and the methanol doesn't contaminate the oil.
The EST engine retails for $19,500, but you get much more than just a long-block. The EST comes equipped with KSE power steering/fuel pump, three-stage dry-sump pump, and heavy-duty aluminum water pump. Esslinger also includes an air filter, header, battery, and coils.
In The Wild
The timing for our stay in Cali worked out perfectly, as Ronnie Gardner was preparing his Midget (which is equipped with an Esslinger EST engine) for the Saturday night show at Bakersfield Speedway. Wanting to see it in action, we headed north to check it out. The staff at Bakersfield was very hospitable and welcomed us right in. The facilities are clean, and the racing was top notch.
The EST comes equipped with KSE power steering/fuel pump, three-stage dry-sump pump, and heavy-duty aluminum water pump.
It was hard to get a feel for just how competitive the EST was while the Midgets were out for warm-ups. The track was very wet, and the cars were rather spaced out, but once the heats started, it wasn't hard to see that the EST had no problem holding its own. Gardner started the feature in fourth and battled his way into second. On his way toward the front, the leader got a good advantage that Gardner wasn't able to make up in the short 30-lap feature. Gardner and the EST had a strong showing, finishing second, showing that a sealed EFI engine can run with the open engines.
