Guest casgeroth Guests Posted 27/08/04 01:22 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 01:22 AM Hey all,Just to start off with, I'm pretty n00b when it comes to cars. I know what I like, I know how how to drive, I can do some basic maintenance, and I have a fair idea of how engines work, but anything beyond that and you've got me confused :lol: I'm reading and learning more all the time, especially with reading forums etc... so I'm getting there My query is this:Over the years I've noticed a few things when it comes to engines and formation in relation to performance. Generally if you want a powerful sedan, you'll pick the V8 over the V6. Simple.I've also noticed that there are a couple cars out there with inline (straight) 6 engines that have produced phenomenal amounts of power/performance both in stock form and with modifications. For example the XR6 and XR6T (obviously) and the skylines (R32/33/34 etc...).Now if you follow the same pattern of thought (8 cylinders being better than 6), would an inline 8 engine then deliver even greater levels of power/performance?I did a quick Google search to find out a bit about inline 8 engines and came across this page.Now if the inline 8 engine lost favour (as mentioned on the link provided) over 50 years ago, wouldn't todays advances technology be able to revive this style of engine and make something truly impressive?Does anyone know of any cars that are currently being built that use such an engine?Just asking your thoughts on the idea Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatV8 Artificially Aspirated Member 951 Member For: 21y 3m 20d Gender: Male Location: Brisbane Posted 27/08/04 01:29 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 01:29 AM I would think the main reason is the lenth of such an engine... I have seen some old cars here at shows with straight 8's and they are mega long... however, perhaps a long nosed GT tourer would fit a straight 8? Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158810 Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatV8 Artificially Aspirated Member 951 Member For: 21y 3m 20d Gender: Male Location: Brisbane Posted 27/08/04 01:45 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 01:45 AM Also in a kind of reversal... V seems to be the more popular formation. I would of thought a company would have made a V4 by now... Subaru is kinda there, the V fell flat though Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158817 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest casgeroth Guests Posted 27/08/04 01:50 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 01:50 AM It may sound funny, but with a V4, could you do something like VW did with the W16 (2 X V8's)? I.e. 2 X V4's...Would be interesting to see what could be done with that formation if you could get it to stay stable... Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158820 Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatV8 Artificially Aspirated Member 951 Member For: 21y 3m 20d Gender: Male Location: Brisbane Posted 27/08/04 01:52 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 01:52 AM I could be wrong, but I think VW did a W8 aswell as the W16... Or was it W12 and W16? I dont know! :( Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158821 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest casgeroth Guests Posted 27/08/04 02:01 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 02:01 AM After doing a bit of Google work it seems you're right on all 3 counts. W8, W12, and W16.Then again you've got the extreme of the Bugatti Veyron - W16 Quad-turbo... that's 1 turbo for every 4 cylinders.... *sigh*Anyway... back onto inline 8's... yeah, they would be a bit long, the sort of engine that would need a car to have the bonnet length of a Jaguar E-type However with todays tech, could you make them more compact yet still powerful? Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158825 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny Member 1,869 Member For: 21y 8m 25d Gender: Male Location: Newcastle Posted 27/08/04 02:57 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 02:57 AM Building an engine that produces good horse power is just like skinning a cat, there's more than one way to do it. I believe that the concept of going to a V formation was to have a better balanced engine, produce torque earlier and like eatv8 said to fit it into a smaller engine bay.The idea of Turbo charging I think was designed to be adapted to smaller capacity engines so they would produce the the same power figures but with better fuel economy. ie why GTR's are only 2.6 litreThe way it works is the more air/fuel mixture you can burn the more hp your gonna make. So I suppose the best combination for big hp is to have the largest cc engine you can fit in the engine bay and feed it with as much air as it can possibly swallow ie forced induction.This is probably about as best as I can explain it so if anyone else can help or if I've missed something out then please speak up. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158844 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo6man Lifetime Members 4,084 Member For: 22y 6m 21d Gender: Male Location: South Coast NSW Posted 27/08/04 03:01 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 03:01 AM The problem is SIZE.Too long, too heavy.The crankshaft is a real problem, so long it has to be mega heavy and strong to resist twist.The V8 has all the advantages of a straight eight without those problems - technology has advanced to V configuration engines from straight engines - it ain't gonna go back now! Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158845 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest casgeroth Guests Posted 27/08/04 03:24 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 03:24 AM Thanks for the input all, you have enlightened me Another question: Are there more types of formation other than the inline and 'V'?I've heard WRX's (and all Subaru's??) use 'Boxer' engines, but because of my limited knowledge of cars I have no idea what that means. All I know is it's 2.0L 4 cyl. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158853 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordboy1981 Donating Members 2,075 Member For: 22y 3m 13d Gender: Male Location: Sydney, NSW Posted 27/08/04 05:00 AM Share Posted 27/08/04 05:00 AM as everyone else has said; they're too long...the basic advantages of a in-line configuration over a V is the bottomend has more big-end bearings per cylinder, thus making it stronger (and of course more internal drag). in-line engines produce more torque per litre then any other configuration.Dave. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12551-inline-and-v-engines/#findComment-158880 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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