<VV> 68 Vette, C.Jordan, Astro I and Opel GT's.

[jvhroberts at aol.com]

The friction thing is neat in principle, but the data say horizontally 
opposed engines have no less bearing friction than V or inline engines. 
The journals are hydro dynamically lubricated, and most of the friction 
is in the form of viscous drag. There is no metal to metal loading in a 
properly lubricated crank bearing.

Flat engines in formula racing seem to come and go. Width usually isn't 
an issue with some of these pancake cars, but the engine needs to be a 
bit higher in the chassis compared to V engines because of header 
clearance, etc., as there's a lot more stuff below the crank centerline 
than with inline or V engines. Now, they could shoot the exhaust 
between the cams, or shoot the intakes between the cams and have the 
exhaust come out on top, both have been done experimentally with good 
effect.

Ferrari was never interested in the Indy formula. And few, if any, of 
the Ferrari engines were close enough in displacement and other specs 
to compete. Indy has some strange engine rules compared to other 
classes!

Anyway... just some thoughts!

John Roberts

-----Original Message-----
From: moonpie8n at comcast.net
To: jvhroberts at aol.com
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org; dougmackintosh at yahoo.com; 
virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org; dnoneal at bellsouth.net; 
ricebugg at mtco.com; rodneyspooner at corvairgarage.com
Sent: Wed, Dec 15, 2010 2:39 pm
Subject: Re: <VV> 68 Vette,  C.Jordan, Astro I and Opel GT's.


  The  flat  motors  wouldn't  work  at  INDY  either. They  would 
 have  to  make  the  cars  wider  which  screwed  up  the "AERO" 
 package. Even  though  the  180  motor  has  some  real  advantages, 
.... Since  it  has  equal  thrust  on  the  crankshaft  from  each 
 side [not  down  on  a  45  dgree  angle], ...,friction  can  be 
 reduced.  That' s  why  you  never  saw  one  of  "Enzo's"  engines 
 at  "Indy". They  were  obviously  powerful  enough  [kick  butt  in 
 Formula "1"].....
  Bob  Isaac
  Moonpie  Racing
----- Original Message -----
From: jvhroberts at aol.com
To: moonpie8n at comcast.net, rodneyspooner at corvairgarage.com
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org, dougmackintosh at yahoo.com, 
virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org, dnoneal at bellsouth.net, 
ricebugg at mtco.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 9:41:33 AM
Subject: Re: <VV> 68 Vette,  C.Jordan, Astro I and Opel GT's.

Well, apparently Subaru agrees! Although the Alfasud, Lancia, and
Citroen used them as well.

The issue for the Corvair is it needed an entirely new engine. A flat 8
would've been too long, but it sure could've used better cooling, a
more robust bottom end, etc. The clearance problem could've been solved
with the cam above the crank ala aircraft engines, although that may
have made the engine a bit too tall topside.
A 3.5L or so flat 6 with decent breathing and cooling would've made all
the difference. Being considerably lighter than the Camaro, 8 cylinders
probably wouldn't be necessary. Alas, GM was seriously doing things on
the cheap, and deviating significantly from the 1960 engine and
transaxle design just wasn't in the cards.  By 1970, the innovation of
the 60s for GM was completely over. The only notable success that
continues to today is FWD via the Toronado, although today it lives on
under other names. But by 1970, OHC engines, aluminum engines (the Vega
was done on the cheap, with the predictable result) air cooling, fully
independent suspensions (yes, the Corvette kept it, only because it had
to), and on and on, were all over. GM was squarely in the cast iron
engine, front engine/rear drive business, with anything different from
that being a distraction unless it made money.

Flat engines still aren't crazy popular. For F/R cars, they're so wide
they interfere with the front suspension. For rear engine cars, it
seems it's all that used, with other designs being the exceptions.
Obviously, lots of mid engine cars use them, but there's also lots of
inline and V engines too. For F/F cars, well, the world seems to love
transverse engines, and that is clearly not well suited for flat
engines!

Also, flat 4s cost a bit more to make than inline 4s, and if you'll
notice, Subarus aren't exactly entry level cars!

So, yes, a better Corvair was certainly possible, but its parent was
the wrong company to do anything new with it.

John Roberts

-----Original Message-----
From: moonpie8n at comcast.net
To: rodneyspooner at corvairgarage.com
Cc: Virtual Vairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>; Doug Mackintosh
<dougmackintosh at yahoo.com>; virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org; David
O'Neal <dnoneal at bellsouth.net>; ricebugg at mtco.com
Sent: Wed, Dec 15, 2010 9:24 am
Subject: Re: <VV> 68 Vette,  C.Jordan, Astro I and Opel GT's.


10-4 Rodney , .... Porsche and Ferrari did ok withe 180 degree "V"
motor for
decades
----- Original Message -----
From: rodneyspooner at corvairgarage.com
To: moonpie8n at comcast.net, virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org, "David
O'Neal"
<dnoneal at bellsouth.net>
Cc: "Virtual Vairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>, "Doug Mackintosh"
<dougmackintosh at yahoo.com>, ricebugg at mtco.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 4:17:05 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> 68 Vette, C.Jordan, Astro I and Opel GT's.


Moonpie8n wrote: "I think the Corvair was run off the road by GM'S own
cars."

Sure. But the Corvair WAS Chevy's future platform. Just look at the
concept cars
it inspired (including electric.) The Corvair could have been so much
more if
R&D funds hadn't been pirated away for the Camaro.

What could Corvair have been if it only had a bit more distance between
the cam
and crank for more stroke, bigger bore, plus 2 more cylinders?

I for one believe it could have corralled the Mustang.

No one can ever convince me that a horizontally opposed engine isn't
the best
engine design with one of its biggest advantages being its lower center
of
gravity.

Rodney

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
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