Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

I did a bit of reading yesterday- I didn't realise that the V8 is ~40lb lighter than the inline four.

Makes sense though, when you think of alluminium versus iron.

Would your current gearbox handle the power of a V8 though?

20B came in the Eunos Cosmo, never sold outside of Japan- the Kiwi's and convicts got them as second hand imports I think.

I don't know much at all about the Jap stuff- but thought that we got NA RX-7's as kosher imports, did we get the turbo varient also?

correct.

lots of 20B's floating around. even tweaked ones in rx7's, good for 800hp at wheels on pump fuel
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6291/rx76c.jpg

but fuck rotaries and apex seals shitting themselves every thousand k or two.

So small though- if Richie could get the whole engine behind the front axle line he'd have an awesome weight distribution.

I did a bit of reading yesterday- I didn't realise that the V8 is ~40lb lighter than the inline four.

Makes sense though, when you think of alluminium versus iron.

Would your current gearbox handle the power of a V8 though?

I think a lot of people convert to an LT77 or R380 out of a Sherpa, which is what Rover put in the RV8. Not sure what BL put in the BGT V8.
I have read one a Marina website that old rear wheel drive Nissan Bluebird axles have the same stud pattern, but better brakes and a really strong diff.

I don't see any benefits ove a v8

Probably are none, except it might come in cheaper. And will use a lot less fuel.

Sorry Niall- the fuel bit is bollocks.

A turbo four will be drinking more petrol than an NA 8.

My turbo five needs AFR's in the 12's to prevent det when in boost, and that's pretty standard.

So small though- if Richie could get the whole engine behind the front axle line he'd have an awesome weight distribution.

(i think) an mgb is pretty close to 50/50

I think a lot of people convert to an LT77 or R380 out of a Sherpa, which is what Rover put in the RV8. Not sure what BL put in the BGT V8.
I have read one a Marina website that old rear wheel drive Nissan Bluebird axles have the same stud pattern, but better brakes and a really strong diff.

the mgb gtv8 had the same box as the four, but if there is any more than the 135bhp it came out the box with, it's no good. the lt77 needs a small piece let into the top of the trans tunnel.

Probably are none, except it might come in cheaper. And will use a lot less fuel.

im not sure about either.

Getting the engine behind the front axel improves handling see bristol cars.

No, really? You don't say, that's amazing if it's true.

That mini is amazing...

That does not look nearly as bad as the BBC report said it was.

Will be interesting to see what happens to the car.

Is it a right off? I can't see much fire damage there, but they said they needed a fire engine and a hose, maybe it's all on the other side.

RE: 20B's. You can get hold of them here, plenty of grey imports around. A friend had one at school, he was pissed that the engine wasn't their race engine he thought he was buying...

Looks like panel damage to me:

Not the first time he's done it either.

That'll buff out.

Hahaha.

His having dinged it before rings a bell, didn't realise it was as serious as that though! Looks like an easy fix then..

In McLaren probably already turned up with a lorry before the police and had already worked out how to repair the best, probably almost done by now as well! ;)

I bet the onboard computer told McLaren that the car was on fire before good old Rowan even knew.

I think you have to plug it into a cellular modem for it to tell the factory "XXhelpXXonXXfireXX"

lol

Sorry Niall- the fuel bit is bollocks.

A turbo four will be drinking more petrol than an NA 8.

My turbo five needs AFR's in the 12's to prevent det when in boost, and that's pretty standard.

If you're comparing a 1980s twin OHC 4 valve engine with a 1960s pushrod V8. Its way more economical even with a turbo. These are stock figures for broadly similar size large hatchbacks with similar drag coefficients. I think the 800 is probably heavier than the SD1 but a tad more aerodynamic.

800 Vitesse Sport
197 BHP
177 Lb Ft
0-60 in 7.3 secs
Urban MPG 25.6
56mph MPG 47.5
75Mph MPG 38.0
Top speed 142MPH

SD1 Vitesse
190 BHP
220lb ft
Urban MPG 18.5
56mph MPG 37.7
75mph MPG 30.1
0-60 in 7.1 secs
Top speed 136MPH

Having said that, I'd go for the V8 myself. Its just lovely.

yeah for similar power outputs turbo's are generally more economical.

ie my Subaru Legacy 3ltr flat six gets low 20's and produces 245bhp, whereas the JDM Legacy 2.0ltr twinscroll turbo produces 280ish bhp and gets high 20's... they have exactly the same body (apart from intercooler scoop) and very similar weight

Looks like panel damage to me:

Complete factory rebuild on the insurance.

Every cloud...

yeah for similar power outputs turbo's are generally more economical.

ie my Subaru Legacy 3ltr flat six gets low 20's and produces 245bhp, whereas the JDM Legacy 2.0ltr twinscroll turbo produces 280ish bhp and gets high 20's... they have exactly the same body (apart from intercooler scoop) and very similar weight

Combined cycle though, innit.

If I pootle along at 3,600rpm in fifth with the wastegate open then I get 30-40 mpg.

A four litre V8 doing the same is going to burn more fuel at that rev/speed/load due to a bigger displacement.

However, the entire point almost of a forced induction engine is that when the engine is seeing 20psi above atmospheric and the injectors are dumping in enough fuel to maintain an AFR of around 12, then you are generating more power than the V8 and you are doing so by burning more fuel than the bigger engine could burn.

Of course, this comparison goes totally out of the window if it's a big block, or something high revving with an angry cam.

My combined cycle average (totally disregarding track/closed road use) is 22-24mpg, as long as a lot of that particular tank of fuel is spent on the motorway.

Complete factory rebuild on the insurance.

Every cloud...

He could take the opportunity to get a nicer colour.

AUDI 80

I hope this is yours. If so, kudos ! I love them !