The Point

The point is not simply to build powerful engines or even cool engines. The point is to learn about what factors influence the various aspects of an engine's performance and to understand both how they influence each other and how to use these factors to make an engine do what I want.

There is no end to how much I could learn about this. Sometimes this makes it hard to dig in, because the deeper I dig the more things I discover that I don't really understand.


I started looking for an engine project wanting to experiment with really long connecting rods. Not only do longer connecting rods reduce how hard the piston is forced into the side of the cylinder, thus reducing friction and thereby increasing power output, but they keep the piston still longer at the top and bottom of the stroke. This means that the combustion chamber is more stable at the top of the power stroke. It also means that you can get better cylinder filling at the bottom of the intake stroke. This is not an exhaustive list but what little research I have done indicates that longer rods can help flatten out the power curve. My thinking was to take a 350 or 400 block, find the longest rods available for a SB and put in a crank with a short enough stroke to accommodate it. I think that an engine like this would be well suited to high RPMs.

However, the project that I have decided on is not one where I need to build a high revving engine. My goal is to build and engine with good low end torque, reliability, efficiency and flat torque curve.

So back to the point. I have been spending part of today learning about the Lotus Engineering Engine Simulation Program. I have heard that it is a good simulation program but you need to really know your stuff before you can get meaningful results from it. They have a free version that is, I believe, fully functional in all respects but limits you to one cylinder. You can get it get it here:

http://www.lesoft.co.uk/

Since I am mainly interested in the dynamics of engine performance right now it doesn't matter to me that it is only one cylinder.

I should mention that I heard about this program at Eng Tips a site for engineers. The automotive section is very interesting. The automotive section starts here:

http://www.eng-tips.com/threadcategory.cfm?lev2=6

I'm looking forward to getting this simulation program figured out. You won't get very far without the tutorial. This is a separate download and essential if you want to learn how to use it.

I am really curious about the effect of connecting rod length and on how heat absorption into the cylinder head and pistons affects engine performance and efficiency.

Shoot. This thread was supposed to be about David Vizard. I guess it will have to wait.

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