wumpus
05-27-2009, 07:14 PM
LSx, but without the transmission. Just take the LSx and bolt the clutch to the differential (either rear mounted or mid-engine, take your pick).
Pros:
Massive V8 power.
Much less weight than nearly any other V8. Total weight (V8+differential vs. I4+transaxle) should be remarkably competitive.
Power should be more controllable. Back of envelope calculations put the force where the rubber meets the road similar to a K20A in second gear*
Difference is, once Mr. K20a changes gear, the horsepower just keeps building in a LSx. If this is believed to be too much power, a different differential can take care of that, and likely add a bit more top speed.
One less major part to install (this assumes a kit built to take such a set up, without one this becomes lost in the undertaking above).
Cons:
Engine mounts longitudinally . While this is normally a plus, cramming it in a standard exo is a stretch.
I really don't expect the clutch to "just bolt" to the differential. That part will also be painful.
Reverse is lost with the transmission. I suspect that kludging some sort of truck starter motor (possibly even to just one front wheel) is the answer, but would have to look up what a goldwing does.
Gears are there for a reason. Launching just won't happen, and don't expect to go more than 135mph (this may be a plus in many exos).
** this appears to be a bit of an exaggeration. I calculated a 02-05 si transmission to have twice the gearing as a 3.73 differential. Assuming a perfectly flat torque curve (for both) this puts the 400hp V8 equal to a 200hp I4 (at 67, in 2nd gear, with the same redline, oops...). Even so, it should be still comparable. Differential selection could be maddening (acceleration vs. top speed, top speed vs. acceleration...) if you are crazy enough to want to go faster (a 2.73 should match a Deronda's top gear, a 2.56 will see if you have the aerodynamics for 200).
Personally I think this works better on paper than it has any excuse to. I suspect that it isn't worth all the custom parts needed to fit the beast into any available exo, but still makes an interesting thought experiment. I suspect that the most feasible car to do this in is RCR's SLC, but between the cost and the weight, you are going to want a transmission on that car.
Pros:
Massive V8 power.
Much less weight than nearly any other V8. Total weight (V8+differential vs. I4+transaxle) should be remarkably competitive.
Power should be more controllable. Back of envelope calculations put the force where the rubber meets the road similar to a K20A in second gear*
Difference is, once Mr. K20a changes gear, the horsepower just keeps building in a LSx. If this is believed to be too much power, a different differential can take care of that, and likely add a bit more top speed.
One less major part to install (this assumes a kit built to take such a set up, without one this becomes lost in the undertaking above).
Cons:
Engine mounts longitudinally . While this is normally a plus, cramming it in a standard exo is a stretch.
I really don't expect the clutch to "just bolt" to the differential. That part will also be painful.
Reverse is lost with the transmission. I suspect that kludging some sort of truck starter motor (possibly even to just one front wheel) is the answer, but would have to look up what a goldwing does.
Gears are there for a reason. Launching just won't happen, and don't expect to go more than 135mph (this may be a plus in many exos).
** this appears to be a bit of an exaggeration. I calculated a 02-05 si transmission to have twice the gearing as a 3.73 differential. Assuming a perfectly flat torque curve (for both) this puts the 400hp V8 equal to a 200hp I4 (at 67, in 2nd gear, with the same redline, oops...). Even so, it should be still comparable. Differential selection could be maddening (acceleration vs. top speed, top speed vs. acceleration...) if you are crazy enough to want to go faster (a 2.73 should match a Deronda's top gear, a 2.56 will see if you have the aerodynamics for 200).
Personally I think this works better on paper than it has any excuse to. I suspect that it isn't worth all the custom parts needed to fit the beast into any available exo, but still makes an interesting thought experiment. I suspect that the most feasible car to do this in is RCR's SLC, but between the cost and the weight, you are going to want a transmission on that car.