tilopa
Well-Known Member
What are some of the concerns, issues, pitfalls with taking an off the shelf auto engine and cutting it in half? It's apparently a fairly straightforward process with the VW air-cooled engine, would it be so with other engines, or is there something about the VW that makes it easier to do? The engine I'm considering is an inline-4 liquid-cooled. Is this simple enough that your basic machine shop/engine re-builder could do?
Also, would the engine specs change proportionally? For example if the complete engine had a peak power of 100 HP at 6000 rpm and torque of 100 lb-ft at 3000 rpm would the half version be essentially 50 HP at 6000 rpm and 50 lb-ft at 3000 rpm? I guess with 2 cylinders there would be a power-stroke only 2 cycles of the 4 so perhaps a bigger flywheel/damper would be needed? What about timing issues?
Also, would the engine specs change proportionally? For example if the complete engine had a peak power of 100 HP at 6000 rpm and torque of 100 lb-ft at 3000 rpm would the half version be essentially 50 HP at 6000 rpm and 50 lb-ft at 3000 rpm? I guess with 2 cylinders there would be a power-stroke only 2 cycles of the 4 so perhaps a bigger flywheel/damper would be needed? What about timing issues?
