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New 2014 Lightweight 1.5 Liter or Smaller Automotive Engines

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Geek1945

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2013
Messages
144
Location
Erath County TX 76462
Visitor's to the USA might just find cars which are common in their home country. In fact to most older American's roller skates on steroids might be more appropriate.

Looking at the 2014 auto offerings there appears to be some likely candidate for conversion. In their effort to meet upcoming federal mileage mandates even Ford's 2014 F150, the largest selling vehicle in the US, has an aluminum body mated to 2013 6 cylinder Eco-Boost engines. It appears to this reader the US automakers are reading aviation's play book and cutting the fat in traditional Detroit Iron in favor of aluminum. Sorry riveter's bonding with adhesives will be used on the majority of aluminum joints.

Even the not-so-big Big Block Engines are shedding the cast iron in favor of lost foam aluminum castings so there might be some good candidates for aviation conversions in 200+HP especially from the insurance (totaled wrecks) pipeline. Best of all GDI engines are becoming 'standard equipment' since these engines are FADEC all related black boxes and wiring will need to be harvested to have a working engine. A on-board battery is required even if you want to hand prop start. Another change is electric motor driven water pumps in-addition to commonplace electric radiator fan(s) leaving alternator to be engine driven.

The Econoboxes 4 stroke engines 1.5L and less likely will be light enough to be pulled by one man without any hoist. These engines will come in 80Hp 3cylinder Fiat, Ford Fiesta, Dodge Dart at low end, up 130+Hp GM Ecotec in Sprint and Fords Eco-Boost in Escape. At retail prices in the $12 to 16K economical collision repair for any serious damage like rear end accident will total the vehicle.

Rotax might just have to revisit their pricelist since this new batch of 100HP engines will have price tags which aviation folks will appreciate especially in salvage condition. In fact even 40HP v-twins might seem overpriced since automakers produce vehiclea in 1000's reducing costs to minimum.

On the funny side many top end motorcycles, snowmobiles, and PWC will have advertised BHP numbers exceeding most cars. So saving gas money doesn't apply to recreational vehicle where HP numbers are bragging benchmarks. Ed
 
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