5 replies to this topic

[peter kropotk]

Because it's an improbable "stumble upon" site, and because I was fascinated by the extreme engineering, I'm linking to the description of what must be the world's nastiest four-cylinder engine. Check the main bearings: http://www.turbomaga...a/photo_10.html

The text is here: http://www.turbomaga...egra/index.html

Be sure to click on each thumbnail, as the main photos also carry some tech info. I would love to hear a 4.8 Litre four-banger, blown on nitrous. Sadly the NHRA refused to recognize it as a funny car despite its engineering, because they felt its small size would give it an "unfair" aerodynamic advantage. Kudos to Bob Norwood for "bringing a sledgehammer to a fly-swatting contest" [sic]

[Stoatspeed]

Because it's an improbable "stumble upon" site, and because I was fascinated by the extreme engineering, I'm linking to the description of what must be the world's nastiest four-cylinder engine. Check the main bearings: http://www.turbomaga...a/photo_10.html

The text is here: http://www.turbomaga...egra/index.html

Be sure to click on each thumbnail, as the main photos also carry some tech info. I would love to hear a 4.8 Litre four-banger, blown on nitrous. Sadly the NHRA refused to recognize it as a funny car despite its engineering, because they felt its small size would give it an "unfair" aerodynamic advantage. Kudos to Bob Norwood for "bringing a sledgehammer to a fly-swatting contest" [sic]

I actually saw this car (and engine) in Norwood's shop many years back - the size of the turbos was the most striking thing ... the only larger ones I ever saw were on a 6000hp GE locomotive engine! I think the NHRA politics behind the car were pretty complex - as it was told to me, Norwood's team were proposing this type of car as a sort of junior Funny Car formula to cash in on the growing improt drag race movement and give a visual link to the front drive modified cars. The idea was to build cars with import-based body styles to run around 4000hp with a limit of 4 cylinders (possibly on pump gas + nitrous rather than fuel), leaving the established top fuel funny cars as the senior class with unlimited V8s on nitro with good 'ole American bodies.

Of interest to other TNFers is the yellow car in the background of this shot :
http://www.turbomaga...a/photo_16.html
... it's one of Bob Norwood's famous (infamous?) Ferrari P4 replicas. They were pretty nice cars, well built and tricky to tell from the real thing. He built them with a variety of engines including V8 Chevy and Ferrari, and some with recycled front engine Ferrari V12s. His feud with Ferrari over many years has been discussed at some length in the past, but he was always unrepentant, insisting that his mods were all "improvements" to Maranello's finest ... not a popular attitude with certain Italians! Nonetheless, his shop did good business repairing an upgrading a range of Italian exotica alongside the big projects like the drag car, the P4's and his Bonneville 308GTB. Only in TEXAS ....!

[Bloggsworth]

Brilliant lunacy! How long would it run before melting?

[Glengavel]

Dammit, I thought this was about a monster motor in a Mini...actually, I wonder if this would fit in a Mini? Be great at the traffic light grand prix...

[peter kropotk]

[quote name='Stoatspeed' date='Nov 2 2011, 10:02' post='5376276']
I actually saw this car (and engine) in Norwood's shop many years back - the size of the turbos was the most striking thing ... the only larger ones I ever saw were on a 6000hp GE locomotive engine!

Here's a massive pair of turbochargers on a "street legal" Mustang that I photographed at my local 1/8 strip:
http://www.oldstox.c.....20legal 1.jpg

(I hope that link opens, as I often have trouble linking my own site.)

[peter kropotk]

Dammit, I thought this was about a monster motor in a Mini...actually, I wonder if this would fit in a Mini? Be great at the traffic light grand prix...

There are several monster-engined Minis in the UK. One has a 434 cu.in. V-8 running on nitrous. This video shows two runs at Santa Pod, and some good still photos at the end. 141mph in 9.7 secs, with lots more to come!
http://www.youtube.c...feature=related