40 replies to this topic

[minigeff]

hi there,

anyone know what the smallest v6 or v8 used in a production car is? its just a curious thought, nothing more than that.

is there much point in having a small v6 or v8 anyway?

ta for your time,

minigeff

[NRoshier]

smallest capacity v8 was the Daimler 2.5lt V8....though it was not small in physical size.

[benrapp]

Fiat 8V, 1996cc. I'm sure there were smaller, too.

The original Lancia V6 was less than 1800cc, I think. Again, I'm sure there were smaller engines.

[Bill Sherwood]

Mitsubishi (apparently) made a 1.5 litre and 2.0 litre V6, with an iron block. I tentatively was after onea while ago, to make a cheap-arsed F1 turbo engine.

[NRoshier]

I think we need to clasify what 'production' is. The 8v was a pretty special car.

[blkirk]

Someone has compiled a list over at Wikipedia. Their answer to your question is:


Smallest V6 engine (gasoline) - 1,597 cc (97 cu in) - 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 6A1
Honorable mention: - 1,000 cc (61 cu in) - 1960s DKW F102 (a two-stroke V6) (about 100 produced for testing, 13 fitted to road cars)[1]
Smallest V6 engine (Diesel) - 2,496 cc (152 cu in) - 1996 Audi/VW 2.5 TDI (in multiple cars)
Largest V6 engine (gasoline) - 7,800 cc (476 cu in) - 1966 GMC 1000-3500 series 478E 60° V6
Largest V6 engine (Diesel automobiles) - 4,304 cc (263 cu in) - 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, Supreme Brougham, Calais GM LT6



Smallest road car V8 engine (gasoline) - 1,990 cc (121 cu in) - 1975 Ferrari 208 GT4
Honorable mention - 1,600cc (98 cu in) - 1998 Suzuki C2 (concept car)
Smallest V8 engine (Diesel) - 3,328 cc (203 cu in) - 2000 Audi A8 3.3 TDI
Largest V8 engine (gasoline) - 8,194 cc (500 cu in) - 1970 Cadillac Eldorado 500
Honorable mention: 12,782 cc (780 cu in) - 2006 Weineck Cobra 780 (limited edition tuner car)
Largest V8 engine (Diesel) - 7,275 cc (444 cu in) - 1997 Ford F250 Power Stroke


http://en.wikipedia....tives#V6_engine

[minigeff]

cool, thanks for your replies guys.

so if the smallest v6 was a 1.6 and the smallest v8 was a 2.0 ltr, is there actually any point?

just for curiousities sake, whats the advantage of having a 2.0l v8 as opposed to a 2.0l straight 4?

[scooperman]

I know, you asked about car engines, but I always thought the 1978 Laverda 1000 bike powerplant was a nice design. 1000cc V6 and over 150hp in race trim.


http://www.breganzan...6/v6eng_800.jpg

[OfficeLinebacker]

Originally posted by minigeff
cool, thanks for your replies guys.

so if the smallest v6 was a 1.6 and the smallest v8 was a 2.0 ltr, is there actually any point?

just for curiousities sake, whats the advantage of having a 2.0l v8 as opposed to a 2.0l straight 4?

smoother power delivery to the crank

[Fat Boy]

Originally posted by OfficeLinebacker


smoother power delivery to the crank

Much more important in terms of power is valve area and RPM potential.

Mazda made a small V-6 for a couple year in the mid-90's. I think it was about 2 liters.

[Allan Lupton]

Originally posted by minigeff

is there actually any point?

just for curiousities sake, whats the advantage of having a 2.0l v8 as opposed to a 2.0l straight 4?

A few pretty obvious advantages:
Better mechanical balance
Higher rpm for given stress levels therefore
More power for given stress levels
Lower c.g. relative to crankshaft

smoother power delivery (as mentioned above)

[minigeff]

cheers guys

i apologise for my lack of mechanical knowledge, but i'm always willing to learn.

cheers for your time.

minigeff

[Nathan]

Originally posted by Fat Boy


Much more important in terms of power is valve area and RPM potential.

Mazda made a small V-6 for a couple year in the mid-90's. I think it was about 2 liters.

1.8

[petefenelon]

Originally posted by Fat Boy


Much more important in terms of power is valve area and RPM potential.

Mazda made a small V-6 for a couple year in the mid-90's. I think it was about 2 liters.

1800, and I wonder if anyone put one into an MX-5 instead of the 'four'? Might've been interesting.

[rhm]

Originally posted by petefenelon


1800, and I wonder if anyone put one into an MX-5 instead of the 'four'? Might've been interesting.

Interesting, if a bit pointless. I mean the sound would be more pleasant with a V6, but there was nothing wrong with the old inline 4. Relatively unsophisticated as it was it still had a higher specific power output than the replacement engines in the 3rd generation mx5.

Now if they were going to put a 3 litre v6 and some fatter rear tyres on it, then we'd have something

[Fat Boy]

Originally posted by petefenelon


1800, and I wonder if anyone put one into an MX-5 instead of the 'four'? Might've been interesting.

Why stop at Chicago on your way to New York?

[Terry Walker]

It didn't go into production, but in the 50s Renault developed a tiny V8 based on the Renault 4cv/Dauphine engine. 1500cc.

[cheapracer]

The Mazda mentioned was a mass production engine, fwd.

The smallest V8 I know is the Drysdale 750cc bike that is in limited production in Australia - there is a 1000cc version now. It uses many components from Yamaha FZR 400cc bike engines.

http://home.mira.net/~iwd/

[Engineguy]

Originally posted by petefenelon

1800, and I wonder if anyone put one into an MX-5 instead of the 'four'? Might've been interesting.

Worth considering for the sound alone! A KLZE powered Miata...
http://videos.street...Miata_72908.htm

[desmo]

If we're getting into racing bikes there's always the Moto Guzzi V-8 at 500cc.

http://www.guzzi-day...es/usinemg5.jpg

[ray b]

the Moto Guzzi Grand Prix 500 cc V8 of the mid 50's


http://en.wikipedia...._Prix_500_cc_V8


oops looks like our fearless leader beat me to the Moto Guzzi

[phantom II]

You got this info from cheapracer's post, right? The smallest working V8 and other engines including round engines and V12s etc, are found in the Military Museum in Munich. The V8 may be about 6" long.

Originally posted by desmo
If we're getting into racing bikes there's always the Moto Guzzi V-8 at 500cc.

http://www.guzzi-day...es/usinemg5.jpg

[Ray Bell]

Somebody once built a bike with a scaled down DFV...

It was also 500cc.

[saudoso]

What about this 100cc B12 Just into the 3' mark

And this V12

[cheapracer]

Originally posted by desmo
If we're getting into racing bikes there's always the Moto Guzzi V-8 at 500cc.

http://www.guzzi-day...es/usinemg5.jpg

No the Drysdale can be used on the road.

[Cirrus]

Slightly O/T, but I saw the new Connaught recently - it has a 2 Litre V10. It makes a lovely sound

http://www.connaughtmotorco.com/

[sweetreid]

The with that mazda 1.8 v6 was in the mx-3. Sounded nice, miss mine:p

[Greg Locock]

Very slight thread drift, Neil just sent me Ludvigsen's V12 book, which has the Capra 1926 V12 with a capacity of 1.1 litres.

[minigeff]

nice!

i have seen a scale rolls royce merlin made by a guy called barry hares. its made from over 7000 parts, is perfectly in scale and operates in exactly the same way except for fact its only got one oil pump. its in 1:5 scale it think, and it runs and sounds like a merlin. its amazing.

thats a v12 with a displacement of 11.31 cu in!

http://www.enginehis...g/merlin_xx.htm

mental skills!

ta for now, minigeff

ps, don't think it would power a car though!

[J. Edlund]

Originally posted by minigeff
nice!

i have seen a scale rolls royce merlin made by a guy called barry hares. its made from over 7000 parts, is perfectly in scale and operates in exactly the same way except for fact its only got one oil pump. its in 1:5 scale it think, and it runs and sounds like a merlin. its amazing.

thats a v12 with a displacement of 11.31 cu in!

http://www.enginehis...g/merlin_xx.htm

mental skills!

ta for now, minigeff

ps, don't think it would power a car though!

I've seen a similar engine running, although I'm not certain to what scale that engine was built (the scale was based on the size of the gears he had availible). It was made by a former Saab engineer, and he had a lot of these small engines; Merlin, Miller-Offenhauser, Saab two stroke and lots of others. He was also making one for some boss at VAG I believe, don't remember what engine it was, could have been the Veyron engine, but I'n not sure.

He also pointed out that the Merlin supercharger wasn't functional due to scaling, and I would assume that's also the case for this engine. He didn't know how much power they produced, but the sound was very realistic.

[NRoshier]

model engines...well I have a .30 cu in 5cyl radial, plus a .12cu opposed twin, a 5cc diesel inline twin etc etc long history of such things in modelling: http://search.horizo...id=11C5F4C676A1

[scheivlak]

Originally posted by desmo
If we're getting into racing bikes there's always the Moto Guzzi V-8 at 500cc.

http://www.guzzi-day...es/usinemg5.jpg

And as far as 6 cylinders are concerned there was of course the mid-60s 250cc Honda six: http://www.vf750fd.c...ekaas/1966.html

[desmo]

And of course the Honda RC148, 5 cylinders with 125cc.

[Powersteer]

Mitsubishi had a 1.6 V6 and the smallest prodution car v8 that I have ever seen is the Dino 208 2+2 (sometime after the 246).

[jatwarks]

Originally posted by Ray Bell
Somebody once built a bike with a scaled down DFV...

It was also 500cc.

I remember Cosworth built a 500cc GP engine based on DFV components, but that was a parallel twin.

Jim.

[Powersteer]

Originally posted by jatwarks

I remember Cosworth built a 500cc GP engine based on DFV components, but that was a parallel twin.

Jim.

Or was that the bike that raced in AMA series? Parallel twin with the engine being a full stress member?

[McGuire]

http://www.moyermade.com/chevyV8.html

There have been quarter-scale versions, but to me this is far more impressive since it is 1:6, and is a more accurate replica to boot. Be sure to check out the videos.

[Mr Plug]

None of which engines are anywhere near as much fun as Simon Whitlock's 48-cylinder, 4.2 litre, two-stroke.........Kawasaki motorcycle!

[jatwarks]

Originally posted by Powersteer
Or was that the bike that raced in AMA series? Parallel twin with the engine being a full stress member?

I believe it was built for GP racing, but I don't think the backing was raised to go far beyond building a prototype, let alone to race it. I doubt that it would have been able to compete with the 2-strokes anyway.

I don't know its fate; it might well have ended up in the USA.

Jim.

[scooperman]

Originally posted by jatwarks

I remember Cosworth built a 500cc GP engine based on DFV components, but that was a parallel twin.

Jim.

Probably the engine they developed for Norton, for both a production bike and a race version. Neither version was a success.

[cheapracer]

Originally posted by jatwarks

I remember Cosworth built a 500cc GP engine based on DFV components, but that was a parallel twin.

Jim.

They did and it was a flop. They also built a lot more 750cc twins for a spec race series.

Although common for motorcycles, there is a not so common production 600cc 4 cyclinder car engine in China.