Drax240z Posted August 4, 2001 Share Posted August 4, 2001 As some of you know, I am invovled with my universities Formula SAE program. This is the first time our university has been involved with the competition, so we have a pretty steep learning curve to overcome. (not to mention a huge need for sponsers, but thats another story) To give you guys some idea, and also just for LCF (looks cool factor) of what we are up against, check this out. The University of Western Washington decided that for the 2001 FSAE competition that they would make their own V8!! This was the first time this was attempted for this competition. Now the rules specify no greater than 610cc, and that all gasoline powered vehicles must breathe through a 20mm (about 3/4") intake restrictor. Here are the specifics: Fully Stressed Member Configuration: Longitudinally Mounted Displacement: 554cc Valves: 32 Camshafts: 4 Chain Driven Crank: 180 Degree Machined In-House Connecting Rods: 7150 Aluminum Bore & Stroke: Top Secret Oiling System: 3 Stage Dry Sump Engine Management: Haltech Horsepower: Approximately 80HP Redline: 16,000 RPM Aluminum / Carbon Fiber / Kevlar Transaxle Integral 6-speed Sequential Gearbox Composite Drive Shaft Integrated Suspension Mounts Integrated Brakes Weight: 131lbs And finally some pictures: My first thoughts: "We have to compete against THAT?" Yup, read it and weep. The good news (for the rest of us): These guys were so zealous in making this engine that they didn't read the rules clearly enough. Every car must be able to start on its own power. Theirs couldn't, and as a result they scored 0 points in the autocross, endurance race and skidpad tests. Big OOPS! Just goes to show you that not much can stop a bunch of engineers once they get an idea in their heads. Hope you enjoyed this. [ August 03, 2001: Message edited by: Drax240z ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pparaska Posted August 4, 2001 Share Posted August 4, 2001 WOW! I bet those students didn't take ANY other courses that semester! Incredible. Seems like overkill to me though! Why not a 4 cyl? Is that a carbon fiber wrap on that transaxle, or is the entire case (except the bolting flanges) CF? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 4, 2001 Author Share Posted August 4, 2001 Pete I think the whole case is CF. They managed to get 90% of their peak torque available from 4000-16000rpm. WOW. Our car will be using a 4 cylinder, Suzuki GSXR 600cc. Nothing done on the engine yet, but I hope to get an SDS system for it. (I'd love to turbo it too, but I'm not sure I can convince everyone else) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 4, 2001 Share Posted August 4, 2001 Richard, Thanks for sharing those pictures. Man I had no idea the lengths some go in that competition. That is a fabulous engine they put together, to bad they didn't think about putting in starter mounts and a starter though... . Thats really neat, those cars have to be a absolute gas to drive. Kinda like Junkyard wars, but with alot more time, equipment and money... Your schools car should do well with the 600cc engine, they have HP up the butt as you no doubt know and should fire that little car down the track REAL good. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 4, 2001 Author Share Posted August 4, 2001 Well some of the performace numbers I've seen for these cars... 0-60mph under 4 seconds. Topspeed 125mph. Skidpad 1.1g. Generally you're looking at 60-70hp in a 500lb car. Some cars are as light as 380lbs! (all dry weights, no driver) Just imagine how fast these could (will.. hehe) be without the 20mm intake restrictor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 5, 2001 Share Posted August 5, 2001 So do you get to slide behind the wheel for a ride in it when its done? Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 5, 2001 Author Share Posted August 5, 2001 Hell yeah! I'm one of 5 or 6 core members on this project. I believe my job will be test driving mostly, due to the fact that I am by far the largest person we have, and if its gonna break, it'll break with me driving. Basically for the competition we need 4 drivers. We are going to hold tryouts, and the 4 fastest people will be driving, regardless of size, weight etc. We do have 2 people that have raced formula fords, so that should be a nice anchor. Also we are hoping to race this car in SCCA autocrosses in april before the competition. Should be a blast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavyZ Posted August 5, 2001 Share Posted August 5, 2001 Nothing like a Jixxer motor in a small vehicle. If you can turbo it, do it for the oooh & ahhh factor. That would be too cool! Not to mention fast... Have a great time Richard and enjoy the driving competition too. You'll kick some serious behind..or is that you'll seriously kick some behind? Whatever, have fun. Davy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MM_280Z Posted August 5, 2001 Share Posted August 5, 2001 How bout some nitrous too? Good way to get around the restrictor limitation, along with turbo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Purple240zt Posted August 5, 2001 Share Posted August 5, 2001 hey rich, where inline does the restrictor have to be. I would try forcing air THROUGH the restrictor rather then sucking if its allowed. Evan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 6, 2001 Author Share Posted August 6, 2001 Nitrous isn't allowed. Superchargers and turbo's are, but they still have to breathe throught the same intake restrictor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted August 6, 2001 Share Posted August 6, 2001 Wow, imagine the serious vaccuum on the other side of that restrictor with a nasty supercharger on it! I think I'd go super over turbo as the restriction would hurt the turbo more I think. I can just imagine the exhaust temps climbing as the turbo fought to suck air through the restrictor... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest zthang43 Posted November 8, 2001 Share Posted November 8, 2001 Yeah those FSAE cars are pretty trick. My team (Kettering University) had a 380 lb. car the last year I participated (2000 or '99, can't remember). The dyno showed about 40hp, but we were just using a carbeuretor (helped us win the cost competition). With the original 4 carbs on the Ninja 600R motor though, the dyno said 105 hp. 3.6 lbs/hp minus driver made a wicked fast autocrosser. We broke the shifter and overheated the motor though so we got disqualified during the endurance event. Doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy 77zt Posted November 8, 2001 Share Posted November 8, 2001 i have been reading about these cars for a few years -i like the power to weight ratio and handling.the sand rail guys sre building small cars with bike engines in them too.i am going to build a mini sand rail with an old suzuki 750 motor i have laying around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted November 8, 2001 Author Share Posted November 8, 2001 The restrictor needs to be between the throttle plate and engine, no exceptions. Yah, its not optimal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted November 8, 2001 Share Posted November 8, 2001 Check this page out, its Ron Champion's alloy Locost, its a inexpensive lotus 7 clone Ron developed and wrote a book about how to do it yourself, very cool. Very popular in england, he even has showrooms now in this country as well. This little guys projected weight was 300 kg, it uses a Honda Fireblade 1000 (euro spec, probably 120 hp or so maybe more) cycle engine and tranny and a all alloy spaceframe. The steel version goes closer to 6-700 kg and some V8's have even been fitted (probably weighed more, but I'm sure they were using the Rover/Buick/Pontiac/Olds aluminum V8).. How cool is that for autocross/hillclimb racing? http://www.ronchampion.com/alloy_chassis.htm Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennysgreen280zt Posted November 9, 2001 Share Posted November 9, 2001 i was lucky enough to get to see that motor apart at the PNW historics this year on the 4th of july. there is some very very trick machine work that goes on inside that block. when i was there they had one turbo and one that was NA. i was imprressed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted November 9, 2001 Author Share Posted November 9, 2001 Pretty neat stuff Lone! I read in a recent issue of racecar engineering about an ex lotus engineer that build a hillclimb car very similar to a FSAE car. Only he used a 1100cc engine and didn't have to deal with any intake restrictors. I believe the output was nearly 200hp, and the car weighed 208kg. FSAE cars see from 60-80hp even through that 20mm restrictor, and weight as little as 380lbs. Thats still wickedly fast! Potentially 4.75lb/hp... And people wonder why I cringe when they say 'nice go cart'. Ya, go kart with more power than your civic! Anyway, we plan on testing without restrictor, which should net use close to 120hp out of our 600cc GSXR... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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