There are few components in a race engine that, given a free hand in terms of design and development, we wouldn’t choose to make a little lighter. However, there can also be few components in the engine where the effect of lightening is potentially more potent than the reciprocating parts of the valvetrain. In particular, ‘clean sheet’ engine designs allow us to fully optimise around well designed valvetrain components. Read more…
Archive for November, 2011
Empty heads?
Thursday, November 10th, 2011Valve springs can’t take Pro Stock revs
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Larry Morgan is the only driver in NHRA Pro Stock professional racing to have campaigned a Ford Mustang throughout the 2011 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season. Although he came close, he didn’t make the play-off Countdown to One.
He’s developed the Ford’s engine throughout last year and into this, and the major problem he’s had with his engine is valve springs. Like most Pro Stock entrants, Read more…
NASCAR and the gearbox of tomorrow
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
It is hard to imagine that a current-generation racecar, in a leading race series, owes its gearbox design to a unit that first appeared in a roadcar in 1957. However, this is the case in NASCAR Cup, where the only approved gearbox designs still have to resemble the venerable Borg Warner ST10, first used by General Motors in the 1950s. The external appearance is where the similarity ends though, with the internals, provided by a number of manufacturers, bringing the design right up to date. This article will look at some of the areas where Read more…
Anodising
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
The use of aluminium in race engines is widespread; where it is allowed, it is generally used for structural castings and is also widely used for machined components. Pistons are also generally made from aluminium, and most race pistons are forged.
Aluminium has a number of properties that make it an attractive material for use in race engines. For example, it has low density, and some alloys possess good specific Read more…
Keeping it together
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
What is the difference between a sealant and an adhesive? You may be thinking that this is a trick question, with a clever single-word rejoinder, but I can assure you that nothing is further from my thoughts. You see, when it comes down to it, the difference between a sealant and an adhesive can often be one of intent. The sealant is present to prevent the passage of a liquid (or gas), while the adhesive is more about mechanical strength and retention. Read more…
Tooling up
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
The technology of the piston ring is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Required to seal the gap between the piston and the cylinder wall, yet at the same time minimise the overall friction throughout the engine cycle at high temperatures and speeds of up to 4000 ft per second for long durations, if it works then don’t fix it.
Eventually, however, as engineers we will demand just that little bit extra - greater combustion pressures, Read more…
Rockers
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
The previous rockers article in RET-Monitor looked at the important matter of component stiffness; with the advent of the now widely used Spintron testing, engineers began to see the value of increased rocker stiffness when considering the ability of the valvetrain to remain under control.
The same reasons that pushed people along the development path of increased pushrod stiffness also led Read more…
XKR Jaguar pistons
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Tony Gentilozzi is the sole engine builder for RSR Jaguar, running the combined GT class in American Le Mans Series (ALMS) competition. He’s racing against other factory teams that have far more resources than he does and, in many instances, far more cars from which to learn.
The Jaguar XKR engine is a 5 litre of about 500 hp, using a pair of air restrictors (29.92 mm) that keep his useable Read more…
Optimisation of oil flow in a dry-sumped gearbox
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
In the rarefied atmosphere of Formula One, engineers are often given the resources to investigate engineering issues that would be beyond the scope of other racing organisations. With the regulations limiting engineering freedom to an extensive degree, teams will go to great lengths to gain any advantage.
One example of this is the development work undertaken by the now defunct Minardi team in the production of a Read more…
Tough stuff
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Dare I say it but a good cylinder block can be likened to a good husband or partner. For as much as it is desirable to have the best of all the qualities in a spouse, in the end the woman has to make the best of what she can get and adapt it to suit. In a good cylinder block it is desirable therefore to be strong, mechanically stiff with a high resistance to wear on the rubbing surfaces, resistant to corrosion and have excellent thermal conductivity. Furthermore it must have low density, low thermal expansion, good machinability, be easily cast Read more…
