mcj804: The engine puts out 9.5 bhp, not 13. The 13 lbs cited in the story is the amount of boost from the supercharger. The article doesn't give the weight of the engine, so we can't compute the engine's power to weight ratio. The correct way to evaluate the power output is to say that its specific output is 1.56 bhp/cu.in. This is pretty good. Two of the highest output American V8 engines are those in the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 (1.86 bhp/cu.in.) and the 2013 Corvetter ZR1 (1.69 bhp/cu.in.). The V6 in the 2012 Honda Accord EX-L is rated at 1.28 bhp/cu.in.
I, too, am impressed. The challenges must have been incredible! It goes to show that things aren't always to simple as they might first appear. Just like when they were scaling down IC manufacturing, the smaller lines created all sorts of optical and delivery problems.
Too bad I didn't get to see it. I am always impressed by someone who does a really good job! Kudos to you and your team!
It is quite an accomplishment and praiseworthy indeed. However, developing 13hp is a far cry more down-sized than the 1/4 size scale of the engine. One would expect a great deal more than 130hp from a full-sized super-charged V8. It appears that the power-to weight ratio doesn't scale very well.
Kudos for overcoming the difficulties and achieving this amazing engine.
I have to agree with the general tone of most responses that this is an amazing engineering achievement. A supercharged V-8 is already loaded with engineering innovation. To shrink that down to 1/4 size, I'm sure Mr. Conley had to solve more problems than just this oil retention issue. With national mandates to improve passenger car mpg, this development may not seem quite so out of the mainstream a few years from now.
You're right, Dave. As far as the honing goes, the scale is the only new aspect. Conley discussed the honing of the cylinder liner because he highlighted the engine at the machine tool show.
Yeah, I'm computer/electrical engineering, so this might be well known and not innovative (although at one point it was innovative). Even so, I still think it's better to be excited than dismissive.
@Xjandin: I think nearly everyone agrees that a working V8 engine on this scale is an exciting development. But as for putting valleys on the cylinder liners, that's nothing new. Plateau honing has been around pretty much forever. It's not quite clear from the article what's new about the honing (other than the scale).
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