Thread: Engine Design & Build

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Hello All!

I'm going to attempt to design and build my own engine! I'm sort of new at this but hopefully I can get hints from you all to help me. I've played around with building some small single cylinder engines just to get the idea going. Well, First of all my thoughts were to build either a 4 cylinder, a V6 or a V8 engine.

My second thought is that I want to keep the cylinder bore diameter between 2.0000" and 4.0000", but I have no idea about what stroke length to use, and I figured if I used one of the .2500" or .5000" steps between 2" and 4", I would have a nice engine. I also don't know how far apart to keep the cylinders. I also would like the engine to operate nicely and efficently when the car is at around 85 MPH, though normal speeds would be 55-65 MPH.. I would like the RPM Limit to somewhere around 7,000 RPM.

I also figured on this being a fuel injected engine. I will either use a GM or Bosch computer (was thinking about the Jetronic series from a donor vehicle), and whatever injectors will work out fine. For spark plugs, I thought of several common ones I could use. I'll put together a list of the ones I thought of, with specs along with the next post after I get a reply or two.

I figured on having flat lifters, and the 7.8" pushrods. The valves would be 1.9400" and 1.5000" diameter, all 16 of them. A flat bottom lifter 2.0000" long x 0.8410 dia. might work also. As for fueling this engine, I'm not sure what I will use, but mainly gasoline, though I'm not sure what octane rating would be best but I will have a look at whats available in this area. I figured on using a 4 speed manual transmission, similar to a saginaw.

As for belts, I figured on using either a Serpentine Belt or a high strength durable V-Belt, and they would supply power transmission to the various accessories, A/C, Alternator, etc.

That being said, I also see that from the reading and research I have done
so far, that 4 cylinder engines from 2.0L to 3.0L are popular, and V-8 engines from 300 to 400 cu. in. are popular. I have no idea about V6 engines.

Well with that said, are there any suggestions? Any other information I need or missed here?

Greg

As in build your own block and heads???? Why? The time and money invested in building it out of billet is absurd....or maybe you have a foundry in the back yard? So many good choices for an engine on the market today, guess I don't see any reason to try to reinvent the wheel.....

if you want a nice easy fuel efficient engine with decent power amount then i guess build a nissan KA24DE, very good 4cyl gets about 25mpg and can be built to put out about 250hp NA or around 400 turbo'd

if you plan on making your own block and heads.... well you're up the creek without a paddle my friend, and should be working on an F-1 team if have the no how to engineer from the block up

Hey Greg, still "designing" cars and parts huh?
You guys have forgotten about this dude... Read this thread from '06...
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24985
Have fun with your engine design Greg and try to narrow it down to a 4, 6 or 8 cylinder...
Cletus

WTF? I'm glad you are worrying about the spark plugs! Why not design and build your own CPU for the injectors? Shoot you might as well build the injectors too.

Seriously I think you should design and build a V16 using an unobtainium Z436 crank with warp drive coils.

Kitz

FIRST RULE:
Never drink from previously opened alcohol bottles that you find laying beside the road or in the dumpster!!

.............never mind......statement deleted...........

Tech, I gotta ask...on your masthead, it says "back in Phoenix, went to see the wizard" Did the wizard visit turn sour or did you just miss Phoenix? There must be a story here.......

mike in tucson

"back in Phoenix, went to see the wizard"

Hmmm - sounds like a reference to Timothy Leary's chemical experiments.

Originally Posted by MattGergeni

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Hey! Thanks for that, MattRegurGaghetti!
Right on topic and makes you look like an ass in your 1st post!
Geez... Some of you guys are dumber then a box of rocks...
Cletus

Greg, I think I must have missed your first effort on this subject a year ago, so my advice is that it is time to move on. If you want to build an engine why start with the first grain of iron or aluminum. Just go get a new Merlin short block and do your own thing with it. Definitely cheaper than your way and could be a whole lot better product when.... and IF, it was completed.


Oh yeah, and how about posting some pictures along the way just to show your progress.



Bob
____________________________
Places to go, People to annoy!

Originally Posted by robot

Tech, I gotta ask...on your masthead, it says "back in Phoenix, went to see the wizard" Did the wizard visit turn sour or did you just miss Phoenix? There must be a story here.......

mike in tucson

Mike, thanks for asking. You have two PM's.
Message too long for one.

That's very scary!

Too bad the pocket protector wasn't visible in the pic.