Appropriate Response
Your response to the unhappy reader (Driving Emotion)
was well done and very appropriate. Good stuff. Keep up the hard work.
Michael South
Australia
Loves the Strange Articles
Re Driving Emotion...
I just wanted to say I couldn't agree with the person who emailed you. Keep up
the strange articles involving LEDs, etc. Also, how about an article on engine
rebuilding and the options involved?
Andrew Lamb
Australia
Disappointed There’s No Diesel
Re Car Crazies, Part 1...
I was a little disappointed that you decided against a common rail diesel car to
purchase for modifications. With the current trend of diesel engines in
passenger cars and with fuel efficiency priorities in the market, this car - and
possible modifications - would have made very interesting reading. A
turbocharged diesel motor with a small intercooler sounds like a good base for
performance improvements while maintaining very good economy and drivability. I
am hoping you will continue to be in front of local car modification and maybe
include some articles on modifications of turbo diesels and associated benefits
and negatives compared to their petrol counterparts.
Nick Pannell
Australia
Smart Stuff?
Have you any plans to do an article on a Smart
car? There are several models including a limited edition Brabus V6 Biturbo...
Edward Kelly
United Kingdom
We’ll see if we can source a Smart for testing.
Missing Toyota Engine Info
Re The Toyota R and T-series Engine Guide...
I was disappointed by this article as it did not mention the 4T-GTE or the 16
valve racing versions - 151E, 152E and the ultimate 503E. I also believe there
should have been more information on development, links with Yamaha and to
highlight that TRD supply performance parts. One of the most attractive facets
of these engines is the thick sidewalls which lend themselves to oversize
rebores of up to 5mm. There also was no mention that, in the ‘70s and early
‘80s, Toyotas powered by these engines either won or led their classes at
Bathurst and other racing/rally events.
Ray Romano
Australia
DPA Possibility?
I wonder if the Digital Pulse Adjuster (DPA) could
be applied to alter the ignition advance in multi channel set-ups
(distributor-less, waste spark and coil-on-plug)? Is there a detailed spec sheet
available?
Tom Wang
Taiwan
No, the DPA can’t be used in that particular
application. Full details of the kit can be found in the book..(Book Review - Performance Electronics for Cars)
Rubbery Flywheel Power Figures #1
I have noticed in a few of your stories (False Advertising HSV being
the latest) you are using a percentage of drivetrain loss to back-calculate
engine power from power at the wheels. In this case, 330kW at the wheels
translating to 500kW at the flywheel. It is my belief that if the car lost 80kW
through the drivetrain in stock form, it will lose pretty much the same or
maybe slightly higher when engine power is cranked up. It's the same drivetrain
with maybe a little more clutch slippage from the extra torque. Where is that
extra 90kW of drive train loss going? Figures I saw posted on SAU years ago
showed Nissan Skylines lost 65-70kW through the drivetrain, as long as the
clutch held, when engine and chassis dynos where compared - regardless of the
engine power. Perhaps you could do an article on this with some figures from
workshops that have run engines on chassis and engine dynos? As you have pointed
out before, ‘facts’ posted on internet forums aren't worth the paper they are
printed on... Keep up the good work AutoSpeed.
Gavin MacLean
Australia
Rubbery Flywheel Power Figures #2
I was checking out your latest feature car - False Advertising HSV-
with its rather serious RWKW figures. I recently read an interesting article
discussing percentage transmission losses and, hence, flywheel vs rear wheel
power. It seems from this article that 15-17 percent losses would seem
appropriate for the six-speed HSV, hence 330RWKW would equal 398kW at flywheel
(using a 17 percent loss figure). So, for me, I couldn't see how to reach the
500kW figure quoted. Check out the article at www.pumaracing.co.uk I
thought this site had some interesting articles that might appeal to AutoSpeed
type readers.
Simon Nieper
New Zealand
As you’re probably aware, there are many
factors that determine the relationship between the at the wheels and at the
flywheel output of a given vehicle. There is no ‘correct’ formula – at best, all
we can do is give approximations. That’s why, in circumstances such as vehicle
you mention, we quote only an approximate flywheel figure along with the
proven at the wheels power figure. Unfortunately, true back-to-back engine and
dyno figures are very difficult to come by – at minimum, most engines are engine
dyno’d using a different exhaust and intercooler (where fitted) compared to
what’s used in the car.
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