V6 Design/Tuning

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

OK then, what's the advantage of having 6 cylinders in a V-configuration as opposed to in-line, such as those found in BMW's?

And what tuning modifications will they respond best to? I know Chris has said that porting and polishing will yield good results, but is there anything else that can be done that works well with a V-configured engine?

The bloke stated in the ad for the engine I bought that the engine is 'even-fire' and could clear 200bhp from just an exhaust and a tweaked ECU (am a bit dubious on these claims!)

If not, how much work would be required to clear 200bhp, given that it runs 170bhp in standard form?

Mr Quoter-vator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 7405

well firstly i would say that the engine would have to be a mint example to actually be achieving 170hp in the first place....ie a rebuilt "as new" example.

i dunno much about the engine, but all engines can respond well to the right headwork. new headers and exhaust will obviously help the cause, but i suspect it will all have to be custom built as i imagine the tuning market for that engine is prolly non-existent.

there are many things you could do, all depends on how much time/money u want to put into it...

i quote madmax....

"speed is a question of money....how fast can you afford to go?"

Very Happy

Site Subscriber Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2281

Yeah fair point on the rebuild, obviously it's something I've thought about...

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

advantage its a lot shorter.

V6's are a very poor relation to a straight 6. A straight 6 is perfectly balanced thus very smooth, they can take big revs happily but then you have the issue of crank whip due to its length.

V6's can never be balanced properly thats why they are not very smooth, they also can't take revs like a straight 6 can. They are a lot shorter so fit into engine bays when mounted transversely easily.

getting the bottom end blanaced properly (thats the hard bit getting it done properly, outside of maclaren etc theres no one I would trust to get it right) will give a happier engine and release a few horses due to reduced stress.

The heads as always are the key to the job. The exhaust is also crap due to it being transverse, it has to go under the engine and join, longitudally can both go straight back.

The problem is the engine is rather primitive, so iots never gonna give power like a ohc or dohc lump would due to sheer crapiness.

200 should be achievable though.

Gay Rights Activist Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 1268

'V' type engines have more power strokes per revolution, therefore develope more torque