MavericK040 said...


I really cant be bothered with an internet argument about engine technology, but you couldn't be more wrong. hardly a "best advancement" all it was is a rudimentary form of electronic spark retard and advance, to call that the best advancement in automotive engine control technology is madness!

I can't be bothered with an arguement either.
I am 62 and you are 22. I'll concede. You obviously know more than I.

Old School or New School ?

With the greatest vehicle ever built you can admire both at the same time

Mark _australia said...
As much as I disagreed with Cisco he has a point. Reminiscing with a mate today, reminded of him running a 253 with no cooling system for about 5hrs in the garage, block was glowing dull red but it kept going. Shut it off and no way would it crank, it was seized. But when running it was running. Try that with modern motors with fine tolerances.

Funnily enough Mark, you can try that with a new Falcon six cylinder, and see how it goes. Try yours, not mine though.

They are designed with a system where they can keep going with no coolant, by alternating cylinders with no fuel or ignition, and keeping the engine cool. Sure, it won't glow red, and it will run fine afterwards, so you can't quite replicate the 253 experience It will also handle running with no coolant, under load, unlike the 253.

That's pretty good technology.

Or the newer Commodore motors. Overheating, so wanna rip out the thermostat? Nup. In every front engined car ever it has been top front (at the end of the top radiator hose). Noooo, now it is buried near the firewall and is a 4hr job, not a 15min job. Bad move for a hot country where a sticky thermostat could make you motionless halfway cross the nullabor. Cos a $10 part is inaccessable

Yeah, I think this comes from sourcing motors from FWD cars in the states. The VN commodore was the same.

Auto gearboxes? All computer controlled now and a nightmare for home rebuild. (Impossible)

Its not that bad. The gearboxes are similar, its just the control is done using solenoids using the ECU. You can still rebuild them.

Computer controlled interiors and dash (all linked in) is a nightmare - can't remove a globe without buggering the speedo, or a horn fuse without turning off brake lights and all that jazz. I have see a factory trained mechanic spend 6hrs tracing why a light would not work and had no idea. Days gone by, 10mins for a auto sparky with 100% success rate.

I think like always, this comes down to the particular mechanic and how good they are.

Ian K said...
if you're going to do internal combustion you can't beat pistons and crankshafts turbines.

Modern kero burners leave pistons coughing in the dust. Price is their problem.

dinsdale said...

Ian K said...
if you're going to do internal combustion you can't beat pistons and crankshafts turbines.

Modern kero burners leave pistons coughing in the dust. Price is their problem.

Are turbines classed as internal combustion engines? Pretty noisy too I suppose.

Turns out they are but also called "continuous combustion" engines. Internal combustion normally refers to 2 strokes and 4 strokes.

Interesting point, so I went off and googled it. Looks like modern direct injection petrol engines can get up to 35% efficient, direct injection diesels up to 40%. Industrial gas turbines in combination with further power extraction devices on the hot exhaust up to 60%. Hard to get a straight answer on the figure in applications such as helicopters. The internet did say that because the efficiency dropped off sharply with revs, part-power applications weren't good. They tried them in buses, they ran very smoothly but the oil crisis stopped the project, in favour of more the efficient ( for stop/start auto applications ) 4 stroke engines.

Maybe mini turbines running flat out at 500,000 rpm would be the most efficient way to use kerosene to charge the batteries in the new hybrids?

Ian K said...

dinsdale said...

Ian K said...
if you're going to do internal combustion you can't beat pistons and crankshafts turbines.

Modern kero burners leave pistons coughing in the dust. Price is their problem.

Are turbines classed as internal combustion engines? Pretty noisy too I suppose.

Turns out they are but also called "continuous combustion" engines. Internal combustion normally refers to 2 strokes and 4 strokes.

Interesting point, so I went off and googled it. Looks like modern direct injection petrol engines can get up to 35% efficient, direct injection diesels up to 40%. Industrial gas turbines in combination with further power extraction devices on the hot exhaust up to 60%. Hard to get a straight answer on the figure in applications such as helicopters. The internet did say that because the efficiency dropped off sharply with revs, part-power applications weren't good. They tried them in buses, they ran very smoothly but the oil crisis stopped the project, in favour of more the efficient ( for stop/start auto applications ) 4 stroke engines.

Maybe mini turbines running flat out at 500,000 rpm would be the most efficient way to use kerosene to charge the batteries in the new hybrids?

They are classed as internal combustion because combustion process takes place within the engine not externally ala steam engine.

Yeah they are inefficient at mid and low rpm which is why I suggested coupling it to a generator or something. Generators only need to be spun at one constant rpm which is a turbines most efficient state. yeah they are noisy, but I'm sure some efficient muffler system could sort that out.

Remove the horrible rear spoiler and change the rim's and they are an unbelievable car with classic looks. Certainly ahead of its time.

Bulletproof drivetrain, an engine that has to be a top 5 production engine (not hypercar stuff) and maybe the last of the toyo's to have some passion behind it.

Nissan creates a new GTR that is mind boggling yet Toyo creates the '86. WUT

At least FPV have got the drivetrains and FI engines right.

MDSXR6T said...
Nissan creates a new GTR that is mind boggling yet Toyo creates the '86. WUT

One is $195,000 and the other is $35,000 with all the extras included. Not really comparable.

The 86 is a great thing. Not as wonderful as the car mags would have you believe, but still amazing value for money. To my mind they finally de-hairdressered the celica and made it for men instead of women, made it RWD and enough power to be fun (with plenty more if you want to throw another 10k at it).

I am not fussed when it comes to cars, but I wouldn't mind a test drive in one of these......

New economies on an old concept...

These were some of the amazing cars at the final of the Louis Vuitton Classic Car competition outside of Monte Carlo. All were stunning. I like my black iLoad with alloys but not quite the same!





This was the winning car:

This is my actual car the first day I registered it.


It's currently in the mechanics yard getting a new gearbox to handle the power of the 8K engine I had built. Over the years it's evolved. The most recent photo.


I prefer old school.
Safety regulations from the the 70's on, determined a lot of the styling manufacturers did. There are some new cars I find very sexy, like the Veyron. Though someone on the net drew up what a 50's version might look like.

Yeah, now just waiting for someone to build it.
It took me a while to notice it's based on a VW beetle so it's totally doable!

Can't believe the HT Monaro is yet to make an appearance here yet. My dream car without a doubt.

^^^^ but not with those inappropriate wheels surely? Classics need to be on period correct wheels and tyres to look good. Needs sidewall.