a show of raw power

[ydeardorff]

As many of us know, when you take a light car, make the engine extemely powerful, and then get the gearing right, you can make a neck snapping acceleration monster.
Yes, this is a lambo, yes this lambo has 1750hp, so nuff said there...
However, when you drop a very powerful engine into a hyperlight weight car like ours that is even lighter than this lambo, then lower the rotational mass of the engine components like with a lightened flywheel, power pulleys, low rotation mass wheels, and a great gearset to match, much of the same acceleration seen in this video will be plausible. Were not talking about bugatti veyron stuff here, but more 0-60 or 0-100mph stuff.

Anyway, this is my attempt to embed this into this post and see if it works.. it didnt, so heres the link:

https://vine.co/v/OAE70H19mae
This gallardo has a power to weight ratio of 1hp per 1.9lbs
A stock lamborghini Aventador has a ratio of 1hp per 4.96lbs
A sterling with a WRX STI engine in it has a ratio of 1hp per 6.6lbs
For comparison a honda civic has a ratio of 1hp per 20lbs

For the RX-7, and Subaru transplant people here, be ready for some jaw dropping if not scary results. For the RX-7 people, your engine already doesnt have any engine parts that change direction, so your already ahead of the game. This conservation of energy you save can turn a 13B or a 3 rotor 20A into a Ferrari munching monster.

most of this post is just for the eye candy of it, but if anyone wants more info post away!

If your into the math here ya go
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower

 

[CyCo]

That's why I'm more than happy with the moderate output of the older ea82t, a 1.8lt turbo. It's enough to make a WRX stand up and pay attention, but not enough to get completely crazy. Because remember people, the chassis under most of our cars is beyond classic, it's vintage. Complete with an archaic suspension/steering setup.

 

[ydeardorff]

Very true cyco,
Im hoping to get with a sand rail company and get a chassis built to fit under the body, and tie into the chassis. But many things have to get completed first.
The rear suspension is fine on the bug, in fact very similar suspension is still used by some porsche today (im told anyway).

The front suspension and flat box pan are really the weak links in this setup. However from a suspension transition point of view, yes the suspensions travel makes things even worse for cornering. Modern car suspension travels in an arc, not in a linear up and down path like the VW chassis components. This keeps the contact patch inline with the road with the degree of suspension compression in a corner and maintains traction as the suspension is compressed. The VW stuff doesnt. Comparitively the VW suspension makes the wheel almost lift one side of the tire. Think of it like lifting a cube onto one edge.

If your goal is hugging the corners and or road racing that involves lots of cornering, then the IFS systems should be considered. Though most of us wont go there, and for the daily driver routine the suspension is perfectly fine. Otherwise, realizing the limits of the chassis is important to not taking it too far.