V8 Atom

[Egg Nog]

Look, I'm a huge LS1/LS2 fan, but there's no way it can be compared in this situation. The bike-engined V8 probably weighs half of what it does, and the 4-cylinder definitely weighs significantly less as well, even with the supercharger. Keep in mind that even a 50kg difference is huge in a car of this mass, especially considering how far back in the car that it's mounted.

It doesn't seem like that great of an idea to have the huge torque of an LS2 in an Atom. Save those engines for Porsche 944/Mazda RX-7 swaps.

[Slicks]

Look, I'm a huge LS1/LS2 fan, but there's no way it can be compared in this situation. The bike-engined V8 probably weighs half of what it does, and the 4-cylinder definitely weighs significantly less as well, even with the supercharger. Keep in mind that even a 50kg difference is huge in a car of this mass, especially considering how far back in the car that it's mounted.

It doesn't seem like that great of an idea to have the huge torque of an LS2 in an Atom. Save those engines for Porsche 944/Mazda RX-7 swaps.

Touche, but looking at the weights now, Honda's F20 is 350lbs(w/o the supercharger), the LS2 is only 40lbs heavier, which can be 'fixed' with some aftermarket headers.
Also now looking at dimensions, the LSx is just 4in longer, 7in taller, and 0.5in wider than the 2.8L V8, Im sure much less than anyone would expect.

[johnnyperl]

For information see www.dpcars.net, it's a customer's specific order, not an as yet officially available engine spec.

thanks, forgot that in the original post. thats what happens at 3:30am

[Quiggs]

Touche, but looking at the weights now, Honda's F20 is 350lbs(w/o the supercharger), the LS2 is only 40lbs heavier, which can be 'fixed' with some aftermarket headers.
Also now looking at dimensions, the LSx is just 4in longer, 7in taller, and 0.5in wider than the 2.8L V8, Im sure much less than anyone would expect.

And a blower, even a centrifugal, with all the extra plumbing and an intercooler (we're doing this the right way, right?) would add at least another 60 pounds.

And let's not start on that whole linear torque thing.

[Waugh-terfall]

Veyron. Eat your heart out

[092326001]

hey if the LS1 can fit in a Seven it can probably fit in this thing.

["Clevor" Angel]

I'm in love with this car!

[Egg Nog]

Touche, but looking at the weights now, Honda's F20 is 350lbs(w/o the supercharger), the LS2 is only 40lbs heavier, which can be 'fixed' with some aftermarket headers.
Also now looking at dimensions, the LSx is just 4in longer, 7in taller, and 0.5in wider than the 2.8L V8, Im sure much less than anyone would expect.

Not sure where you got those figures. The dressed mass of the engines are:

F20C: 148kg (326 pounds)
LS2: 201kg (443 pounds)

The LS2 is lightweight and amazing engine, but it's definitely not as light as the 4-cylinder. The addition of the supercharger will bring it closer, but it's still not going to be as light. My favorite would still be the LS2 because of it's massive power/torque/efficiency, but I'd still argue that it's not really suited for this type of car. All that extra torque would just translate into rubber particulates

Edit: I'm really not meaning to say that an LS2 Atom wouldn't be ridiculously awesome. It totally would be - in fact, someone should build one. Now. The fact that it doesn't make sense to overpower something doesn't detract from how wicked it is.

[Jack_Bauer]

I have a question about the LSx engines...

Do they ever get used in transverse layouts in cars? People are talking like it'll be compatible with the Atom no problem because of its compact size/weight, but the major issue would surely be trying to find a suitable transaxle to fit the engine. I'm no expert on these engines, but all the ones I've seen use longitudinal layouts, usually FR. Trying to find a compact transaxle that would fit under the LSx engine and inbetween the Atom's relatively narrow wheelbase, and that would also be able to handle the torque would surely put the skids on the plan, would it not?

Therein lies the advantage of the Honda motor Ariel already use - it comes with a very compact and super-slick 6-speed transaxle straight out of the box. And with this RST V8 it's not blessed with humongous torque so doesn't need a big heavy duty gearbox. I just think the whole LS engine thing would be a whole lot of engineering headaches for not a lot of benefit, really can't see the point of anyone trying it.

[Quiggs]

There's no such thing as too much horsepower.

[clutch-monkey]

Edit: I'm really not meaning to say that an LS2 Atom wouldn't be ridiculously awesome. It totally would be - in fact, someone should build one. Now. The fact that it doesn't make sense to overpower something doesn't detract from how wicked it is.

New Zealand will do it. hell, they made an Sti ATV and a 400hp exige for shits and giggles, they'll jump at a chance to do that.

[Egg Nog]

There's no such thing as too much horsepower.

OMG 3000hp VeyRoN

[Quiggs]

Bwahahahahahhahahahahhaha...

So much torque it twisted the chassis coming off the line.

[Slicks]

Not sure where you got those figures. The dressed mass of the engines are:

F20C: 148kg (326 pounds)
LS2: 201kg (443 pounds)

Bah, cant find the page now. It might have been weighed with fluids (although over 20lbs of fluids sounds a bit off...)
Here the LS1 weight:
http://www.sallee-chevrolet.com/fram...ckV8s/LS1.html
390lbs out of crate.
Another:
http://www.toy-jet.ls1fun.com/about.html
Heres what Ive found for the LS2:
http://www.vestav8.com/FAQ.htm
"
The weight of the LS2 engine out of the crate with the heavy GM exhaust headers removed is 348 lbs. "
I think its safe to assume that its around 390lbs like the LS1 (which is basically the same engine), theres no way 2 headers close to 100lbs.

but I'd still argue that it's not really suited for this type of car. All that extra torque would just translate into rubber particulates

Edit: I'm really not meaning to say that an LS2 Atom wouldn't be ridiculously awesome. It totally would be - in fact, someone should build one. Now. The fact that it doesn't make sense to overpower something doesn't detract from how wicked it is.

I do agree.

[Slicks]

I have a question about the LSx engines...

Do they ever get used in transverse layouts in cars? People are talking like it'll be compatible with the Atom no problem because of its compact size/weight, but the major issue would surely be trying to find a suitable transaxle to fit the engine. I'm no expert on these engines, but all the ones I've seen use longitudinal layouts, usually FR. Trying to find a compact transaxle that would fit under the LSx engine and inbetween the Atom's relatively narrow wheelbase, and that would also be able to handle the torque would surely put the skids on the plan, would it not?

Therein lies the advantage of the Honda motor Ariel already use - it comes with a very compact and super-slick 6-speed transaxle straight out of the box. And with this RST V8 it's not blessed with humongous torque so doesn't need a big heavy duty gearbox. I just think the whole LS engine thing would be a whole lot of engineering headaches for not a lot of benefit, really can't see the point of anyone trying it.

Its been done its just rare.
http://www.fiero.nl/cgi-bin/main.cgi
http://www.fastfieros.com/projects/tomkls1/tomkls1.htm
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/024804-34.html
http://public.fotki.com/8balls/car_stuff-1/ls1_fiero/