[net.auto] Four valve heads

an@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN) (03/12/84)

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The new wave of performance is upon us folks.  No less than eight
European marques are working on 4 valve heads for existing or new
engines. They all feature very narrow included valve angles (a la
Cosworth). Last seen in "Automotive Engineering," Jan 84:

	- Jaguar: 4.2 liter (?) straight 6;
	- Audi: straight 5 for the Quattro;
	- VW (yeah!): 1.8 liter 4 banger for Scirocco GTI,
	  with (ta-daa) hydraulic tappets, but no mention of
	  Golf GTI (booh!);
	- Mercedes: straight four for the baby Benz, 4 valve
	  head done by Cosworth itself;
	- BMW: 3.5 liter straight six;
	- Saab: 2 liter 4 cylinder turbo (booh!);
	- Volvo: racing only (eegads, a wacing Volvo ?!);
	- Peugeot: ditto 1.7 liter.

Properly designed four valve engines can have the same peak hp as a
high strung, cammy, and generally balls out two valve designs (see
Euro-spec Golf GTI), but with gobs more midrange power (see Honda
Interceptor 750 V4 bike engine).

Are you listening Detroit ?!

	Au Nguyen

guy@rlgvax.UUCP (Guy Harris) (03/13/84)

> ...4 valve heads...
> 	- VW (yeah!): 1.8 liter 4 banger for Scirocco GTI,
> 	  with (ta-daa) hydraulic tappets, but no mention of
> 	  Golf GTI (booh!);

I believe a 16V version of the GTI is planned, but after the Scirocco.
Let's hope so - and hope it makes it over here!

> Properly designed four valve engines can have the same peak hp as a
> high strung, cammy, and generally balls out two valve designs (see
> Euro-spec Golf GTI), but with gobs more midrange power (see Honda
> Interceptor 750 V4 bike engine).

Actually, the 1.8 16V engine has, I believe, somewhere in the 130-140 HP
range, as opposed to the Euro-spec 1.8 injection engine which has 112 HP
(and which was designed to be less high-strung than the old 1.6 injection
engine, so as to give better economy and less noise).

	Guy Harris
	{seismo,ihnp4,allegra}!rlgvax!guy

emma@uw-june (Joe Pfeiffer) (03/13/84)

Yes, Detroit is listening.  Chrysler will have a four-valve head out
for their 4-banger sometime this year, available through Direct
Connection.  Actually, they have a lot of impressive pieces of hardware
coming out of Carrol Shelby in California.
-Joe P.

an@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN) (03/13/84)

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The original Euro-GTI has an injected 1.6 liter for which VW claims
120 hp and a top speed of 114 mph (banzai!), but that motor is
widely reputed to be VERY cammy, which seems to suit the German's
driving style just fine.  Compare that to the American GTI's 1.8 liter
and 90 bunnies_ooops_ponies.

The new 16V 1.8 is claimed to be good for 135 no_more_bunnies_this_time!

	Au "Hop_along" Nguyen