I have had a good day! I tore down my engine - a Aurora engine from a Shelby Mk1 - the only little V8 DOHC that I know of from the great US of A and at £1400 brand new in a box - reasonably locost (well strictly £1150 over budget yes yes).

Just to see where it goes I stuck the short block in the tub - Now my back really hurts but I am happy....

now can I add a picture.....
Rescued attachment IMG_3005.JPG

looking good,

out of interested what are you building? Any pics of what its going to look like?

It has taken so long I forget....Actually its easy to say what it will look like because the outer panels are from Juno Racing - not their latest but the earlier model - check out their website.

My dogs dinner of a project started with that dammed book but then I got silly. I decided to build a track day car at some point along the way. Suspension is from a Lola Champ car apart from the inboard bits which are from my head...

The tub is aluminium honeycomb Please god let it not fold up at the first bend!

Tell us more about the engine, £1400 brand new? Sounds interesting

John

quote:

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Originally posted by Theshed
I tore down my engine

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The Aurora is a version of the 4.0L GM Northstar which is usually 4.6L and fitted to Oldsmobiles and Cadilacs. I discovered this engine because I randomly bought a bellhousing to use as a spacer and then got intrigued..

These engines are 32v 90degree V8 and are pretty sophisticated for an american engine. the 4.6 is about 300bhp and the Shelby version 320bhp but they will rev to 10,500 on a standard crank ( so I am told). There are the production version of the INDY Aurora engine.

Big advantage for toy use is that there is no water pump at the front. It is cam driven at the rear (cos these were fwd) and can be unbolted and thrown away. The front has great big boltholes making mounting to a flat sheet very easy (I hope).

A crate engine in the USA is about 2000 USD is you keep an eye on fleabay. Having said that I have a second one which I bought in the UK brand new for £600.

I intend to ditch the inlet manifold and replace with throttle bodies. Present best choice BMW M3 bodies (ebay permitting).

Good thing about these is that the bits are very reasonable valves are £5 and a gasket set £100. CNC machined con rods are £250 per set. They cannot be rebored or re-ground though.

There is only one tuner in the USA a guy who can make 700bhp with just a few turbos and things like that.

I imported this engine - shipping including collection from a domestic address was £350 and took 10 days. The taxman took a further £175 or so!

I think that these are an excellent hybrid between USA prices and Euro sophistication - I could not live with pushrods!

(sorry about "tore down" I was on a USA website - it must be catching....)

Wow - interesting project... must have missed posts by you before.

Where are you getting the low down working with your honeycomb panels eg bending, riveting and bonding. Looks like an interesting material to work with which I presum is quite expensive but very light and stiff.

James

The crash box at the front of the Rotor is made of aluminium honeycomb and it really is light and strong.
I can certainly believe that it would be expensive because if you look at a piece close up it's very finely constructed.

I suppose that aerospace is the original use.

The same stuff was used in the FVL single seaters and they certainly have a reputation for losing rigidity over time and needing to be replaced. Maybe that's why there are always so many used ones (planks) for sale.

Anyway, I'm rambling.

Interesting project.

I soooooo should have brought back some different engines when I lived out there. Couple of small blocks a few LS series and maybe one of these.

Grrr