V4 configuration

[Swifty]

I'm thinking about designing my own V4 four stroke water cooled engine, I know that I can get plans already done, but I want the satisfaction of doing it myself.

I already have a couple of questions that multi cylinder builders may be able to help me with, first one, the front 2 pistons will share the same crankpin, and likewise the rear two, is 180deg apart the best way to go for the crankpins. Next question regards the firing order, there seems to be different methods, but would an even 180deg separation be ok, something like Left Front, Right Rear, Right Front, Left Rear.

Paul.

 

[Cogsy]

I'm not a multi-cylinder builder yet (but I plan to be) but I'm thinking your figures don't work out somehow.

If your 2 crankpins are 180 out, then left-front is TDC and you spin the crank 180 degrees, won't left-rear be at TDC, then 180 again brings left-front back to TDC? I'm having trouble visualising it all, but I can't see how you'd get them all split nice and even 180 unless it's horizontally opposed 4. I think with the V you're going to have staggered firing intervals if you only use 2 crank pins.

As it would happen, I'm preparing to start a V4 build of my own in the not too distant future, but definitely not from my own plans. I'll be watching yours eagerly.

 

[Swifty]

I've been sitting inside all day with a bad cold, that's why I've been thinking about a V4 project that I've been tossing around for while. I might have to do the proper thing and start sketching something up, there may very well be something wrong with my original thinking.

Paul.

Cogsy, yes, I think that you have got it, better check it out, means that it fires on the same side twice, then changes to the other side.

 

[Swifty]

I think that I have found the correct orientation, it's as Cogsy stated. Here is a video animation of it working. [ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8aas3t6nQ5g[/ame]

Paul.

 

[Art K]

Paul,
It sounds like you are aiming at a 90 degree I think, as in Ford V4 found in Saab 96. To the best of my knowledge they were a forklift engine. Basically they lobed off 2 cylinders on a V6. Just to throw another into the mix there was a narrow angle V4 that Lancia built. You could probably find a lot of info on line about the Ford V4 as base info.
Art

 

[gmac]

Paul;
A visualization to help you out....and a music lesson

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwEbwKBic6w[/ame]

Garry

 

[Swifty]

Garry, that was very interesting, I did some googling and they mentioned the different beats that give engines their distinctive sounds. Now I know why the old Ducati that I had and others can be recognised by their sound without being seen.

Paul.

 

[Art K]

Paul,
I can agree with that.

Now I know why the old Ducati that I had and others can be recognised by their sound without being seen.

Never had a Ducati but I recognize the sound just the same as a BMW flat twin airhead, I have an R90S.
Art

 

[krakkah]

check out my animation

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El5uLbj1QT8[/ame]

 

[Omnimill]

Paul,
It sounds like you are aiming at a 90 degree I think, as in Ford V4 found in Saab 96. To the best of my knowledge they were a forklift engine. Basically they lobed off 2 cylinders on a V6. Just to throw another into the mix there was a narrow angle V4 that Lancia built. You could probably find a lot of info on line about the Ford V4 as base info.
Art

I had a V4 in one of my Fords. It was the only engine that I worked on that had a balance shaft in it.
Interestingly, Ford Germany also produced a V4 but it ran in the opposite direction!

 

[Omnimill]

Lots of good info here:

http://www.carthrottle.com/obsolete-engines-101-the-mythical-v4/

 

[ShopShoe]

Slight OT

FYI the V4 used by SAAB came from Ford in Germany. They were made "left-handed" and "right-handed." It was an Industrial engine also used in forklifts, generators, and other applications. They were made in several different displacements.

Ford created a prototype Mustang using a V4, see:

http://www.supercars.net/cars/2409.html

--ShopShoe

 

[Cogsy]

I have played with the Ford 2.0L V4's and 3.0L V6's out of Capri's. The V4 is literally just the V6 with 2 cylinders chopped off and a balance shaft added. The V6 block even has casting 'blanks' where the balance shaft goes in the V4. I still have a V4 head in my shed as spares for my V6 as the valves, etc are identical.

 

[Omnimill]

FYI the V4 used by SAAB came from Ford in Germany.

Yes, it said that in the link

One of the guys I used to work with when I was a mechanic many years ago also used to replace knackered engines in NSU's with Ford V4's using a special bellhousing adaptor but that's another story.

 

[Hopefuldave]

I have played with the Ford 2.0L V4's and 3.0L V6's out of Capri's. The V4 is literally just the V6 with 2 cylinders chopped off and a balance shaft added. The V6 block even has casting 'blanks' where the balance shaft goes in the V4. I still have a V4 head in my shed as spares for my V6 as the valves, etc are identical.

Interesting - ever looked at a Vauxhall slant 4 (the 2.3 SOHC fitted to Victors and CF vans)?
On the upper side of the block there are 4 Big blanked off holes where it was meant to be a V8 until the 70s oil crisis came along! Lotus based their 4s And V8s around them, the 5-bearing cranks are close to indestructible....

're the V4, a scale Yamaha VMax could be fun, 4 cams, 16 valves, balance shaft....

 

[Omnimill]

Yes, I had a 2 litre slant 4 in my Vauxhall Victor FD! It was a bit if a pain changing the spark plugs.