'05 rule idea

[nsxr]

why run a turbo 4 motor it workrd for f1 in the past maybe have run say 750-1000hp with a 45cm inlet restrictor with a single turbo maker for all manufactors the idea of control parts say gearboxes electronics and other minor yet pricy items oh with the smaller motor maybe it could be good for the safety they could put the driver futher back in the car? just a thought

[Lee Janotta]

Most of the turbo engines in F1 were V6s or V8s.

A stock-block straight four is barely smaller than a purebred CART V8.

Thanks for contributing, though... It's always good to get more people in on the discussion.

BTW, _please_ try to use some punctuation...

[racer69]

I'm not sure that many of the turbo's used in F1 were V8s, maybe the Alfa Romeo one?

The BMW turbo was a 4 cylinder.

[SteveA]

A V4 engine would be shorter than a V8!

[Lee Janotta]

Uhm... Nobody makes a V4, except maybe for motorcycles.

Subaru alone makes a flat-four. All others are inline.

In F1, during the turbo era, Honda, Porsche, Ferrari, Ford, Motori Moderni, and Renault used V6s, so yeah, I stand corrected, no V8s that I could find evidence of.

Hart and BMW used 4-cylinders (The Megatron was simply a BMW re-branded once BMW had halted their factory involvement).

[alfasud]

Originally posted by Lee Janotta
Uhm... Nobody makes a V4, except maybe for motorcycles.

Lancia used a narrow angle V4 in some of their cars until FIAT took over the company. Also Ford and Saab in the 1960's(?), but I don't think there are currently any V4 cars being made:
http://www.fulvia.nl/pages/enginec.htm

Subaru alone makes a flat-four. All others are inline.

Currently you might be right. Lancia (Gamma etc), VW, Porsche (914 etc), Alfa Romeo (Alfasud/33/145/146) have all used this configuration in the past (1990's for Alfa Romeo).

In F1, during the turbo era, Honda, Porsche, Ferrari, Ford, Motori Moderni, and Renault used V6s, so yeah, I stand corrected, no V8s that I could find evidence of.[/B]

Alfa Romeo 182T, 183T etc used 1.5 L V8 Turbo. Best result was a couple of second places for de Cesaris. I think Osella also used the same engine.
http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/con-alfa.html
http://www.bnw4u.de/~wernheye/Deutsch/AlfaF1.html

Alfa were also working on a in-line 4 (had running prototype) at the time of the FIAT takeover, but FIAT wanted only one of their car companies (Ferrari) in F1, so the project was canned.

Agree about V8 not being much larger than an in-line four. For the same capacity the smaller bores would mean a shorter cylinder head and shorter stroke should mean a lower engine.

If you want to reduce cost you need to control the physical dimensions. i.e. don't let the engine builders play around with 90, 80 and 75degree V8's. Tell them it has to be 90degree with certain bore spacing and regulate the engine and transmission mounting points so there is (almost) no need to redesign the car to take next years engine..... or another suppliers engine.