Mini V8? Could it be done, easily?, Thinking outside the box again Options

[Dr Evil]

I remember no too long ago someone posted a bitchen link to a mini V8 made from 2 hyabusa engines. It was a great idea, but out of the price and consideration range for probably all of us. This got me to thinking, though. The hard part is having to cast a block and a crank to fit the hyabusas together. While this engine is by far the bset choice for car applilcations due to its overwhelming power, there has to be another, easier alternative.
I was wondering how hard it would be to take 2 honda V4 1100 engines (pretty common and easy to get) and make the out put of one to the shaft of another. This would remove any need for a contiguous case/crank and yet serve the same purpose. The hondas came to mind because it is what I am familiar with in teh V4 configuration. They would be compact, easy to plumb, high rev, relatively low maitenance, and high in cool factor. Or, how about mating two large V engines together = more tq, lower reving, air cooled (or not). With the ponies that the motorcycle engines are pushing these days, adding 2 togather would give a light car like ours a nice boost and probably be lost of fun.

Any thoughts?

If I had it my way I would mate two BMW K1100 16V engines together in a flat opposed 8 configuration, but thats a bit out of my skills level.

[Katmanken]

Here ya go...

Matra Simca Bagheera engine......




A pair of parallel inline 4's coupled together and to the tranny with a chain drive.

That's 2 distributors, two fuel sysems and two sets of reciprocating cranks supposedly working together in perfect harmony throughout the ENTIRE rpm range.

That engine has some notoriety for being a real b*tch to tune. Imagine just tuning two sets of fuel systems AND ignition to idle at exactly the same speed. Add rpm's, and you best retune again. Bet the vibrational harmonics rippling through that chain drive system tore up more than a few chains.

Ah, the French. Such unique designs.

Ken