QUOTE(URY914 @ Feb 8 2007, 05:28 AM)
Sick. But very cool.
I gotta ask why he isn't running a DTM?
Originally this engine was propsed with a DTM. That was 3 years ago and many, many tests and experiences as well..
No DTM because he won't need it! This engine has full thermal barrier and thermal dispersant coatings, Nickies Aluminum cylinders and etc. These things seriously contribute to less heat being generated as well as increasing the thermal conductivity of the components and that gets the heat into the cooling air stream faster.
Running a DTM would do 4 negative things and only one positive for this endeavor.
Negative:
1- It would move the center of gravity higher in the car due to the TI alternator and fan position.
2- It would remove a directly driven component and replavce it with one thats belt driven and give further chance for belt/mechanical failure. It would also add an alternator with bearings that can fail to the equation. One must cross the finish line to win and removing rotating/wear components is key to reliability at the track.
3- Given the fact that this engine will have great inherent cooling capability, the DTM won't really free up the HP that cooler running on the street without Nickies and Coatings generally yields. Therefore the DTM is just robbing net power from this engine, not making power as it generally does through reduced engine temperatures and increased efficiency.
4- The stock cooling system is not just lower in the engine bay, but it also is LIGHTER than the DTM with the mods we have made to it and the actual blower housing we have sourced for this (Not from a 914) and the sheetmetal that has been removed from the system has also removed weight. Running the fan off the crank, especially with our mods will lighten rotational mass and WILL increase throttle response and trap speeds.
Positive:
1- Running a DTM on this engine would provide an excellent foundation for the marketing of said system, BUT I don't believe in sacrificing true performance to net an advertisement, especially when DTMs sell themselves already...
We actually want the oil temperatures in this engine to run at elevated levels, levels so elevated that most of you would close your eyes and pray if you saw the gauge readings I want to see...
The tight gearing Kevin will be running will only net him any heat elevations in the cylinder heads at the end of the straights, then he'll dive into the corner, drop 2 gears and remove load thus increasing fan speed and dropping cylinder head temp.
The DTM in a 914 application is primarily for guys that HAVE a cooling problem compounded by extreme ambient temperatures, poor engine configuration or bad tuning. In this regard the DTM is a huge "Band aid" that stops their problems. Kevin has exceptional components with extreme capabilities to shed heat.
In this case Kevin could lose 10HP by using my DTM.... This is probably the ONLY situation where a DTM robs power, but its not everyday we build a 9,000 RPM 2 liter (2013cc) that makes 210+ HP.