For you gearheads and car guys out there................................

[The Slab Bacon]

why has this degraded to baby fart cars

Becuz it's all they know   

We were building fast cars before they were born  

[WA1GFZ]

Imagine going through life never bringing a big block to life
Why that is like no love
You poor things. I suggest building a big rig

[KL7OF]

why has this degraded to baby fart cars

We have Talked quite a bit about big gas muscle car engines...touched on aircraft engines, not much on marine engines, or tractor power...How about Volkswagen air cooled flat 4's...or Hit and miss types , Rumley, hercules,Hagen,Rustin Hornsby, and there is always the Mery Explosive- a double acting six cycle wonder..We are just getting warmed up.

[Steve - K4HX]

My lawn mower has a killer B&S engine.........


Horsepower is horsepower, whether it comes from a 4-banger or a V8.  It's like saying Class E is no good 'cuz we didn't do it that way back in the day.'

I guess we should cover locomotives and ships, if we want to talk about real horsepower. 

[WA1GFZ]

a locomotive motor is one big mofo. But nothing compared to that ship motor Frank sent pictures of a while back. yes HP is HP but baby fart just rubs some of us the wrong way.

[W2VW]

Maybe because we watched them go by while we were sitting at the gas pump so many times.

Still I don't want anything to do with light cars. Not worth the risk on the roads.

Gimmie a big car with crumple zones. 20 MPG is plenty for me.

a locomotive motor is one big mofo. But nothing compared to that ship motor Frank sent pictures of a while back. yes HP is HP but baby fart just rubs some of us the wrong way.

[The Slab Bacon]

We have Talked quite a bit about big gas muscle car engines...touched on aircraft engines, not much on marine engines, or tractor power...How about Volkswagen air cooled flat 4's...or Hit and miss types , Rumley, hercules,Hagen,Rustin Hornsby, and there is always the Mery Explosive- a double acting six cycle wonder..We are just getting warmed up.

Now you're talkin!!
I'm ready!! I've had my hands in just about everything in betwen!! I've worked with just about everything from a top alcohol funny car to lawnmower engines. (except baby fart cars)   Bring it on

Rumley, did I hear someone mention Rumley    Ah yes, there is something about an
Oil Pull that's almost as good as the smell of gun powder in the morning.....................

[KC2TAU]

Imagine going through life never bringing a big block to life
Why that is like no love
You poor things. I suggest building a big rig

You needn't make such a comment,it isn't mature nor does it contribute to the discussion at hand.

My family also owns a 1965 Chevrolet Impala that we enjoy working on,driving and bringing to shows. I go to quite a few muscle car shows and really love seeing people preserving our American performance car heritage. I also enjoy European and Japanese cars both new and old. I have just as much respect for a Max Wedge Dart as I do a well prepared WRX such as KE7TRP's.

Each manufacturer has different strengths and it is important that we cherish them for their strengths and at the same time respecting others who may have different tastes than yourself.

[W2XR]

My lawn mower has a killer B&S engine.........


Horsepower is horsepower, whether it comes from a 4-banger or a V8.  It's like saying Class E is no good 'cuz we didn't do it that way back in the day.'

I guess we should cover locomotives and ships, if we want to talk about real horsepower.  

Hi Steve,

Or Big Allis.

This 1,650,000 HP steam powered turbine-generator was the biggest and most powerful machine in the world when it was first deployed in the mid-1960's. It was later overtaken by the Saturn V rocket at 7.5 million pounds of thrust, although I can't equate this to horsepower. She was built by the Allis-Chalmers Company of Milwaukee.

Here's a picture of Big Allis, which is still cranking out the kilowatts to this day, for Con Edison in New York City:

http://www.pbase.com/lexyky/image/128786761

73,

Bruce

[The Slab Bacon]

Some of the newer "baby fart" "tuner" cars are pretty neat. It is downright amazing the power they make, and how fast some of them are. But it just aint the same.
The sound of a BIG CID motor with high compression, a big roller cam and open big tube headers is something to behold. Not to mention the feel of letting the clutch fly and leaving the gate with the front wheels in the air. If you have never experienced it, you just will never understand how it feels.

Or as the expression that Harley-Davidson was so famous for says it all:
"If I have to explain, you wouldnt understand"

And there is something to be said for odd and unusual engines as well. It really gives you an appreciation for how far things have gone. The more odd and unusual they are, the more fascinating they are. It really makes you appreciate the engineering that went into them.

 As far as the little "tuner" cars go, these days they are not really much if anything out of the ordinary except for the ones that are really fast. And those things if nothing else are obnoxious sounding with loud mufflers.

As far as everyone's choices go, what is interesting to one is boring to another.
When myself and one very close friend got out of drag racing years ago, I got into collecting antique engines and he got into flying pidgeons, we both thought each others new hobby was dumb!!

[KM1H]

Anything under 8 cylinders should be banned from the track and the Interstates and those should all have sidepipes.

OTOH my #2 sons 2010 Beemer 351D dual turbo oil burner sure cranks up impressive numbers which can really be tweaked up. He is taking it to the plant in Germany in the spring to have it tweaked as well as take the executive protection level driving course.  He is a USAF Major stationed at Ramstein AFB and is involved in the diplomatic and allied military areas.

Carl

[KC2TAU]

Some of the newer "baby fart" "tuner" cars are pretty neat. It is downright amazing the power they make, and how fast some of them are. But it just aint the same.
The sound of a BIG CID motor with high compression, a big roller cam and open big tube headers is something to behold. Not to mention the feel of letting the clutch fly and leaving the gate with the front wheels in the air. If you have never experienced it, you just will never understand how it feels.

Or as the expression that Harley-Davidson was so famous for says it all:
"If I have to explain, you wouldnt understand"

And there is something to be said for odd and unusual engines as well. It really gives you an appreciation for how far things have gone. The more odd and unusual they are, the more fascinating they are. It really makes you appreciate the engineering that went into them.

 As far as the little "tuner" cars go, these days they are not really much if anything out of the ordinary except for the ones that are really fast. And those things if nothing else are obnoxious sounding with loud mufflers.

As far as everyone's choices go, what is interesting to one is boring to another.
When myself and one very close friend got out of drag racing years ago, I got into collecting antique engines and he got into flying pidgeons, we both thought each others new hobby was dumb!!

I think big cube engines are a lot of fun. It's always a lot of fun to have a muscle car drive by that has such a cam in it that the overlap at idle causes the ground to shake. I've experienced it and I really do appreciate but I also appreciate the song of a 2JZ in a Toyota Supra as that is one of the finest inline 6's ever built.

I'm not really much a fan of Harleys at all. I have a few vintage Honda's and really enjoy vintage Japanese motorcycles and the engineering that went into them. I will amend my first statement and say that I do enjoy pre 1965 Harleys because the design just agrees with me more. Seeing an old WLA Harley at a vintage motorcycle show brings a big smile to my face.

There are a lot of folk who are into the "tuner" scene who aren't exactly the brightest bulbs in the box. You get these sort of people with every niche of automobile as there is always a select group that spoils the fun for everyone else. Since they're the ones wave their arms around and act out they are picked out by the general public and then the entire group is labeled according to what the general public sees those select few immature folk doing. The problem does stem from the fact that many of the people who are into the Japanese car scene are younger and therefore there is a greater chance that their maturity level is quite low. On the other hand I've also seen some incredibly immature 40 and 50 year olds but this is just human nature for you.

In the end if it has wheels and an engine there is a good chance I'll be quite interested in it.

[K5WLF]

Everybody has their own favorite. For me, the sound of a radial aircraft engine is the best there is. Of course, almost any good running engine sounds good. The more cubes the better. I don't much care for the sound of what y'all are referring to as the "baby fart" cars, but I sure do admire the power development the guys are getting from them.

Years ago, when I was living in Delta CO, they had an opening at the local powerhouse. I really wanted the job, because the plant had two of the big Fairbanks-Morse diesels that were about 15 feet high and had catwalks so you could adjust the valves, etc. I really wanted to work with those big engines. Since I had some experience as a diesel mech and had also worked a dozen years as an electrician, they told me I was over-qualified to work at a diesel-powered electrical generating plant.  When I pointed out that the plant powered the local PD, county SO, fire stations, schools, hospital and old folks homes and said I'd be damned if I could understand how one could be over-qualified to supply power to those kind of places, they told me they didn't like my attitude. Some days you just can't win.

I've always found this engine intriguing:
http://people.bath.ac.uk/ccsshb/12cyl/index.html.o

(No, the ".o" at the end ain't a typo. It won't work without it)

ldb

[Steve - K4HX]

My favorite is a nuc sub. It's quiet, has big power and hardly ever needs refueling.

[W2VW]

I'd like to see you roll up to the 7/11 in one of those

My favorite is a nuc sub. It's quiet, has big power and hardly ever needs refueling.

[WA1GFZ]

I just found out one of my first grade pals was a sonar operator on a nuker.
He said they had a good cook who was an Itialian buddy so they ate very well.

Baby fart cars are like feeding coke to a race horse....

[KC2TAU]

I just found out one of my first grade pals was a sonar operator on a nuker.
He said they had a good cook who was an Itialian buddy so they ate very well.

Baby fart cars are like feeding coke to a race horse....

That implies said cars must be exceptionally quick!

[WA1GFZ]

I bet a nuke sub is pretty quick even though it is pushing a lot of water out of the way as it moves. I think even a baby fart can't match that MPG.
I heard an SR71 fly once. Kind of like comparing the family car to a AA/FD
Right up there with a B17 at idle
 

[The Slab Bacon]

<snip> " I've always found this engine intriguing:
http://people.bath.ac.uk/ccsshb/12cyl/index.html.o  " <snip>

that is definately a kool engine!! that is the engine that I sent to Frank (GFZ) about a year ago. Just a different url with a few more pictures. The Sultzer boys are known the world over for making really BIG engines!! (note the top speed 102RPM!!)


Now, vintage motorcycles, thats another subject dear to my heart   

[KC2TAU]

<snip> " I've always found this engine intriguing:
http://people.bath.ac.uk/ccsshb/12cyl/index.html.o  " <snip>

that is definately a kool engine!! that is the engine that I sent to Frank (GFZ) about a year ago. Just a different url with a few more pictures. The Sultzer boys are known the world over for making really BIG engines!! (note the top speed 102RPM!!)


Now, vintage motorcycles, thats another subject dear to my heart   

Which era and brands of motorcycles?

[Steve - K4HX]

You might be able to do it..... once.

I'd like to see you roll up to the 7/11 in one of those

My favorite is a nuc sub. It's quiet, has big power and hardly ever needs refueling.

[K5WLF]

I heard an SR71 fly once. Kind of like comparing the family car to a AA/FD
Right up there with a B17 at idle
 

I saw the SR-71 fly at the old Norton AFB in CA in the late '70s. The announcer said that due to noise regulations at Norton they'd only be able to use 9 of the 15 stages of afterburner on the J58 engines. Said he hoped the plane would be fast enough for us. It was.

As the Blackbird rolled down the runway on the takeoff roll, there were nine diamond-shaped shockwaves in the exhaust stream.
Years later, I had the privilege of flying ultralights one day with Bob Strong, a retired SR-71 pilot. Bob confirmed what I'd suspected -- there's one diamond shockwave formed in the exhaust for each stage of AB that's engaged.

Bob also said that the scariest part of piloting the Blackbird was being "on the boom" for mid-air refueling. The tanker had it's throttles firewalled and the SR-71 was barely hanging in the air at that airspeed. It had a ridiculously high angle of attack and there was virtually no rudder authority. Directional control was maintained by jockeying the engines into and out of the first stage of afterburner as needed. There was a pretty big jump in thrust between in and out of AB, so things were pretty tense while you  were on the boom. "Hell of a way to steer", was Bob's analysis. He also said that the Blackbird was a sweet plane to fly with no surprises and no bad habits.

I love the old radial engines and the planes of WWII. There are few jets that I like, but the SR-71 is at the top of that short list. Getting to see her fly was one of the major thrills of my life. Flying with Bob was pretty damn special too.

ldb

[Steve - K4HX]

Nothing like afterburners. The first time I heard them relatively close was at Hahn AFB in Germany in the early 80's. A pair of F-16s were doing touch-and-goes. Man what a sound when they would hit the burner just as they touched! I think my ears are still ringing.

[KC2TAU]

The SR-71 and B-2 bomber were planes that just were just so far ahead of their time that it made me think that they might have been projects tested at Area 51 that actually received the green light for production.

[The Slab Bacon]

Which era and brands of motorcycles?

Anything Harley (PRE AMF) Although I still own a modern one.

Must be NON crotch rocket (except older factory works bikes)

60s on back Triumphs, BSAs, Nortons and anything british. (had a few)

Any older European bikes  (had a few)

Mid 60s on back Hondas and some of the more obscure jap stuff.  (had many)

Anything really old and odd looking with unusual engines.

also older flat trackers and speedway bikes. (used to race flat track when I was young)

Must be a "traditional" styled bike with the engine as the focal point of the styling
(That is why I have gravitated towards Harleys)

Iz that enuff to keep you goin??