Old engine tech & new engine tech

A friend and i had a debate and discussion about engine heads from the 40's to the 70's 3 thing stood out to us the Chrysler Hemi heads. and how the greatly remind me of the earlier 356 4 cammer heads. and duel split dwell spark plugs, like the 4 cammer had.

Which leads to my question, Is anyone making a hemi head for the vw air cooled engines?

My heads are semi-hemi.

michael did you get it on the road yet. bill

Semi-Hemi VW heads were the brain child or brain fart of the late Gene Berg. In reality, a Hemi-head or Hemispherical head has its valves on opposite sides of the head and the configuration of the combustion chamber is hemispherical in design.

VW engines have a hemispherical combustion chamber but their valves are lateral rather than opposed thus, each of you (even if you don't have Gene Berg prepared heads) has semi-hemi cylinder heads.

Hemi heads were not invented by Chrysler, they were used at the beginning of the 20th century by a lot of car makers.

Again a marketing ploy is engaged. The ""NEW"" Hemi isn't really a Hemi. It does have its valves opposed but the actual design of the combusion chamber isn't truly hemispherical.

Look at a 911 cylinder heads, they have a true hemi head design

Bill,

Not yet.

I am aiming for sometime this month.

Hook me up with a suppler i like to see pic's of these vw heads. we have benn also talking 104 Nickies Uhh his pockets are Deep

Barry, are you asking for a supplier of Gene Berg semi-hemi heads?

If so: http://www.geneberg.com/cat.php?cPath=2811_2813

Everytime I see Chrysler promote their line with the "Hemi" title it makes me grin..

Sure a real Hemi was leading edge 30-40 years ago, but today its all about 4 valve heads with small valves, long strokes and small bores.

I just took a 251HP 986 engine and made it produce 290HP at the rear wheels, just over 350 at the crank.. The engine technology of today is vastly different than yesterday in every way.. I design and develop both.

The new "Hemi" isn't anything like yesterday's hemi. Just like today's 911 engine is nothing like yesterday's.. They are capitalizing on the reputation of the prior offerings and its working.

Get back to work MIKE Get "r" DONE

Thanks Guy's !!

That's sounding a lot like the conversation my friend and I had. we where also very interested also in the Rotec individual radial heads. that may or may not be hemi heads.. But we are curious


We need to know some things before I talk to my older brother, who wants to build a sport plane . But my friend is also interested in what works best. The airplane kits also except 2180 Vw engines But I think that's way to under powered..

Wayne Andrews the my Vw alinement guy built a sport plane I want to see him also... He has something else in his plane..

I.m trying to talk my brother into a Rotec radial and a over cockpit wing aircraft ..

He insist on a side by side 2 seater but can't decide on which engine or cabin design or even if he wants a tricycle or tail draggier .. He trained in a Alourus 250 ? I Think?? a under wing tricycle aircraft.. AND he is GOOD real good..

He will have to commit to a design be he starts.. and stick with it..

Barry, look at EAA.org for info and experience with engines/airframes

For some interesting insight into head flow technology in the 50s through the 80s, take a read from Smokey Yunnick's book, "Best Damn Garage in Town". He contributed a lot to understanding the intake and exhaust flow and how they affect the combustion process inside the combustion chamber. Made his own flow bench before others even understood what he was doing. And his engines kicked ass in NASCAR as a result. Hell of a book on many different levels - including porn-porn!

Mike, Have you posted any pictures of your current progress? If so, post the link.

Barry, try these guys:

http://www.sonexaircraft.com/kits/about.html#

You can build one for less than $30K, deep pockets not needed. Airplanes need constant, stump pulling TORQUE, not hi-rev stuff.

A Sonex(standard tail)/Waiex(Y tail) with the Jabiru(AUstralian) flat 6 has some serious performance, that is if you're really talking about airplanes. Plus, you get to build it yourself, and it is side by side. Taildragger or nosedragger, your pick.

Van's aircraft sells the RV series of kits, bigger plane and bigger money, very impressive performance. The RV-4 offers military seating(front-back two place).

John,

I don't have any pictures posted anywhere.

It doesn't look like much at this point. I have the windshield and corroded chrome bits stripped off so the body looks bare.

Right now I am refinishing my CV joint boot flanges and axle shafts. When I finish that and a couple other things on the rear end I will put the engine back in.

At the other end I need to install the beam braces. I had one installed but had to disconnect it when I installed castor shims.