Author Topic: Inline-four crankshaft  (Read 476626 times)

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Offline RichFox

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #45 on: December 12, 2011, 11:10:59 PM »
[]

I thought that older midget motors were V4's, possibly in the 60's?  V4's are somewhat prevalent in motorcycles and outboard motors, but I am uncertain the advantages and disadvantages to them.

Bub 7 streamliner used a V4.

http://seven-streamliner.com/engine/index.html
[/quote]You are thinking of the SCAT half of a Chevy V8. Some used them. Lots didn't.

Offline Rex Schimmer

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #46 on: December 13, 2011, 01:15:12 AM »
Present midget motor tech is an aluminum block straight 4 cylinder with the proper bore spacing to fit the head you want, Ford or Chev. Also Chevy, Dodge and Toyota all make complete 4 cylinder engines specifically for midgets. All are around 160 cu. inches and good ones make 350  hp plus at 9500 rpm on alky.

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Offline wobblywalrus

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #47 on: January 04, 2012, 09:02:38 PM »
The V-4 can be a smoother motor than an inline 4.  Do not ask me why.  This was explained in a technical article I read years ago.  There were all sorts of graphs and I could barely understand it then and there is no way I can explain it now.  One thing I remember is that the V-4 can provide smooth running without balancing shafts and the drag that is associated with the shafts.   

Offline Richard 2

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #48 on: January 04, 2012, 09:29:06 PM »
I can tell you from experience to run a turbocharged 2.3 inline 4 cyl WOT (8500 rpm) for 4 miles it has to have a very strong, stiff crankshaft, and as small a flywheel and clutch as possible (to keep the inertia low) just to keep the flywheel on. And a little taper on the flywheel flange helps to.
Richard
219.648 mph F/BFMR 2010 Record
4 cylinder Esslinger
Could of had a V8

Offline RichFox

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #49 on: January 05, 2012, 09:33:17 AM »
The Lotus 907 I had in my roadster for a while turned plenty of Rs. Never caused any problums. The 60 degree V4 in German Fords has a balance shaft. Never had one. Don't know much about them except most say they were junk.

Offline Jack Gifford

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #50 on: January 06, 2012, 01:40:06 AM »
I now see that my initial post neglected to state that it will specifically be an inline four (although the thread title does say 'Inline')

Thanks for all the responses.

A successful boat racer (Tony Black) recommended Kansas Racing for billet inline-4 cranks. Anybody here use them?
« Last Edit: January 06, 2012, 01:42:44 AM by Pontiac Jack »
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Offline Richard 2

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #51 on: January 06, 2012, 07:22:56 PM »
I had Rick King at King Crank make us a billet full counter weighted crank out of 300 M steel. looks and works great. Note our Esslinger 2.3 doen't have a balance shaft.
Richard
219.648 mph F/BFMR 2010 Record
4 cylinder Esslinger
Could of had a V8

Offline Jack Gifford

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #52 on: January 07, 2012, 12:25:35 AM »
Is your crank from Jack and Rick King in Denver, NC? "... works great" to what sustained engine speed?
« Last Edit: January 07, 2012, 12:27:11 AM by Pontiac Jack »
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Offline jacksoni

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #53 on: January 07, 2012, 08:21:47 PM »
I now see that my initial post neglected to state that it will specifically be an inline four (although the thread title does say 'Inline')

Thanks for all the responses.

A successful boat racer (Tony Black) recommended Kansas Racing for billet inline-4 cranks. Anybody here use them?
[/quotNot sure. KRP builds (built) SD Pontiac heavier duty blocks drilled to your specs and part number for midgets etc. They did market some good quality (according to them) cranks but they were not billet and not at 3.75 stroke.  I think you are not using that block anyway? I got Moldex to do my crank, was on time, to specs. I am sure there are other companies that will do you one. Considering more or less one off custon billet I thought price at least OK. $1600
Jack Iliff
 G/BGS-250.235 1987
 G/GC- 193.550 2021
  G/FAlt- 193.934 2021 (196.033 best)
 G/GMS-182.144 2019

Offline Richard 2

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #54 on: January 07, 2012, 10:25:42 PM »
Is your crank from Jack and Rick King in Denver, NC? "... works great" to what sustained engine speed?


Rick King Denver N.C.   http://www.kingscrankshaft.com/index.html

8,500rpm through the 5 mile. Could probably handle more but we run 25 to 40 pounds of boost.
219.648 mph F/BFMR 2010 Record
4 cylinder Esslinger
Could of had a V8

Offline Jack Gifford

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #55 on: January 08, 2012, 01:00:29 AM »
Thanks, guys.

Jacksoni- no, I'm not doing a SD. I'll use half of my "junk" aluminum 389 block. I'm probably remembering wrong about Tony saying his crank is billet.

Richard- is vibration difficult to contend with? Solid mounts?

I'll plan on talking with King's about a billet. There's a good chance that it was Jack King who expertly added center counterweights to the 389 SD forging that's still going strong in my hemi V8, after eleven seasons of pulling competition (about 900 HP, to 9,000 RPM).
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Offline Richard 2

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #56 on: January 08, 2012, 09:52:55 AM »
Thanks, guys.

Richard- is vibration difficult to contend with? Solid mounts?


I have never talk to a Jack King. With the stock Esslinger crank the vibration was uncontrolable, couldn't keep any bolts tight. Have not had that problem with the king crank.
219.648 mph F/BFMR 2010 Record
4 cylinder Esslinger
Could of had a V8

Offline jacksoni

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #57 on: January 08, 2012, 10:45:17 AM »
Thanks, guys.

Jacksoni- no, I'm not doing a SD. I'll use half of my "junk" aluminum 389 block. I'm probably remembering wrong about Tony saying his crank is billet.


I am sure the cranks were not race quality but if you could find one might help with setup etc. You recall of course that Pontiac had their slant 4 in the pre '64 Tempests and maybe other stuff. Was your basic "half a 389".
Jack Iliff
 G/BGS-250.235 1987
 G/GC- 193.550 2021
  G/FAlt- 193.934 2021 (196.033 best)
 G/GMS-182.144 2019

Offline Jack Gifford

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #58 on: January 09, 2012, 01:14:06 AM »
Jack King is Rick's father. He was with a major California crank shop (CSC?) in the sixties. [I hope I don't learn that the website is out-of-date and that Jack has died since I talked to him twenty years ago]

Do you have a picture of your crank? I'm curious about the counterweights- their shapes and orientations.
M/T Pontiac hemi guru
F/BFL 1-mile Loring record 2020

Offline Richard 2

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Re: Inline-four crankshaft
« Reply #59 on: January 10, 2012, 08:18:31 PM »
Sorry no pictures of the King Crank. I'll take one next time I see it, Not for a while I hope.
Richard
219.648 mph F/BFMR 2010 Record
4 cylinder Esslinger
Could of had a V8