2015 Mustang spy shot


Frank,

The term "flat plane crank" only refers to the crank configuration, not the cylinder arrangement. When you look at a flat plane crank from the axial view, the journals are 180 degrees from each other. But yes, horizontally opposed piston engines use a flat plane crank.

Edit: Before I get dinged, I will add that not all horizontal engines used a flat plane crank. I don't believe 911s (flat 6) use a flat plane crank.
 
Ah, thank you Master. Grasshopper now understand.
 
Gentlemen,

I love threads like this one. Tech stuff I've never even thought about but it's pretty interesting. As far as not all flat-opposed 6 cylinder engines having flat plane cranks, that is true. As I type this I'm looking at the old crankshaft out of my Glasair's Lycoming flat 6. It is not a flat plane crankshaft.

Chip
 
Clinton, I would agree, and exhaust scavenging can offer volumetric efficiency inprovements in a normally asperated IC engine. But I still remain unconvinced how this application might have merit in a production based daily driver with a catalic converter, muffler and long tailpipe all of which provides exhaust backpressure and inhibits scavenging.

I will do some more research on this after I get my car ready for transport out to our Rally!


Let your mind wander a bit. If one of your objectives is a high revving engine, think about coupling the flat plane crank with pneumatic valvetrain and a CGI engine block. Less mass, upper and lower. Might also improve package size. Underhood real estate is becoming huge (crash impact).
 
Last edited:
Let your mind wander a bit. If one of your objectives is a high revving engine, think about coupling the flat plane crank with pneumatic valvetrain and a CGI engine block. Less mass, upper and lower. Might also improve package size. Underhood real estate is becoming huge (crash impact).
Very good point(s)! And I am sure the engine designers at Ford have a good reason for bringing forth this idea.

Thanks Chip, I was also going to point out the flat 4 and flat 6 Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines are flat cylinder configurations but have crankshaft balance weights inherent on the crank proper. (as you well know from your dead stick experience.)
 
Dad's old 30's Leroy 4 cylinder engines run a flat crank as it is described here. Don't make much power or rev too high, but they run forever. Those two pictured cranks look like art to me.

Steve
 
Steve,

Those are Lingenfelter crankshafts. They make a flat plane crank LSX. Check this out:

http://www.lingenfelter.com/LPEforu...ne-Action-Lingenfelter-Race-Engine-Dyno-Video
 
Mark is not driving the car.

I wonder if Mark is driving it?

Ron, I wondered the same thing. Does Mark have a blue driving suit?
Looks like Boss front rims with Shelby rear rims.
 
Are flat plane cranks ever used in nascar? What about some of the goofy high RPM super bikes? Really has me intrigued. My drag engine uses a Sonny Bryant, which I thought was hot, until I saw your pic.
 
The 4 cylinder superbikes typically use a flat plane crankshaft. I remember when Yamaha introduced one of its newer generation R1s, they really promoted the fact that it had a cross plane crankshaft and had a less peaky power delivery as a result. It may have been the first of the modern 4 cylinder superbikes with a cross plane crank.

Not sure about NASCAR, but given the power and rpm of those NA engines, I would guess flat plane crank.
 
I worked for Honda a long while ago. Probably most here have never heard of their RC166 road race bikes from the 60's. If you want to hear what they sound like (employed flat plane crank in a 6 cylinder), take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIJT4TXoq1A

Imagine a variation of that in a Ford. That would be a mind bender. :thumbsup
 
I don't remember the RC166 from back in the day because I'm not that old. lol. I am familiar with it though. An engineering masterpiece. One of the bike rags did a full tech article on it years ago, complete with photographs of the lilliputian engine components. Uber cool.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    68 KB · Views: 539
Your reference to the RC166 got me all excited about it again. I found this really nice tribute to that great bike.

http://www.petrolicious.com/honda-rc166

Note the part about 24 valves the size of pencil erasers and 20,000 rpm.
 
Last edited:
Possible spy shots of a new SVT Mustang. Check out the buttons galore on the steering wheel.

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/17/ford-mustang-gt500-successor-spied-near-svt/

It also appears to have 2 piece floating rotors like some of the newer Euro cars. Cool.
 
Last edited:
Of note, Michelin tires on that bad boy. 'Bout time!
 
And they said the new 2015 would not have retro design queues.....

03_S-17317-33_Mustang_II-sm.jpg

Camiloooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! :lol
 
For sure, hope the relationship grows....


Of note, Michelin tires on that bad boy. 'Bout time!
 
And they said the new 2015 would not have retro design queues.....

View attachment 31271

Camiloooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! :lol

A Fairmont by any other name.....is still a Fairmont.
 
Listen to the exhaust of the reputed GT350 around the 45 second mark. Sound a little flat-plane cranky to anyone? Awesome!

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?t=858
 
I worked for Honda a long while ago. Probably most here have never heard of their RC166 road race bikes from the 60's. If you want to hear what they sound like (employed flat plane crank in a 6 cylinder), take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIJT4TXoq1A

Hmmmmmmmm...back in '79 I bought a Honda CBX (1047 c.c. inline 6-cyl, 6 carbs). 'Engine looked identical to this one. 'SOUNDED much the same as well, but it 'red lined' at 9K, not 20. I'm now wondering if it employed a flat plane. :shrug

Regarding the spy shot: 'Wish someone could 'spy' a definitive photo of the area immediately fwd of the rear wheel wells from roof to rockers (to include the 1/4 windows). To me that area has long been a 'visual desert'.