After reading the thread 'obsolecence" I came to a few conclusions. I was going to post there, but it because quite a large post and probably deserves its own thread.
The weight of the engine should be mainly based on its physical dimensions and layout, not on displacement.
Example: My '71 Datsun 240Z has a 2.4L straight 6 engine. However, if I were to use the longer stroke crankshaft from another version of the same engine, and shorter connecting rods(so the pistons don't hit the valves/cylinder head) I could increase the displacement to 2.7L. This is a common modification, and would not increase weight.. I could even take it a step further and bore out the cylinders and put bigger pistons in and get even higher displacements without increasing weight. Some enthusiasts and racing shops have even made 3.1 and 3.2L engines from these engines..
Or to use another example right from the factory would be the Difference between the L24 in my Datsun, and the L26 and then L28 in the 260Z and 280Z. All these engines use the same block, and aside from differences in the fuel system, would all weigh roughly the same.
Displacement should make some difference in weight, but it should be minor compared to the actual dimensions of the engine. But of course you cannot bore an engine out too far before hitting coolant passages, or just not leaving thick enough walls between the cylinder and those coolant passages without severely affecting the reliability & longevity of the engine.
The sliders in place could represent that easily though with some tweaking. For example you could make one engine with length and width sliders at maximum. You could then take that engine, increase the displacement and decrease the length and width to get the same dimensions and you would be essentially boring the engine out.. Of course reliability should go down, and more drastically the closer you get to reduce.(it seems to have no effect of reliability right now)
To continue my real world example take the difference between the L24 and L28. L24 has a 83mm bore, and 73.7mm Stroke. The L28 has a 86mm bore and 79mm stroke. Despite this, the L28 is just as reliable and long lasting as the L24.. So in game that should be a minor reduction of length and width, with minimal consequences to reliability.
I'm not sure I really like having a separate length/width either.. It can make for some strange engine with paper thin walls between the cylinders and thick outer walls..
I would also suggest adding a Bore/Stroke ratio slider. This would greatly improve engine design. More bore = larger combustion chamber, bigger valves and more air and fuel equating to more power. But longer Stroke = more torque.. In reality its a little more complex than that, but since your not going for Automation level realism what I suggest should do just fine..
While I'm on the subject of engines, my biggest complaint about this game is that there is no reason to ever use anything other than V engine. It is the most compact engine, and engine layouts don't seem to have any advantages/disadvantages between them so compact always = better.
Some engines are better balanced than others, such as Inline 6, Inline 8, V12, Flat 6 and Flat 4. Smoother engines are more suitable for luxury vehicles for obvious reasons. Of course some engines have drawbacks too.. Flat engines are quite loud, and that might put off luxury car buyers.. Flat engines also allow more aerodynamic cars(if Front engine), but the shape of the front end doesn't seem to affect what size engines fit in the car..
I could go on a bit more about the advantages/disadvantages of each particular engine, but I'll leave it for now.
Having none of these factors in the game really hurts the car design IMO. I hope these suggestions help create a more interesting and realistic game experience.
The weight of the engine should be mainly based on its physical dimensions and layout, not on displacement.
Example: My '71 Datsun 240Z has a 2.4L straight 6 engine. However, if I were to use the longer stroke crankshaft from another version of the same engine, and shorter connecting rods(so the pistons don't hit the valves/cylinder head) I could increase the displacement to 2.7L. This is a common modification, and would not increase weight.. I could even take it a step further and bore out the cylinders and put bigger pistons in and get even higher displacements without increasing weight. Some enthusiasts and racing shops have even made 3.1 and 3.2L engines from these engines..
Or to use another example right from the factory would be the Difference between the L24 in my Datsun, and the L26 and then L28 in the 260Z and 280Z. All these engines use the same block, and aside from differences in the fuel system, would all weigh roughly the same.
Displacement should make some difference in weight, but it should be minor compared to the actual dimensions of the engine. But of course you cannot bore an engine out too far before hitting coolant passages, or just not leaving thick enough walls between the cylinder and those coolant passages without severely affecting the reliability & longevity of the engine.
The sliders in place could represent that easily though with some tweaking. For example you could make one engine with length and width sliders at maximum. You could then take that engine, increase the displacement and decrease the length and width to get the same dimensions and you would be essentially boring the engine out.. Of course reliability should go down, and more drastically the closer you get to reduce.(it seems to have no effect of reliability right now)
To continue my real world example take the difference between the L24 and L28. L24 has a 83mm bore, and 73.7mm Stroke. The L28 has a 86mm bore and 79mm stroke. Despite this, the L28 is just as reliable and long lasting as the L24.. So in game that should be a minor reduction of length and width, with minimal consequences to reliability.
I'm not sure I really like having a separate length/width either.. It can make for some strange engine with paper thin walls between the cylinders and thick outer walls..
I would also suggest adding a Bore/Stroke ratio slider. This would greatly improve engine design. More bore = larger combustion chamber, bigger valves and more air and fuel equating to more power. But longer Stroke = more torque.. In reality its a little more complex than that, but since your not going for Automation level realism what I suggest should do just fine..
While I'm on the subject of engines, my biggest complaint about this game is that there is no reason to ever use anything other than V engine. It is the most compact engine, and engine layouts don't seem to have any advantages/disadvantages between them so compact always = better.
Some engines are better balanced than others, such as Inline 6, Inline 8, V12, Flat 6 and Flat 4. Smoother engines are more suitable for luxury vehicles for obvious reasons. Of course some engines have drawbacks too.. Flat engines are quite loud, and that might put off luxury car buyers.. Flat engines also allow more aerodynamic cars(if Front engine), but the shape of the front end doesn't seem to affect what size engines fit in the car..
I could go on a bit more about the advantages/disadvantages of each particular engine, but I'll leave it for now.
Having none of these factors in the game really hurts the car design IMO. I hope these suggestions help create a more interesting and realistic game experience.