01-27-2015, 05:28 AM
(10-10-2013, 04:06 PM)Arquibus Wrote: Take your time, there's no rush. I'm just an amateur when it comes to this stuff anyway.
Fair point about the torque being measured at the wheels. Do they ever measure it at the driveshaft? I've never heard of such a thing, it may not be a meaningful measurement, but if the HP is an estimate with a generic transmission maybe a torque measurement is possible too? Not sure if it would be different. Physics wasn't my strong suit in college, which is why I left engineering for history.
The 3 banks are W's, the four are VVs. You've got it that way in the xml. Four banks are called VVs simply because the easiest explanation for them is a pair of V engines side by side. The earliest iteration of the engine was exactly that, in fact. An aircraft engine, I think, but of course Volkswagen co-opted it in the early 2000s, first a W8 for a Passat, a W12 for the Phaeton and Bentley Continental, and then the 16 in the Bugatti. I'm not sure if anyone else ever used one of the four bank style in a car or not.
Anyway, you're right, this stuff is just details, and it seems like you've got big plans yet to bring to fruition. If I can get something working well, I'll post here or send it to you or somesuch so you can look it over. All I need is some time. Pleasant travels!
Just to clarify, all of the VW "W" engines are the four bank style. Your description seems to suggest the other way. That could just be me not reading you clearly though. They were initially called VV's to distinguish them from the original three bank W's but everyone just calls them W's now anyway. The three bank W's were indeed used in aircraft as well as boats. I don't believe they have ever been used in a car. If they have, it was a while ago and low volume.
On that note, and slightly off topic, another possibility for the game could be what is called a "VR" engine, developed by VW in the 80's. These are basically halfway between a V and an in-line where the cylinders are at an angle from each other but not wide enough to allow them to be directly opposite each other as in a normal V.
They are basically half of a four bank W, in fact, the four bank W is an evolution of the VR idea.
Could be worth adding into the game?
Their advantage is that they are shorter than an in-line without being much wider (if at all) and still only needing one cylinder head. They aren't as short as V engines and they aren't as well balanced as either so that would be their disadvantage.