Always liked these engines. Once you get past the music, he fires it up on the floor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnCweGTvh0
Well I'm sorry call me a conservative but that guy is nuts and very lucky. Starting an engine like that with the only means of support being the oil pan and the headers is totally stupid. Had a header given way, or the oil pan collapsed he couldn't have shut it off before it oil starved and blew. Just my opinion but jeesh What a dunce!
Very nice! thanks for the video link. Dave those headers and oil pan are a lot stronger than you think, he was taking no real risk and looked competent enough.
Ok maybe you're right Fritz. But surely the torque that motor produces is enough to roll it over since it isn't bolted firmly to an engine stand. Like I said, call me Mr. Conservative and tease me if you want, but I wouldn't even think about doing that. But then again I'm just some wino with an opinion on just about everything.
Missing with the Weber's velocity stacks. And it seems rather dumb, with the flexplate/flywheel rotating in there all by itself, and the constant 'blipping' of the throttle, all while the engine is unloaded.
+1...heck, +2! The headers aren't designed to hold the weight of the engine, plus bliping the throttle was rocking the engine, plus open exhaust...I hope the garage door was WIDE open or there could've been some CO headaches.
In an effort to shed light on this and with no intention of hurting any ones feelings I would like to address your concerns. I have been a mechanic for a few years starting with cars then over the road trucks then heavy equipment with race cars mixed in, breaking in an engine after rebuild and tuning carbs if equipped is always a good idea before installation, of course on a dyno with a two gas analyzer and pyrometer on each exhaust and the other gauges is best. Unfortunately not all good mechanics have that but all good mechanics want to deliver an engine that is run in and set up properly especially with multiple carburetors. Hans, 90% of all carb tuning is done with air filters off this is not unorthodox at all. Andrew, initial ignition timing is set at idle but to make sure you have full advance all good mechanics would check that by revving the engine up if the engine is in the car, than with no load to the RPM that full advance occurs, Porsche recommends setting timing at 6,000 RPMS on the air cooled cars. Toby you have air cooled nut did I assume wrong in thinking that refers to Porsches? Because air cooled 911 engines are routinely shipped stored on just their headers. This video showed to me what appears to be a just completed engine rebuild and tune up of one of our engines, it has been ran with coolant (my biggest concern) and did not have valve noise or missing because of a tight valve no smoke, good off idle hesitation, no popping, sputtering or backfiring through the carburetors. it revved freely suggesting the banks were balanced well. When the customer or the customer mechanic receives this engine they should be confident that they will have a good product after the long work of installation is done. Please once again I only wrote this in an effort to help our small family and in no way mean to hurt any body.
My handle, which I've had since 1996, is in reference to VW engines, specifically the Type III. However, for a 6-banger Porsche engine, the headers are directly under the engine and not off to the sides. For the 4-banger engines (VW & Porsche) the headers run the full length of the engine and provide a solid foundation to which the engine can rest upon with no fear of tiping/rocking. Engine configurations are very different compared to this Ferrari engine. Just from what I saw in that video it didn't look secure from my point of view. You are the mechanic and the assumed expert so I will defer to your expertise One thing I recommend is that you have a silicone mat (heat resistant) under the engine so the oil pan/headers can rest upon so nothing gets scratched up The other points you make I understand as my buddy's shop performs similar procedures.
