Alloy Blocks & Unicorns

[Hipwell]

As for the Restomod scene, I'm not sure they will embrace them like they have Honda and Suzuki engines just for the shear cost of the things, I can't imagine they will be anywhere near a used Honda B20 or Swift GTi block or even a modified A-series for the BMW K head. Nevertheless I'd still like to see one go and I'm curious what sort of figures they will make (both in power/torque and cost)

They are under 1300cc’s and 10000rpm so will be poo on the road, a 1460 KAD 16V engine is proven, cheaper, and probably more powerful.

[turbocox]

Not sure if anyone’s seen this little video......


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jtp2sJBU0_U

[mk1]

That's a really interesting clip. Jeebus! That presenter is annoying though

As I have always said, I really look forward to seeing one of these running & finished, I do wonder about the demand though.

[rolesyboy]

I think this looks superb in terms of visuals but I would question if it would be any good for racing in it’s current guise. There doesn’t appear to be anything supporting the tops if the liners.
10,000 rpm seems a bit ambitious unless he a unique method of stopping the liners wobbling at the top when the pistons change direction at tdc? I doubt the cylinder head clamping load will stop the liners from shuffling unless I am missing something here?
I hope I am proven wrong. It seems odd that the guy has the sophistication to get it this far yet seems to have potentially overlooked a number of core factors moreover who will buy the end product?? I’d be surprised if it was ‘price-rangey’ enough to appeal to the masses.
Hope he succeeds though. If he does I want one

[GraemeC]

Later photos show a plate being laser welded in that closes off the water jacket

[rolesyboy]

Thanks Graeme. I thought it seemed odd especially given how good the rest of it looks.
Are there more updates on this anywhere?

[Richspec]

Thanks Graeme. I thought it seemed odd especially given how good the rest of it looks.
Are there more updates on this anywhere?

Shed loads of pics and info on facebook, as indicated the block guards were laser welded into place and the power figures they are aiming for are way in excess of anything you'd see from a KAD head!! now a KAD head on one of these blocks....or a blown 8 port.....ummm

https://www.facebook.com/Ascaso-Enginee ... 4667308270

https://www.facebook.com/groups/396144094813225

[agricola]

The wonders of CNC no pushrod holes....yet?

[GraemeC]

The initial ones are designed for the BMW bike head, which are DOHC

[rolesyboy]

Thanks Rich. That Facebook link answers my question. The bloke has done a spectacular job by the looks of it.

Thanks Graeme. I thought it seemed odd especially given how good the rest of it looks.
Are there more updates on this anywhere?

Shed loads of pics and info on facebook, as indicated the block guards were laser welded into place and the power figures they are aiming for are way in excess of anything you'd see from a KAD head!! now a KAD head on one of these blocks....or a blown 8 port.....ummm

https://www.facebook.com/Ascaso-Enginee ... 4667308270

https://www.facebook.com/groups/396144094813225

[agricola]

Or there own head?

[Richspec]

There was a mention along those lines but cant recall if it was in regard to a billet 5 port head, or something else.
The first blocks are for the bmw bike heads but right at the start it was stated that with minor alterations the standard heads would be usable, I suppose once the entire engine is in cad its pretty easy to have a few versions.

[iain1967s]

Well, the crank fits in the block

https://www.facebook.com/gary.surman.31 ... 1118802818

[Richspec]

and he's done the cad work to adapt the block for the normal 5 port head as well.

[mk1]

Looks like fantastic work. Still not sure they'll make any money out of it though.

[Jono]

I'm in awe of folk who can do this sort of thing (just like I am with the metal spraying of the 6R4 diff housing).

It will be fascinating to see how this runs!

[850man]

Now they are reverse engineering the K series cylinder heads.
Makes the "experts" look rather silly doesn't it.

https://www.facebook.com/11187466730827 ... 739684928/

Who ever it is behind it seems to have an awful lot of time to draw up these wonderful drawings, loads of them it seems and flying flags " look at me, look at me " than time actually making anything of substance.
[/quote]

[rolesyboy]

I don’t think anybody on here was claiming to be an ‘expert’. They just had a view and like many didn’t think it was going to get past the talking shop stage. All credit to the guys behind it. It certainly looks impressive. Interested to see some costings on it now.

[mk1coopers]

They would have to make some changes to the head as if they just cut it up and scan / produce a copy surely they are infringing the owners of the designs IP rights (should there be any currently in force) the work looks really good, as others have said it will be interesting to see what the costings are for components at the end of the process, it's not something for me but I'd rather see a engine like this in a Mini rather than some of the other conversions out there

[Spider]

As I said elsewhere in this thread kudos to them for their efforts and getting it this but all the same it's an odd path they are treading to the end result. They designed the block if I recall, from the outset around the BMW K1100 head and also so it could accept the standard 5 port head, I guess their thinking there would be to order it from the outset for which head you intend to run, however I see now they have sectioned up a K1100 head to reverse engineer and presumably also make these. While I've had no experience at designing or making such a project, I think it would have been a better approach from the outset, especially in light that the K1100 heads are getting thin on the ground, to have reverse engineered the head at the block design stage, then tweak the two of them together so all the compromises could be engineered out and the end product is a true matching head and block, but I'm sure they have a method in the approach they are taking.

As I mentioned elsewhere too, I feel they are getting ahead of themselves churning out 25 odd blocks and goodness know what else (I have lost interest in following their progress) without having has a single running unit to date.

Have they mentioned the particular market they are hoping to aim these at ?

I wish them well and given the huge sums they have put in to it to date, I hope the whole project works out for them.