5 valve heads

["mlcmlcmlc" <mlcmlc@enter.net>]

Hi Dave,
The way I understand it, 5 valve head technology is really only a benefit at
mid / lower rpm. As you indicate, 8500 rpm may seem high by street car
standards,  but for a pure race engine it  doesn't really rate. (Especially
a small displacement one).  Although I guess some will say those engines
were obviously designed originally for the street.  But hec, NASCAR motors
spin faster than that for 500 miles at a time......never mind !!
As I can tell from your posts you follow your racing closely. You are
probably aware that 5 valve head use in F1 disappeared about 1990. (Tickford
w Lotus-Judd, Yamaha (their sorry V-8) & even Ferrari for a season or so).
Cosworth, Honda, Renalt et al never even built one.                 F1 is
HIGH rpm.

I think I read in Audi literature that their reasoning behind their 5v
design was high torque at low and mid rpm, without sacrificing "high speed"
breathing.

The Audi 5v design probably could be an asset in an rpm limited class, even
without a turbo.?

Don't you think it is totally ridiculous the way that sanctioning
organizations can retro-actively make better designs illegal, even if
they've been in use for years?  And Audi has certainly homolagated its
vehicle's unique features properly.

BTW, I completely agree with you on the wheel size issue.  Size equals
weight.  Tires maybe the most overlooked "springs" on a car.  F1 certainly,
and those cars aint soft . (even those silly ugly skinny tired cars they're
required to make these days).

Joel Stetina, PA  USA, 91 200tqa, 87tq, 79 323i, & motorcycles (all w/ 4v
per cyl. !!)
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Eaton <Dave.Eaton@clear.net.nz>
To: 'quattro@coimbra.ans.net' <quattro@coimbra.ans.net>
Cc: 'dhandas@cwixmail.com' <dhandas@cwixmail.com>
Date: Friday, January 29, 1999 9:07 PM
Subject: RE: A4 Race Question


>audi is forbidden from using 5-valve heads.  the 2 litre is actually a
derivative of the vw gti motor.
>
>also, far from "stratospheric" rpm, remember that there is an 8,500 rpm
engine speed limit as well.
>
>dave
>'95 rs2
>'90 ur-q
>
>-----Original Message-----
>Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 08:34:32 -0800 (PST)
>From: ti@amb.org (Ti Kan)
>Subject: Re: A4 Race Question
>
>Anand Dhanda writes:
>> I was going through the TOCA 2 web site and they say that the A4's 4
>> cylinder is a 16v. I thought it was a 20v? Also do they only make the
296bhp
>> that TOCA's site claims?
>
>The super touring A4 race cars do have 4-valve (rather than 5-valve) heads.
>296hp sounds about right.  Remember, these are normally-aspirated cars,
>no turbos here.  296hp from a 2.0 liter NA four is pretty respectable.
>
>
>