This is a little of topic maybe, but I happened accross a really neat engine design that claims to be easy to manufacture because it uses a lot of designs that are already being made. i'm not sure if you guys have seen this yet, and they make some big claims. I'm and ME Major at Iowa state, and have 2 years left. Just about everything I've read from them holds water. It'll take a while to wrap your brain around the design and how it functions, but well worth the while. They're claiming 850 hp out of a 14"x14"x 8" (inches wide X inches tall X inches deep) package that weighs <150 lbs. I thought this would be a good scholarly place with a lot of experience to bring it up and discuss it. They also have a good forum for discussion, and some pretty knowedgable people asked some hard questions and got some pretty goo explanations. Angel Labs are in process of getting their patent finalized, and I have a co-worker whose friend's boss is working in the patent office to accept that patent. It has to be legit. How feasible is this design to produce? I'm thinking not bad, and I want to go racing. Someone want to help put up the 3 million (for Angel Labs llc to finish their testing) to get the exclusive production rights for 5 years and I'll be a testing engineer for you? We couldn't build factories fast enough, and design enough applications-- if the engine proves to be true. retrofitting of old vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, new cars, motorcycles. They're talking about 200 hp out of a large coffee can sized motor. 200hp riding mowers?! I emailed them and I have a word document if anyone is interested as to why such a high output. Even though I've only taken statics, and physics I and II, and Mechanics of Materials, it all sounds right to me. I can't find a flaw in their reasoning.
Here's their link: They have movies of it running and assembling/building it. As a mechanic by trade it looks extremely easy to assemble, no heads, valves, or cams to deal with and time. They also have their recording from the L.A. Auto show were they first revealed to the public.
www.angellabsllc.com
Indy cars watch out, the next Geo Metro is coming to get ya!