Power Increase Sources

[Bob Axsom]

I have a few more little benefit drag reduction ideas to work on for next year's racing season but I'm getting down to the "slim pickin's" part of that bag of tricks and I have already bought a BA C/S Hartzell with F7496 blades to pick up speed from thrust improvements. I am a little frontally challenged in my RV-6A against the very slick RV-8s and I have to look at the "more power" options to reel them back in. At a high level, what are the options?

Bob Axsom

[Special Delivery]

[n5lp]

Originally Posted by Special Delivery

What Ernie says! Ok, Ernie, how many times did you guys blow up engines with that stuff?

[airguy]

Chromed engine parts! Worth 10hp right there!

[Special Delivery]

Originally Posted by n5lp

What Ernie says! Ok, Ernie, how many times did you guys blow up engines with that stuff?

Well... quite a few. Nitrous is actually very predictable and easy to manage when the atmosphere is reasonably constant, but when you're racing to 40+ thousand feet the conditions are changing so rapidly it's almost impossible to manage. The use of Nitrous does however have some side effects on the male species... testosterone levels have been known to go off the chart. When you press the button...well, you remember what it feels like to be 20 again and in some small way, that experience makes the necessity of building another engine a bit more palatable.

[Ironflight]

So Ernie....we need to talk about where you're going to put the Nitrous tank in the -3....

[Toobuilder]

Originally Posted by Bob Axsom

At a high level, what are the options?

Bob Axsom

Without going inside the engine (i.e. cam, compression, stroke, etc), the same as any racing engine - exhaust and intake tuning, ignition, and induction system that gives you the best MP. Wrapped exhaust (or ceramic coated) is good for power, as is keeping the induction temperatures down (dense).

[Special Delivery]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

So Ernie....we need to talk about where you're going to put the Nitrous tank in the -3....

All depends... if I'm consistently 2nd (or worse) in the SARL circuit, you can bet I'll find a hiding place!

[Mike S]

Without going inside the engine???

HP increase is a pretty simple thing, follow the concept of getting more air in and out. Also, getting the timing to produce max cylinder pressure at the correct point of piston travel.

Ram air is an easy one.

Smoothing out all the internal passages in the intake system is a good one too-----I had a mismatched step in the elbow for my system, that was an easy 1/8" ---bit of work with a Dremel and it was gone. Matching the ports to the gaskets is an old hot rod trick, google it.

Keeping the intake charge dense as possible is free power, insulated intake tubes and ceramic coated exhaust will help. Directing heated cooling air away from the intake tubes. Cold air sump-----WARNING, if you run a carb, this is a formula for possible icing.

Ram tuning of the intake and exhaust.

Anti reversion cones in the exhaust may help---google this one too.

Good solid ignition and timing is vital to max power. Multiple spark is good.

[Walt]

Does anyone make a cold air replacement sump for a Vertical intake? When I switched from carb to FI that thought definately crossed my mind.