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Looking at making a 2-2.4L Flat Plane Air Cooled V8 using stock NSU cylinders, pistons, heads, camshafts.. I don't know yet if I could manage to modify a stock crank, but the only difference between the right crank and the stock crank is less counter balance and room for 2 rods at each location.

Reply: There would be zero counterbalance. The bearing surface for each rod would be reduced by half. Custom made rod bearings will also be required. Custom made consumables are to be avoided.


Now I'd like to run it north south.. so I don't know if I can make the original transaxle work.. but, because the NSU motor is counterclockwise/anticlockwise/wrong turn I can take any normal transaxle for a mid mounted engine.. and mount it underneath the block and drive it with 2 gears, so the transaxle will turn the right way.

Reply: This will raise the cg due to the engine being just under the decklid. The bevel drive to mate the longitudinal engine to the transaxle will add parasitic loss and heat.

It will sound really cool, have torque, will rev high, look cool, the weight distribution certainly won't be worse (or much?).

Reply: CG will be raised and increase the polar moment of inertia.

And if I can get the required machinging done for a reasonable cost, I bet it won't cost more than building a high strung NSU 4 banger.

Reply: It isn't a question of can you but what are you willing to pay? It sounds like $5,000 to $10,000 just for the engine if you cannot cast or machine the parts yourself. It can be done and it isn't rocket science but it isn't very practical or locost.

Reply: There would be zero counterbalance. The bearing surface for each rod would be reduced by half. Custom made rod bearings will also be required. Custom made consumables are to be avoided.

Reply: This will raise the cg due to the engine being just under the decklid. The bevel drive to mate the longitudinal engine to the transaxle will add parasitic loss and heat.

Reply: CG will be raised and increase the polar moment of inertia.

It isn't a question of can you but what are you willing to pay? It sounds like $5,000 to $10,000 just for the engine if you cannot cast or machine the parts yourself. It can be done and it isn't rocket science but it isn't very practical or locost.

I thought you were talking about two L-4 engines horizontally apposed versus a 90 degree arrangement with a flat crank. What benefit is there to running a flat crank besides sound?

A master/slave rod system could be used in the standard crank and bearing.

You mentioned longitudinal crank with any normal (i.e. transverse input shaft) transaxle, which means a change to the angle. I'm not sure what you mean by the flywheel pointing at the front of the car.