Anyone tried an aircooled Flat 8, With two fours? Options

[r_towle]

Has anyone tried to build a flat 8 with two type 4 motors?

Theoretical questions.
Assumptions
2 motors each producing 100 HP and 100 Lb/ft of Torque

The motors are end to end, front to rear.
The cranks are fastened together either bolted or welded.

1) Would you get 200hp and 200 lb/ft or torque? or is there some multiplier...seems like you would produce more torque..

2) could it be done with a single ignition system available for sale off the shelf.

3) could you do it without two distributors? crank fired ignition system..I am thinking that there could be a wheel placed in between the motors to give you something to time from.

4) I am assuming either a nice FI system, or four carbs.

Has anyone done this?
I would like to see some articles or web pages if this has been done in the aircooled world...

Thanx in advance
Rich

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

QUOTE

Ya, its called a 944 and a 928... The only difference is the crank and block. Same heads, pistons, rods, etc. But just because it has half the cylinders doesn't make it easy to make over. I too don;t know what the firing order is, but a 6/8 cylinder engine is WAY more naturally balanced than a 4 cylinder engine. In fact, the 6/8/12 cylinder engines are the the best for being balanced.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif) Okay, ya lost me. What's yer point? My bit on the Ferrari wasn't a suggestion of how to fire it but as to a contribution to its sound.

QUOTE

Cults are for those who like Coolaid[sic]. If a project like this ever made it to production, there would be very few who would undertake it.

I meant it like people doing it themselves for fun, not to actually make a production engine that people would buy.

QUOTE

Your going to be spending money either way you look at it, so why not start with a better designed engine and parts?

I agree with this logic. But I guess my message was too subtle as I was thinking about the SOUND of a multi-cylinder, carbed air-cooled engine.

I'm not denying that a 901 engine is likely a better candidate from an engineering standpoint so here, this one's on me (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer3.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif)