Quote:
Originally Posted by YZFrider
After reading the tech article in the Caddie V8 its clear isn't a stock block. The article said they used a special cast..in other words they melted it down. Oh sure it keeps the same dimensions and bore spacing (so it can pass for stock) but if I had to guess, the cooling passages and the rigidity of the block is strenghthened for higher outputs. A billet crankshaft? Both those modifications I have heard of in drag racing and only the big money teams can afford. Indeed not the same block shared in the road car. And as the BoP changes suggest the motor was likely in the 650-700 horsepower region at the beginning of the season.
|
C5-R engines weren't STOCK stock block originally either, but it was just a change to the way the bores were done to be able to run 7L reliably. On the other hand the Cadillac Northstar "stock block" was everything but stock, being a turbocharged IRL engine that happened to share some architecture with the Oldsmobile version of the Northstar. Despite that it wasn't a very good sports car engine.
Cadillac engine is not something anyone would seriously want to use in a current LMP1 car because it can't be used as a fully stressed member. Engine weight aside that subframe is a killer for hitting the weight limit.