The Cal-look Lounge

Cal-look/High Performance => Pure racing => Topic started by: Jon on January 29, 2014, 12:41:43 pm



Title: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: Jon on January 29, 2014, 12:41:43 pm
It would require a few changes, but has anyone ever done it? I mean counterclockwise.
Most things have been done at some point, and I seem to remember reading about it at some point but I can't remember where.
Anyone?
 


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: speedwell on January 29, 2014, 13:54:58 pm
like this Jon .... ;D ;D ;D ...OK I go out  ;D


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: Lee.C on January 29, 2014, 14:56:44 pm
to what advantage ??? I know Corvairs go the "wrong" way  :-\


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: Stripped66 on January 29, 2014, 17:50:05 pm
to what advantage ??? I know Corvairs go the "wrong" way  :-\

Perhaps to use a Corvair auto-transaxle?

At minimum you'd need a cam ground for reverse rotation, and a solution for the oil pump that otherwise would be trying to draw oil through its outlet. The distributor gear *might* cause some problem (or not?), but is nothing crank-fired ignition/EFI couldn't fix. The engine shouldn't care either way.


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: RhoadsVW on January 30, 2014, 03:58:52 am
I remember in the 70's and 80 Scat did several reverse rotation engines with some luck in race cars.  I don't remember a lot about them but remember several customers coming by with them in their cars.


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: Lee.C on January 30, 2014, 10:57:32 am
I remember in the 70's and 80 Scat did several reverse rotation engines with some luck in race cars.  I don't remember a lot about them but remember several customers coming by with them in their cars.

Hmmm interesting......

I am still not seeing much "Advantage" though  :-\


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: Jon on January 30, 2014, 12:15:26 pm
I remember in the 70's and 80 Scat did several reverse rotation engines with some luck in race cars.  I don't remember a lot about them but remember several customers coming by with them in their cars.

Thanks for contributing Dave! Do you remember what kind of racecars they were? Sprints, drag racing or sandrails maybe?


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: RhoadsVW on January 30, 2014, 22:42:39 pm
The one that stands out was a red drag race car in 1985. Don't think there was any lettering on it but he stopped by to see Tom Lieb for some pointers on tuning and things for reverse rotation as he was on his way to Sac. Tom is very knowledgeable about reverse rotation and I remember several phone calls to him about it.


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: brian e on February 01, 2014, 01:38:52 am
I remember in the 70's and 80 Scat did several reverse rotation engines with some luck in race cars.  I don't remember a lot about them but remember several customers coming by with them in their cars.

Hmmm interesting......

I am still not seeing much "Advantage" though  :-\

Old story/rumor I heard was in the midwest V8 dirt track world, an old racer guy built a reverse rotation V8 and flipped the 9" third member over to get the thing to drive forward again.  The idea was that the torque of the now reversed engine torqued the car to the inside of the track, instead of the outside, and kept the car planted better while turning left.  It supposedly worked very well, and once discovered, it was quickly banned. 

Maybe Scat was doing something similar on their midget engines? 


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: Jon on February 03, 2014, 09:46:06 am
But was it outlawed in PRA?


Title: Re: Has anyone ever run a VW engine the opposite way?
Post by: Lee.C on February 03, 2014, 12:07:19 pm
I remember in the 70's and 80 Scat did several reverse rotation engines with some luck in race cars.  I don't remember a lot about them but remember several customers coming by with them in their cars.

Hmmm interesting......

I am still not seeing much "Advantage" though  :-\



Old story/rumor I heard was in the midwest V8 dirt track world, an old racer guy built a reverse rotation V8 and flipped the 9" third member over to get the thing to drive forward again.  The idea was that the torque of the now reversed engine torqued the car to the inside of the track, instead of the outside, and kept the car planted better while turning left.  It supposedly worked very well, and once discovered, it was quickly banned. 

Maybe Scat was doing something similar on their midget engines? 

Ahhhh I see..... I did think something like this Mightbe the reason but I didn't want to sound Stupid  :-\