Saleen S7R

[thepolarfoxqx]

America has always made cars differenly than anyone else, we still do. Europeans and Japanese - and many americans too make fun of american cars as trash - and for the most part - many of them are. The best we could muster in the sports car arena is a Corvette - that for all of its charm and power is still unrefined and inferior to its overseas competitors in many ways (except displacement) - or viper - which is unrefined, poorly designed, and is religated to truck leftovers for its powerplant. Since the hallowed days when Henry Ford II took his massive power and his GT40 to europe and beat ferrari on their home turf has America built a car that could go toe to toe with a car from anywhere in the world - and win. Built of a relatively plebian steel space-frame weighing just 2,200lbs, powered by a 428 cubic inch 16 valve Ford V8 dating back decades, The S7 is as fast, nimble, and refined as any supercar built. With a 0-60 time in the mid-high 3s, a top speed of 230+mph, nearly 500hp - and room for more (it has 7.0L), and the lowest curb weight around - and a 1.0 performance on the skidpad - who can argue.

[Anzeige eBay]

Hallo thepolarfoxqx,

 

kennst du schon Saleen S7R (Anzeige)? Dort ist vieles zu finden.

 

US Cars Ersatzteile (Anzeige) | US Cars Zubehör (Anzeige)

[Bugattisrking]

I have to go with th S7 on this one

[izzyloveslizzy]

I have two things to say:

1- Americans make fun of American cars far more than American cars deserve to be made-fun-of, and American cars are actually VERY nice. Especially the new concepts.

2- I might go for a black Saleen. The Saleen S7 looks stunning in black.

[izzyloveslizzy]

Sorry I forgot to ask, does anyone have pictures of a black Saleen S7? Could ya help me out please? I'm looking. I found one once, but I can't find it anymore.

[thepolarfoxqx]

so the black S7 is your fancy? I have a picture of the black Koenigsegg on my wall. American cars are very good, and definately getting better, just not for everyone, just like any other car. My freinds say european cars are boring to drive, I say their muscle cars give me a headache, their both fast and competent cars.

[izzyloveslizzy]

Fox: Of course!!!! Couldn't you imagine a black S7? It looks so aggressive they could take that thing to war and it would make the enemy run! Or at least everyone's jaws would be dropped to the floor (just like in the cartoons)!

Yeah I have pictures of the black Koenigsegg as well (but just on the computer and not on the wall), and I know it's gorgeous.

By the way, no offence, but whoever says European cars are boring is sliding just a little bit to the crazy side, don't you think?

Oh I forgot to mention this, but I think the "picture" of the S7 I once found may have been just a really realistic concept drawing, because I just can't find a picture of the black S7 I'm talking about. I'm starting to think they don't even make a black S7 (but they probably do).

Have you found a picture of a black S7 (or an S7 in any other colour for that matter), Fox? I'd appreciate it if anyone posts a picture or something.

[thepolarfoxqx]

i am sure it does look nice. I vaguely remember maybe seeing a picture of a black one once. I have a pic of a yellow one, and of course the silver.

[izzyloveslizzy]

Yellow? Nice! I've seen Silver and White, but not Yellow. And I found the picture of a black "S7 toy model". Not nearly as good as in real life.

[thepolarfoxqx]

impressive they already have die cast models out. The yellow is every bit as cool as would be imagined.

[izzyloveslizzy]

I want to see a "no-paint" all aluminum Silver! Like the Jag XJ! Also, maybe a Gold one! Red would be nice too for an S7. Man the possibilities are endless...! Green, Blue, hell I'd even drive this car in pink! LOL! Well maybe not, but you get the point.... This car's just one of those cars that looks aggressibe and nice even in the weirdest and most inappropriate colors. 8)

[Anzeige eBay]

Hallo thepolarfoxqx,

 

schau doch mal hier zum Thema Zubehör für US Cars (Anzeige)? Eventuell gibt es dort etwas Passendes.

[thepolarfoxqx]

I'd buy mine in hunter green, or supergloss black.

[izzyloveslizzy]

If I actually had a choice I'd go for "No-Paint" Aluminum-build Silver, or black (of course a nice pearl-white one would also be good).

[thepolarfoxqx]

what do you think about the old-school, low-tech pushrod V8 in a 400,000 US car? Everyone has some sort of amazing wizardly powerplant with more computer power than the spaceshuttle. Should they have used something better, or do we just accept that it performns and not care how they make it happen?

[izzyloveslizzy]

Well, let's put it this way: if the "old" engine with not as much computer-controlled magic still gets the job done it's fine. But if the newer ones don't cost much more and are much more stable ad responsive and unwhiney with more techno-jiggy, then I'd obviously go for a newer engine. I know my 1989 Camry does some things better than my old older 518 Bavaria, because many of the Camry engine's tidbits are computer-controlled and electronic, as opposed to mechanical (hard) equipment that needed replacing every once in a while in the Bimmer.

[thepolarfoxqx]

computer controlled engines are pretty amazing, then again, my Jaguar had a major computer failure for the third time a year last month. Go figure.

There is certainly more of a fun component to an engine with mininmal computers, but they can't come close to the stuff the high tech ones (like the 6.0L BMW V12) can do.

The old fashioned part of the 427 is its valve train.

It still has pushrods and rocker arms instead of electronic chains and direct acting fingers.

[izzyloveslizzy]

I've rarely heard of engine "computers" failing. They're built unlike your average computer. They're task-specific and therefore more stable. Also you pay more so they're higher-quality. I find that very strange (that your Jag had computer failures). But I guess it happens. Maybe yours has a faulty chip or two?

I totally agree: BMW's V12 is one of the most technologically interesting pieces of engineering on sale. I love the work Germans do on Engines. They can optimize anything to put out more and more power without hard modifications. I know absolutely nothing about the 427's Valve Train so if you tell me a bit it'd be much appreciate.

[thepolarfoxqx]

firstly, my x type suffered a 4th computer failure last night. the dealer probably has a stall in the garage with my name on it by now. I may just trade that thing for a porsche boxster.

Ok, a 427 is a pushrod style valvetrain. The cam is set above the crank, between the cylender banks, from the cam, "pushrods" run up either bank of cyenders to the heads, where they are connected to rocker arms. The rocker arms press on the valve stems (which are connected to hydraulic lifters). This system has a lot of reciprocating parts, which is why it has issues with smoothness, also, it limits the car to 2 valves a cylender. this is why it limits performance. It does although create a head that allows wonderful flow at low end.

A more advanced car, say a Koenigsegg CC has Dual overhead cams. The cams sit in the head, above the cylender banks, and are driven from the crank by a long chain or belt. The cam (each bank has both an exhaust and intake cam) press on a direct acting finger that presses the valvestem against springs. Very few reciprocating parts, and it also allows for 4 or 5 valves per cylender, which allows more flow.

[izzyloveslizzy]

Man that's good info. Very informative. You should write a book!

Hey have you ever opened an engine up to actually see all the reciprocating parts? Say, your Volvo?

[thepolarfoxqx]

i've had the volvo opened up. i've had a few of them open. My volvo now is a single overhead cam layout, which has a belt linked to the cam overhead, which presses on short rocker arms that press the valves. think of this as a tradeoff between pushrod and dual cams. I have also helped out freinds tearing down and rebuilding smallblock V8s.

[izzyloveslizzy]

Sounds like you're more of an engine expert then I could ever be. I'd like to do that sort of thing with everything from the newest engines on the market to grey-market engines and old engines such as those of 1960's Citroens. I've never been fortunate enough to have an engine to open-up and mess with. Thus I know faar far less about all the cams and valves and shafts and chains and rocker-arms of different engines like you do. If I was in your position I'd have done some really crazy wacky stuff.

[thepolarfoxqx]

you can't really get too creative, your engine will quickly stop working. I prefer to get crazy with fuel delivery, intakes, and ofcourse - valve timing (i have always wanted to build a miller cycle engine)

[izzyloveslizzy]

Yeah I realize that. Unless you desing the engine yourself from the ground-up, you're not likely to be able to get anywhere (at least not safely) with messing up engines and, as you said, being too "creative". Of course some engines are better than others, and newer engines are overall obviously more permissive of modders to let their imaginations run wild. Newer engines, I understand (don't argue with me on this because I'm just saying hypothetically), complex as they may be, are also easier-going and less whiney and more responsive. I'd lke to buid an engine that eliminates valve-timing altogether.

[thepolarfoxqx]

get rid of valve timing? what like a two cycle - as in the weedwhacker and outboard type thing? Yeah, thier fun, but they are smokey, burn tons of gas, and aren't reliable. A wankel rotary engines still has valves, just not conventional ones. Most say the future lies in electronic valvetiming, but that is a long way off. You can't build an otto cycle engine without valve timing.

[izzyloveslizzy]

NO NO NO! I meant a completely new design - a new engine system that works in a way that would eliminate the need for using valves altgether. Obviously valves are essential to having healthy engines when it comes to current cylinder-based engines. Even rotary. I don't think I agree with that statement about the future though. The future lies in electric/hydrogen/hybrid engines, so Valves will most likely not even be in the equation (well, maybe for Hydrogen). But even power delivery and power-output will probably be based on concentrated-power systems where power generated in or flowing from any storage/motors will be converted to electricity and delevered to the wheels. Though this system is bigon hold big time, because the main problem that lies in "cocentration" and distribution of power with that method requires two steps and two layers of conversion equipment. One part will take on the task of brigning all the power in from different sources, and the other will convert that power from electricity (or whatever) to mechanical energy transferred directly (or indirectly) to the wheels.

[Patrick2]

just one little correction. the hydraulic lifters (or sometimes solid lifters) ride on the lobes of the cam shaft. from there you have the push rods going to the cylinder heads to connect with the rocker arms and it is the rocker arms that act on the valves. I guess you would know that having helped your friends with their V8s, just slipped your mind. I'm not trying to be anal. I just don't want anybody going away with the wrong information.