easy question, which way does the engine spin?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
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easy question, which way does the engine spin?
If you're sitting in the car, which way does the engine turn? My gut tells me clockwise but it's late and I can't be sure.
Also, a friend of mine told me that Fords actually turn the opposite direction of GM products. Any truth to this?
Also, a friend of mine told me that Fords actually turn the opposite direction of GM products. Any truth to this?
Team Owner
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From: Athens AL
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Re: easy question, which way does the engine spin? (65Z01)
It turns CCW looking from the driver's seat; CW looking from front back.
Elite Torch Red Member
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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Re: easy question, which way does the engine spin? (Nathan Plemons)
If you're sitting in the car, which way does the engine turn? My gut tells me clockwise but it's late and I can't be sure.
Also, a friend of mine told me that Fords actually turn the opposite direction of GM products. Any truth to this?
Also, a friend of mine told me that Fords actually turn the opposite direction of GM products. Any truth to this?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Charleston, WV
Re: easy question, which way does the engine spin? (Mr Mojo)
No, all front engined rear drive American engines spin the same way....... EXCEPT for some dirt track race engines....... the are reversed on purpose to plant the right rear tire instead of lift it......... :seeya
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Race Director
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Re: easy question, which way does the engine spin? (Nathan Plemons)
:lol: I guess I'll just go have to look. Seems like if I punch the gas while sitting still it torques the car to the right, that's why I was thinking clockwise but my physics could be a little fuzzy.
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Instructor
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From: Tulsa ok
Re: easy question, which way does the engine spin? (vettmech)
No, all front engined rear drive American engines spin the same way....... EXCEPT for some dirt track race engines....... the are reversed on purpose to plant the right rear tire instead of lift it......... :seeya
Rotation is CLOCKWISE as viewed from the front of the engine. Even FORDS.
Multi Engined boats have one engine that is reversed.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
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From: Boston, MA
Yup, definitely CCW from sitting inside the car. When you use a timing light and you are "before top dead center" where is the timing mark on the balancer? Before the 0 mark closer to the top of the engine. When you are "after top dead center" where isthe timing mark on the balancer? After the 0 mark closer to the bottom of the engine. So the balancer is rotating TOWARDS you when you are standing there.
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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Re: easy question, which way does the engine spin? (Nathan Plemons)
:lol: I guess I'll just go have to look. Seems like if I punch the gas while sitting still it torques the car to the right, that's why I was thinking clockwise but my physics could be a little fuzzy.
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From: Huntsville AL
Re: easy question, which way does the engine spin? (vettmech)
No, all front engined rear drive American engines spin the same way....... EXCEPT for some dirt track race engines....... the are reversed on purpose to plant the right rear tire instead of lift it.........
Ah, of course, the midget classes, or whatever they're called. Those are rear-mounted engines, correct? So those would be turned 180 degrees compared to a front mounted engine. If they turned the same direction, you now have the engine torquing the car to the left, not the right. Making them run with opposite spin will now put pressure on the right side of the car.
Now I can say
:smash: :D
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From: Boston, MA
Okay, now MY physics must be off. It's been shown that American engines rotate CCW. This tries to rotate the car CW as sitting in it, so that puts more pressure on the right side of the car, correct? What am I missing?
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From: Athens AL
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Re: (scorp508)
The engine torques the frame in such a way that the right rear gets light. This is why you will commonly see battery relocation kits mounted over the right/rear tire. :)
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From: Cave Creek AZ
Re: easy question, which way does the engine spin? (Nathan Plemons)
From the driver's seat the crank shaft is turning in a CCW direction. This in turn attempts to turn the block in a CW direction, the equal an opposite reaction. The engine block torque is transfered to the frame through the engine and tranny mounts. Thus trying to rotate the car body in a CW direction. If the block wasn't fixed it would try to spin round and round just like the crank shaft. This is similar to a helicopter that loses its tail rotor. The body of the helicoper begins to spin because there is nothing to counteract the torque.
:)
:)