It's a good thing Lexus uses engine covers

Jason C · 04-17-2007, 06:10 PM

Under the hood of a LS460. What is that boring plastic hiding from us?

Dr Brown, I'm sure the flux capacitor is somewhere in there...

Nick M3 · 04-17-2007, 06:20 PM

god help anyone who needs engine work done... I bet it costs $2,000 to get the spark plugs changed.

ff · 04-17-2007, 09:06 PM

I'll bet when you remove the bulky air boxes and intakes, it looks like most any other modern engine.

lupinsea · 04-18-2007, 01:26 AM

For strange reason, I find this sexier:

Ultima GTR

huh.

Thats the thing that I liked about the older engine bays, even on my '03 Miata. You could still SEE the engine. And in the case of the Miata they at least made some attempt to have the engine and valve cover look somewhat nice.

Some of the super cars, though, are beautifully done where the engine seems more like a work of fine art on display. Ferrari does this especially good.

Some samples (these aren't necessarily stock, nor super cars):

clicky clicky

*Plaz* · 04-18-2007, 06:29 AM

A distributor?

Presumably with points?

In 2007?!

John V · 04-18-2007, 06:47 AM

It's probably transistorized. I doubt there are points.

lemming · 04-18-2007, 07:37 AM

is the Toyo engine SAE rated?

John V · 04-18-2007, 07:50 AM

They all are.

lemming · 04-18-2007, 08:59 AM

that shot of the rear engine'd car looks like a good old chevy crate engine so it's distributor driven, i'd think.

lotsa power. really, really bad on emissions.

with that exhaust setup, it's not looking like the owner is really all that concerned about meeting CARB requirements, though.

lupinsea · 04-18-2007, 02:26 PM

That car was an Ultima GTR. Originally created by Lee Noble, it's made in the UK and was designed around the Chevy small block V8 and a Porsche Getrag transaxle. They have a deal with American Speed to supply the engine. I would imagine you could get a fuel injected V8 to fit in there, too, if you wanted.

The car weighs in at 990 kg (2200 lb.) . . . about the weight of an Elise.

But its chassis is rated for 1000 hp.

I believe Ultima's "standard spec road car", the GTR720 set some record in the standing quarter mile . . . which it might be able to do with that weight and a 720 hp V8. Hm. Anyways, 1/4 mile = 9.9 sec @ 143 mph.

0-60 = 2.6 sec

0-100-0 = 9.4 sec

Some crazy owner in Nevada was doing a twin-turbocharged V8 set up on his car.

Anyhoo. . . This has gotten a bit off topic but . . . videos.

0-100-0 run - I like the photos showing the car stopping at a drive through

German video of the GTR with the "small" 400 hp engine from a corvette

Magazine Reviews
Evo takes the Ultima GTR to the Isle of Man

Evo take Ultima to Le Mans

Evo: Ultima Trackday car - if the regular GTR is too sissy for you

Car and Driver transcription.

04-17-2007, 06:10 PM	#1
Jason C Carmudgeon Join Date: Jul 2004 Carmudgeonly Ride: Invalid Carriage Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,932	It's a good thing Lexus uses engine covers Under the hood of a LS460. What is that boring plastic hiding from us? Dr Brown, I'm sure the flux capacitor is somewhere in there...

04-17-2007, 06:20 PM	#2
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,456	god help anyone who needs engine work done... I bet it costs $2,000 to get the spark plugs changed. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

04-18-2007, 06:29 AM	#5
Plaz ••••••• Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '11 1M Location: Churzee Posts: 17,741	A distributor? Presumably with points? In 2007?! __________________ 2011 1M

04-18-2007, 07:37 AM	#7
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,594	is the Toyo engine SAE rated? __________________

04-18-2007, 08:59 AM	#9
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,594	that shot of the rear engine'd car looks like a good old chevy crate engine so it's distributor driven, i'd think. lotsa power. really, really bad on emissions. with that exhaust setup, it's not looking like the owner is really all that concerned about meeting CARB requirements, though. __________________

04-17-2007, 09:06 PM	#3
ff . Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 13,514	I'll bet when you remove the bulky air boxes and intakes, it looks like most any other modern engine.

04-18-2007, 01:26 AM	#4
lupinsea Jeeped Join Date: Sep 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata Location: Seattle Posts: 10,214	For strange reason, I find this sexier: Ultima GTR huh. Thats the thing that I liked about the older engine bays, even on my '03 Miata. You could still SEE the engine. And in the case of the Miata they at least made some attempt to have the engine and valve cover look somewhat nice. Some of the super cars, though, are beautifully done where the engine seems more like a work of fine art on display. Ferrari does this especially good. Some samples (these aren't necessarily stock, nor super cars): clicky clicky

04-18-2007, 06:47 AM	#6
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	It's probably transistorized. I doubt there are points.

04-18-2007, 07:50 AM	#8
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	They all are.

04-18-2007, 02:26 PM	#10
lupinsea Jeeped Join Date: Sep 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Modified Jeep Tj and '07 Miata Location: Seattle Posts: 10,214	That car was an Ultima GTR. Originally created by Lee Noble, it's made in the UK and was designed around the Chevy small block V8 and a Porsche Getrag transaxle. They have a deal with American Speed to supply the engine. I would imagine you could get a fuel injected V8 to fit in there, too, if you wanted. The car weighs in at 990 kg (2200 lb.) . . . about the weight of an Elise. But its chassis is rated for 1000 hp. I believe Ultima's "standard spec road car", the GTR720 set some record in the standing quarter mile . . . which it might be able to do with that weight and a 720 hp V8. Hm. Anyways, 1/4 mile = 9.9 sec @ 143 mph. 0-60 = 2.6 sec 0-100-0 = 9.4 sec Some crazy owner in Nevada was doing a twin-turbocharged V8 set up on his car. Anyhoo. . . This has gotten a bit off topic but . . . videos. 0-100-0 run - I like the photos showing the car stopping at a drive through German video of the GTR with the "small" 400 hp engine from a corvette Magazine Reviews Evo takes the Ultima GTR to the Isle of Man Evo take Ultima to Le Mans Evo: Ultima Trackday car - if the regular GTR is too sissy for you Car and Driver transcription.