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Old 02-08-2011, 08:24 PM   #16 (permalink)
some_other_dave
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piwoslaw View Post
So if magnesium is too weak for large, high power engines, then I understand it's OK for small, underpowered, fuel sipping lumps?
Not too weak, just weaker than Aluminum. That means there are different constraints with it, and that a mag engine should be designed differently than an alu or cast-iron one. The biggest problems with the mag cases on the VWs and Porsches is that they used the same form and simply switched materials, rather than completely redesigning the engine around the new material.

That, and they kept growing the engines in displacement and in power without changing the crankcase, to the point where they were too much for the material.

-soD
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