The NC1 Engine

Did you see the specs on the aborted N.A. engine? I joke about Honda only wanting to give us 300hp over and over again. Only recently they surpassed it with the Jnc1 and J30c1.
I did not. What platform was that supposed to power?
 
oh wow! I did not know that.
They probably had to rethink the plan since even with electric motors they would have only 400hp with that combo and 400hp is not enough to move 3800lbs. I think they could have got away with the n.a. engine and building that for boost but it would have to be rengineered to handle boost vs using architecture from their formula v6 turbo engines from the late 80s.They likely took architecture inspiration and added electric motors to attain their hp goals. I guess that's where Cosworth with its formula engine manufacturing experience enters the storyline.Below is the Jnc1 and the older honda v6 formula engine. Some similarities and some differences forsure. I guess that's why when Ted klaus said the Nc1 Nsx is ready to go straight to gt3 racing with its stock engine is because the engine's engineering must have been derived heavily from formula 1 in the past.
 

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The NC1 ice is really a conservative tune. At 520 hp and 3.5 L. The ethos was having confidence in running it all day and not sweating track days.
 
All the oil cans for the dry sump are welded by the same Italian woman..
All the torque tools in pmc are connected to the central network to confirm proper specs
nothing at pmc was rushed. The cars spent as much time at each station as the humans needed.
the cars are shaken and doused pretty severely before signed off
Shaken and doused? Love it.Sounds like they’re pledging a fraternity. Do you know any specifics?
 
The original engine was conceptualized as a 3.5L J35 DOHC VTEC derivative of the V10 for the aborted HSV and intended for fast-spooling, low boost twin turbos and direct injection. It would have had a 8000-9000 rpm redline in final form and around 500 hp. Honda Japan was intent on this engine, as they viewed it as a natural progression from the C32B. However, the US Acura based team, which was leading the project, decided late in the design process that the car had to go racing in GT3. GT3 is mostly endurance racing and the production-car based J35 would not cut it on reliability. They scrapped it completely and started over. There was no time for Honda's internal team to engineer a new engine, so they reached out to Cosworth to do the heavy lifting while they focused on chassis dynamics. The JNC1 is a completely different concept- low rpm, conservative tune and built like a tank. They succeeded- it can go do 12 and 24 hour races without missing a beat and delivered many GT3 podiums. It also paired well with the hybrid system. But some of us (and many back at Honda) would have preferred the exotic original concept.

I recall reading that the J35 pushing the test mule around the track was basically pulled from the Anna plant line for MDX engines!
 
The original engine was conceptualized as a 3.5L J35 DOHC VTEC derivative of the V10 for the aborted HSV and intended for fast-spooling, low boost twin turbos and direct injection. It would have had a 8000-9000 rpm redline in final form and around 500 hp. Honda Japan was intent on this engine, as they viewed it as a natural progression from the C32B. However, the US Acura based team, which was leading the project, decided late in the design process that the car had to go racing in GT3. GT3 is mostly endurance racing and the production-car based J35 would not cut it on reliability. They scrapped it completely and started over. There was no time for Honda's internal team to engineer a new engine, so they reached out to Cosworth to do the heavy lifting while they focused on chassis dynamics. The JNC1 is a completely different concept- low rpm, conservative tune and built like a tank. They succeeded- it can go do 12 and 24 hour races without missing a beat and delivered many GT3 podiums. It also paired well with the hybrid system. But some of us (and many back at Honda) would have preferred the exotic original concept.

I recall reading that the J35 pushing the test mule around the track was basically pulled from the Anna plant line for MDX engines!

What is your impression of the strength of the engine internals as we approach higher aftermarket torque loads? Particularly the forged crank & rods, and cast pistons.
 
What is your impression of the strength of the engine internals as we approach higher aftermarket torque loads? Particularly the forged crank & rods, and cast pistons.
You should ask @docjohn, who was able to tour the PMC and speak to the engineers directly. Given that the internals are designed to run a 24 hour race at full throttle over and over without breaking, there's likely some safety margin in there. How much only Cosworth knows.
 
exactly, very well built/robust/balanced. Made to last in its baseline tune.
 
Shaken and doused? Love it.Sounds like they’re pledging a fraternity. Do you know any specifics?
yes they have a 4 wheel shake and bake rack and a indoor water spritz that could drown an elephant
 
exactly, very well built/robust/balanced. Made to last in its baseline tune.
Thanks for weighing in @docjohn . Only a matter of time before we're able to assess it's longevity in higher power output forms.
 
each engine is mated to the DCT and the whole unit is spun and balance weights added...you can tell the moment you start driving an NC1 compared to other comparable supercars just how smooth it is.
 
Each ice is dyno run in a very fancy contraption until the builders are satisfied before the DCT is mated...so wrung out by hand..which I had the pleasure of doing in public...
 
each engine is mated to the DCT and the whole unit is spun and balance weights added...you can tell the moment you start driving an NC1 compared to other comparable supercars just how smooth it is.
The idle and start up on mine is so smooth. It doesn’t even sound real.
 
each engine is mated to the DCT and the whole unit is spun and balance weights added...you can tell the moment you start driving an NC1 compared to other comparable supercars just how smooth it is.
Makes you wonder how NC1's that require drivetrain component replacement are handled. Are they sent to PMC to receive the same treatment as a new build or do Acura techs do the work in their local shop?
 
When Lee was the Internal NSX Specialist, the points he made for going with Cosworth were:
Honda did not have a low production oriented facility for the NSX motor.
They liked the plasma-ion spray coating Cosworth uses.
Honda engineers had to go help Cosworth figure out how to increase their production capacity to align with the 1600 road car plus however many race car units per year Honda planned/targeted to sell.
 
since we are love festing the NC1 ice here are a few random shots of the engine build compound which is separate from the pmc at the Anna plant

the first is general assembly, the second is completed ice/tranny, 3rd is the ice dyno
 

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