Welcome to Mean Gringo Bob's "Dark Side" of Automotive Technology

   this page:  www.bacomatic.org/~dw/cars/bob/darkside.htm
    email to:  dlwilliams*aristotle.net  (Dave Williams)
               bob*bobthecomputerguy.com (Robert Harris)
last updated:  08/26/2007
What is the Dark Side?
The Dark Side is a collection of messages, notes, and short monographs about automotive technology.

Robert is the one who coined the term "Dark Side", as part of his idea for doing a different sort of engine management system. We eventually began using the term to symbolize taking an unconventional approach to solving problems.

Some of the stuff below is serious. Some of it's just bench racing and brainstorming. I'll let you decide which is which; that's half the fun. Most of the material is summarized from much longer discussions. If there's any interest in it I'll go back through my archives and fill in the details.

Meanwhile, enjoy your visit to the Dark Side...

"To some life is a delicate flower.
I think for Bob, it's a chew toy" - Bruce Plecan

Bob's Blog

  • scurrilous and irreverent (and irrelevant) rantology...

    Fuel Systems

  • --the 'anti-carb' - the beginning of the Dark Side--
  • --the Packard Fuelizer device--
  • --fuel 'de-jection' - the Dark Side way--
  • --independent runner intakes--
  • --more thoughts on independent runner intakes--
  • --EFI control algorithms--
  • --pressure carburetors--

    Fuels

  • --acetone as fuel additive--
  • --"Producer gas" alternate fuel I - generation--
  • --"Producer gas" alternate fuel II - fuelizer review--
  • --"Producer gas" alternate fuel III - gasocrap again--
  • --Gasocrap - if it burns, use it!--
  • --bi-fuels and emulsions--
  • --ammonium hydroxide and ammonia as fuel additives--
  • --hydrazine as fuel additive--
  • --hydrogen and combustion--
  • --hydrogen and combustion II--
  • --R Fluid update--
  • --magnesium nitrate as an additive--
  • --cyanuric acid as an additive--
  • --commentary on Hartman's fuel book--
  • --Duckword and n-heptane--
  • --BIOS and nitrous oxide--
  • --Pettit nitrous book review--
  • --BIOS and nitroparaffins--
  • --xylene, toluene, benzine--
  • --nitromethane and alcohol--
  • --hydrogen peroxide--
  • --experiments with cetane improver--
  • --halogens--
  • --benzene and aromatics--
  • --leaded fuel--
  • --propane--
  • --powdered magnesium as a fuel additive--

    Combustion

  • --DIY May Fireball chamber conversion--
  • "--May Fireball chamber theory--
  • --mixture and stoich--
  • --mixture and stoich II--
  • --Waukesha variable compression system--
  • --thoughts on low compression engines--
  • --limits of combustion--
  • --AFR and power--
  • --green flames--
  • --this quench thing--
  • --lean burn--
  • --knock and heat transfer--
  • --homogenous combustion--
  • --combustion and equilibrium--
  • --combustion and water--
  • --volumetric heat--
  • --combustion and dihydrogen monoxide--
  • --Diesel knock--
  • --Glassman and combustion--
  • --water and stoichiomatry--
  • --ignition and combustion--

    Exhaust Systems

  • --exhaust system overview--
  • --V8 header pipe arrangement--
  • --exhaust blowdown and cam timing--
  • --exhaust ejector - use exhaust flow to pump intake column--
  • --switched stubs to tune resonance--
  • --Birmann exhaust events--
  • --Buchi, Birmann, and back pressure--
  • --the Buchi exhaust system--
  • --pulse convertor patents--

    Supercharging

  • --use a V-1 type pulse jet as a supercharger?--
  • --the propane intercooler--
  • --boost and efficiency--
  • --high boost and reliability--
  • --high boost and reliability II--
  • --Laval nozzles, ejectors, and intercooling--
  • --more Laval stuff----
  • --NACA papers on aircraft turbocharging--
  • --NACA papers on water injection--
  • --turbocharging and ceramics--
  • --turbocharging and CR--
  • --turbo boost control--
  • --turbo boost control II--
  • --TC2 and boost control--
  • --boost regions--
  • --boost and acoustical tuning--
  • --Roots superchargers--
  • --low pressure supercharging--

    Reciprocating Assembly

  • --wristpin and crankshaft offsets--
  • --thoughts on connecting rod length--
  • --crosshead pistons--
  • --piston oiling--
  • --gas lubricated pistons--

    Valvetrain

  • --hybrid valves - poppet intake, rotary exhaust--
  • --"two stroked" flathead engines--
  • --NACA and scavenging--
  • --BIOS and overlap--

    Assorted Tech

  • --engine temp, warmup speed, and power--
  • --thoughts on EGR--
  • --Otto, Rankine, and boost--
  • --Otto, Brayton, Ericsson cycles--
  • --the Brayton cycle--
  • --the WIBU system--
  • --neon lights and ignition--
  • --Buick Dual Path transmission--
  • --intake stacks and runners--
  • --CO monitoring for feedback--
  • --colloidal graphite in coolant--
  • --overdriving your torque convertor--
  • --brazing cast iron--
  • --intake wideband?--
  • --waste heat recovery--
  • --two stroke Diesels--
  • --knock detection--
  • --adiabatic engines--
  • --boric acid as a lubricant--