Hi guys, I'm new here. I'm writing because my Formula SAE team currently has a f4i engine on the car and we are thinking about going to an RR one; my question though is, what are the main differences between the two? I know the RR one has a different fuel injection system, but what about the block? Is that the same? And the cylinder head?

I'm asking this because I was wondering if it could be possible to just adapt our f4i to RR changing the head and the injection system but keeping the same block.

I've seen they have the same bore, length and the compression ratio (well, until the 07 RR which goes to 12.2 against 12 of the earlier RR and of the f4i) so my guess is that the block might be the same, and possibly the pistons too, but I have no way of knowing for sure if not taking a RR engine apart, which right now I can't do...

 

Honestly, they're so similar, I wouldn't worry about another motor swap. Tuning, and injection is really the difference between the two. You could pull more horsies out of that F4i motor than ya think. I can't personally speak for the head change, but you could give it a shot and let us know haha.

 

Thanks for the reply I've found some diagrams of the two blocks and compared the part numbers and I've come up with the result that the block, while undoubtedly similar, is not exactly the same, so I don't think it's wise to risk buying an RR head and then not be able to fit it to the F block, if we will decide for the swap it will be the whole engine.

Our major problem is not the max power/torque figures (albeit they can be improved) but the high rev they are situated at ,so we are looking into some mods to move those values to lower revs, even if that might cost us something in terms of max output.

We've got a couple ideas tho, one would be an higher compression ratio, the other is to change the valve timing, at the extreme by fitting a variable valve timing system like Toyota's VVT-i but that's just me being over-ambitious I guess, my fellow teammembers are not so keen on that

 

You're not going to really move the power to lower revs without gearing changes. Good info though, glad you found it for yourself so people can find it in a search