An internal combustion engine really doesn't care which way it turns,
HOWEVER, with a TYPICAL 4 CYCLE automotive engine, its the camshaft, or
more importantly which valve opens first for each two revolutions of the
crankshaft that determines which direction the engine will run. That said
it would be IMPOSSIBLE for an otherwise stock Spitfire engine, or ANY four
cycle engine for that matter, to run in opposite direction from that which
it was designed to. You could of course make a cam that would allow this
(which some marine engines have, for dual applications) but that's the only
way to accomplish this. Now run on is another matter - and that does, very
frequently cause the engine to "run" for a brief period, in the opposite
direction. Quite possibly that was what this person was referring to -
Barry Schwartz (San Diego) bschwart@pacbell.net
72 PI, V6 Spitfire (daily driver)
70 GT6+ (when I don't drive the Spit)
70 Spitfire (long term project)
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