Okay, we have "slud" off the edge. (what baseball player used that term?)
Uh, oh...slide rule warning! We went to the moon on slide rules in vehicles designed by "injineers" using lead and mylar (paper) and triangular rulers. In my old engineering days, the use of (getting caught) with an "electronic calculator" in class was an automatic "F".
We don't really have a fully functioning anti-ICBM missile desiged with electronics targeting and navigation systems. But I remember that the old Nike-X was fully capable and I thought ran fluidics control systems. But I'll bet politically in engineering circles, "digital" is the only acceptable approach. Some older proven approaches may not come up to the radar.
I have known the Dean of Engineering of Tulane U. for several years. He was concerned because the old profs could not keep up with the younger ones in the use of computers. I warned him that he was only observing the ease of learning the Graphical User Interfaces (GUI's), aka Windows. The underlying engineering principles have not changed in 5 billion years, so a call by a GUI to a bad engineering principal or design algorithm produces, guess what, bad designs!! Please ask me about total disaster dll's underlying modern computer systems. Somearegreat, somearenot...a lot are not so great. But then after 2-3 years the vendor will get it right. P.s., most IT people agree don't deploy version "dot-oh". That would include aluminum parts. Ask Ford about the "vunderful" sintered aluminum idler/steering arms that cracked just being driven out into the street. This on a car designed for 200mph. Thrill a minute if let go at top speed. P.s.2, dropped forged steel replaced arm I think.
The continuous duty rating of the GM 6-71 was mentioned as 175hp (thought it was 185, whatever), but I do wonder if any of the aluminum engines mentioned could function out in an oilfield running 24x7 for months with next to no maintenance performed by good-ole-boys carry a 5 pound sledege, vise grips, and cresent wrench for tools.
OBTW that is what in-the-field procedures should allow (low-tech but effective maintenance) and call for. Modern management practices clearly include TCO (total cost of ownership) and TLC (total life cycle) support, esp. in-the-field technical maintenance and support. Sometimes high tech, high cost approaches are indicated, but where cost is a factor, ease and low cost rule the day, given a certain "grade of quality".
I wonder if we we see a change to aluminum bridges, after the collapse in Minnesota. I hope not. I prefer steel and concrete. OBTW2, I thought Al was subject to much lower levels of fatigue factors, than some other metals. So much depends on the application.
Mercedes Benz has had a lovely line of aluminum block engines for 12-15 years, but while they run at WOT in Europe, I have not seen any of them pop up "marinized" in the US in boats that is.
Regarding un-proven diesel engine designs, I thought MAN produced those for awhile. I've read (been told) that after full re-builds, they would blow out the tops of pistions on the maiden sea trial. Not encouraging and very good diesel techs called them MAN grenades. Oh, wel..
My 40 something sons once asked me why I like all old stuff. I replied I don't like all old stuff, just the really good designs that have proven their durability and longevity.
As Desi would say, "Done wurry Luzi", when the feds jack up the cafe stds so your Ford F350 has to get 35mpg (I'm not joking here), you'll have alumunum blocks spinning 10k rpm, with carbon fiber frames and bodies (we just have cheap drop forged aluminum currently LOL), with a dash of kevlar (its already in tires). Of course they'll cost $100k to produce. The feds love to have you spend your money in your own best interest.
Woof, another long post...hope I don't get into trouble with the posting review gods...
Just cause somebody is old doesn't mean they are always correct and just because somebody is young doesn't mean they are always wrong lol
