The world of automotive modifications is as diverse as the people who are a part of it. From simple aesthetic changes to a complete reinvention of a car, enthusiasts leave no stone unturned. Within this universe, the YouTube channel Garage54 is often considered the pinnacle of creativity. Led by a spirited group of Russian mechanics, Garage54 has earned a reputation for its out-of-the-box approach to modify cars in the most unusually extreme ways. Following the tradition, this time, they have transformed a regular four-cylinder engine into a cross-plane crank, a technical feat that is not known to many.
What is a Cross-plane Crank?
Unlike a conventional four-cylinder engine that has a flat-plane crank with two crank journals facing up and the other two down, i.e., up, down, down, up, a cross-plane four-cylinder crank is more like up, left, right, down. This means that all of the journals are 90 degrees apart. Such a configuration is very uncommon in four-cylinder engines, and the only production vehicle known to have this engine setup is the Yamaha R1 motorcycle.
The Beginning of an Unconventional Modification
Continuing with their streak of making the impossible possible, the mechanics at Garage54 embarked on a unique journey. They set their eyes on a Lada engine, famous for its robustness and low maintenance. Their modus operandi for transforming the flat-plane crank of the Lada engine into a cross-plane crank is pretty mindful too. They first cut the crank into four pieces and placed it back on its bearings inside the engine. This was then followed by carefully welding it in the same position.
Altering the engine components
Merely modifying the crank was half the job. Since the engine now had a new firing order, the camshaft and distributor also required reconfiguration. The mechanics cut up and re-welded the cam. Attempting the same with the distributor wasn’t as successful and they ended up utilizing half of a V-8 distributor.
The Result: A Lada with Character
Once all modifications were made and everything was running smoothly, the Lada was finally rolled out of the garage. It’s only when the engine revs high that one can witness the radical transformation. Emitting a sound similar to a “skim-milk V-8”, the odd firing order gives the engine an unusual lope. Besides the fact that the engine now cannot rev as high as before, which is an understandable trade-off, the results of this unconventional modification were surprisingly impressive.
Garage54: Pioneers of Inventive Car Modifications
Given Garage54’s history of adventurous modifications, this Lada engine experiment doesn’t come as a surprise. Their previous attempts include making an inline-six out of two Lada engines. Even though such experiments may not have a practical application, they undeniably prove the creativity, dedication, and resourcefulness of these mechanics. The magic of Garage54 lies not just in their imagination, but their ability to materialize that imagination into a hard, driving reality.