"horizontally opposed"
 

I was having an arguement with a friend of mine who drives a 3000GT about the definition of horizontally opposed. I'm pretty sure its the boxster engine configuation where the cylanders oppose eachother. HE claims it relates to the position of the engine in the car. Meaning that horizontally opposed engines are mounted so the cam points across the car perpendicular to the direction of travel.

I just want to make sure i'm not a complete idiot and confirm my belief that he is. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

()= =()
()= =() <-- opposed engine (also called "flat") from the top veiw


you are right, gottacatchup. Porsche and Subaru use this configuration heavily still.

In general you're right. In boxer, or "flat" engines, "horizontally opposed" is fairly common term to describe the cylinder configuration.

I guess someone could use the term the way he did, but that's usually called a transverse engine, not horizontal (as opposed to when it's pointing the length of the car, called longitudinal. what would they call it in his terms? vertical?)

Re: "horizontally opposed"
 

He's wrong you're right

Heres a nice picture :D

http://img211.exs.cx/img211/4117/engineflat45jr.jpg

Horizontally Opposed = Boxer = Flat = 180 degree V engine.

this could be something shorter....

longitudinal: the crankshat of the engine is aligned with the length of the car
transversal: the crankshaft is... at 90° of the car's lenght

one of the carachteristics of the boxer/horizontally opposed/flat engine is that one cylinder is at the top dead (shitteee! I don't remember the name of that point) , the other is at the bottom

and you're right

That's what the aircraft engines have been called for forever and a day.The term 'horizontally opposed engine' is listed in the FAA Airframe and Powerplant training books.
http://www.bcam.net/engines/lycoming/lycoming.jpg

still the best Boxer engine 4 me 2 date is the One from the Porche 917k LM....Old but still its damn powerful....I think the most pwoerful Boxer engine still...

TDC - top dead center

Honda currently uses Horizontally opposed engines in their bikes aswell.

In a select few... a very select few... ;)

That's not entirely true.

In a boxer engine, opposite pistons move in the opposite direction. If one moves outwards, the other one will also move outwards. So if one piston moves to the right, the opposite one moves to the left.

In a 180° V engine, opposite pistons move in the same direction. If one piston moves outwards, the other one will move inwards. So if one moves to the right, the opposite one will also move to the right.