All aluminum 1100 cubic inch V8

Strip Poker 388 · Post by **Strip Poker 388** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:05 am

I wonder how heavy this is???

JCR · Post by **JCR** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:37 am

The original link is now broken but was here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/show ... p?t=159833

Its a Ford Sherman tank engine. All aluminum DOHC shaft driven cams. From the original thread, "Stock with all the tank accesories they weigh 1400 lbs. I've got it down to 960 lbs. now which is liveable, not much more than a blown cast iron Hemi or BBC."

machine shop tom · Post by **machine shop tom** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:17 am

We need some go fast parts for that baby. DARIN! WE NEED A MANIFOLD!!

TOM

gimmemud · Post by **gimmemud** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:55 am

What kind of hp would you expect from that beast??

Strip Poker 388 · Post by **Strip Poker 388** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:02 pm

the ooooh aaaaaah factor ,cool motor

Ford GAA tank engine. All aluminum 1100 cubic inch V8 used in WWII Sherman Tanks. These were gas burners rated at 500 HP and 1050 Ft. Lbs. of torque for military service, but are capable of much much more using mostly stock parts. They feature a 60 degree vee, 5.4 bore x 6.0 stroke, 180 degree factory billet cranks, pent roof combustion chambers, shaft driven DOHC's, 4 valves per cylinder, and dual mags. They are pretty high tech. engines, especially considering they were built in the early 40's.

PackardV8 · Post by **PackardV8** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:12 pm

FWIW, I have had one ride in a restored Sherm with one of these monsters. It confirmed what you might expect considering a 6" stroke on a 180-degree crank in an aluminum engine - that Mustang better have some serious reinforcement of the mounts, frame and front suspension.

thnx, jv.

Unkl Ian · Post by **Unkl Ian** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 4:16 pm

gimmemud wrote:What kind of hp would you expect from that beast??

The exhaust manifold should give a clue.
Max HP doesn't seem to be the #1 priority.

Warpspeed · Post by **Warpspeed** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:27 pm

With a six inch stroke and some probably quite heavy pistons, that sucker is not going to want to rev, even with four valves per hole.

Sounds fairly comparable to a Merlin in many respects but with four less cylinders. A Merlin also has a bore of 5.4" and a stroke of 6.0" with a capacity of 27 litres (1,647 cubic inches)

Probably fairly similar in a lot of other dimensions. But I bet a V12 Merlin runs a lot more smoothly.

Darin Morgan · Post by **Darin Morgan** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:40 pm

Thats exactly what I was thinking. The Merlins massive components and poor breathing potential make it wholly inadequate as a normally aspirated engine.

This sounds like a very expensive project. I am not sure of how good the internal components are but I suspect that in order to turn the thing up in and extract 1.5 to 1.6HP/cid your going to need custom pistons, custom billet rods, over size valve, custom induction system,custom exhaust system and a multitude of other custom components like cams, followers, gaskets and oiling system. I don't want to burst your bubble because its really a cool, neat and crazy thing to do but its going to take time and money. I would love to see the heads! I will inspect them and do a cost analysis on what it will cost to make these things work, and do it for for nothing. All you have to do is ship them to me. Hell, your only out the cost of shipping if you don't like what I tell you. I will tell you that its going to cost a fortune!

PackardV8 · Post by **PackardV8** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:43 pm

My point was about vibration. A 6" stroke 180-degree crank V8 has serious secondary vibration issues. The Merlin V12 was inherently in balance.

thnx, jv.

Unkl Ian · Post by **Unkl Ian** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:51 pm

What rpm range were they originally designed to operate in ?

Probably pretty low by todays standards.

Warpspeed · Post by **Warpspeed** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:05 pm

As I remember the Merlins operated at around 2,500 rpm maximum. But remember, as an aero engine they were rated to run at that speed at full throttle continuously for hours. I would be surprised if a comparable tank engine ran any faster.

Personally I would prefer to mate a couple of 500 inch V8s to make a V16. At least all the hardware would be available off the shelf to reach reasonable specific power.

sleeper sedan · Post by **sleeper sedan** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:50 pm

... engine RPM for aircraft a lot of times are dictated by prop [tip] speed. Not trying to say he's got potentially a 6,000 RPM tank engine on his hands... <chuckle>
Gear the car accordingly. Have fun with your 1:1 scale Mattel Zinger.

Warpspeed · Post by **Warpspeed** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:19 pm

Piston aircraft engines are often geared, and the Merlin certainly was.

The main reason is to raise the propeller axis well above crankshaft height to place the centre of propeller thrust more in line with the centre of aerodynamic pressure (drag) of the airframe.

This creates less pitching effect when you suddenly vary the throttle. It also gives the propeller more ground clearance necessary for landing. It also lowers the engine in the airframe to place the centre of mass in line with everything else. A good handling aircraft is an even greater joy to fly than a good handling race car is to drive.

Speed matching engine to the prop is also a factor.

jacksoni · Post by **jacksoni** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:28 pm

PackardV8 wrote:FWIW, I have had one ride in a restored Sherm with one of these monsters. It confirmed what you might expect considering a 6" stroke on a 180-degree crank in an aluminum engine - that Mustang better have some serious reinforcement of the mounts, frame and front suspension.

thnx, jv.

Don't remember exactly but sometime early '80's someone showed up at Bonneville with one of these in a front engine dragster chassis. It was really "loosy, goosey" with flex and they wouldn't let him run (we were all terribly disappointed as it looked and sounded neat) fearing that at some high rate of speed might get sort of out of shape and kill him with the chassis flex. But yeah, a real project for the local drive in!