Big block like never seen before...!!!

Rob

Lifetime Supporter
This is no joke! Check out the pics and the pasted string for more info. This guy put a sherman tank all alum 1100 CID V8 into a 1970 Mustang. Mr McCall...don't think you could hang with this boy! At least not in a straight line......

Don't know who he is. Buddy sent it to me, and thought I'd share.

Enjoy.... Rob

Pasted string follows:
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Now this is what you call a Big block!!!


Just thought I'd share some before and after pictures of my 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.

I've been working on getting one of mine going for the last couple of
years, and should be cranking it within a week or so. (Embedded image
moved to file: It's setting in my 70 Mustang right now which
I plan on taking on short cruises when finished, 24 gallons of alcohol
wont go very far. It is bolted to a heavily modified Powerglide right now.
Wilcap ( Pat McGuire ) built the adapter and flexplate for me.

I drove to BFE Nebraska to get my first 2 engines. I ended up with 5 more
in a package deal just 50 miles from my house a year later.
Stock with all the tank accessories 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.
They sound neat, not like a normal V8 due the 180 degree crank. More like
a Cosworth on serious steroids. I'll try to get some sort of video when I
crank it. I only have dail-up but I'll figure out something. The tractor
version has 2, 103mm turbos going on it which should be good for about
32-34 pounds of boost. I thought about trying to use one of them on the
Mustang, but I haven't decided where to mount it yet. I also have a dual
6-71 blower setup that came with the 5 engine package deal that really
looks awesome. The 2, 6-71's bolt end to end and use a coupler in between
them to drive the second blower similar to a 12-71 Detroit diesel. The
only problem is that is another 150 lbs. over the front axle. I may still
try it later though.

Here is another picture. The engine on top has the dual 6-71's that were
38% overdriven, those zoomies have 3'' primaries. The engine on the bottom
belongs to a tractor puller in Kansas. He used that one, twin turbo engine
to win the nationals back in the mid-eighties, beating numerous triple
Hemi and BBC powered tractors along the way. He claimed 3600HP with 34 psi
and alky. I imagine that # isn't far off because a 12'' 4 disc. Crower
clutch was having hell holding it. It used a stock crank, rods, cams, and
turned 5000+ rpm on a regular basis.

That's why the 2 blowers aren't sitting on it yet. The radiator will be in
back, along with the 2nd fuel cell, batteries, etc. I think its going to ok
though. I weigh 240, and I can't make it come close to bottoming out
jumping up and down on the front end. It really doesn't weigh much more
than a blown iron Hemi or BBC would. Enderle injected, 2 nozzles per cyl,
2 Impco 3.80'' throttle bodies. It is all aluminum, pan to valve covers,
no silver paint here. I probably have 80 to 100 hrs. of time invested in
polishing the pan, frt. cover, block, heads, and valve covers just to
bring them to a satin finish.

Here's a video I took of a Sherman engine running with the stock carbs and
ignition
YouTube - Sherman Tank Engine

Supposedly this V-8 shares the same bore, stroke, and bore spacing as a RR
Merlin V-12. Ford took 4 of the cylinders off to help create the tank
engine.
I've read that the diesel Sherman's were actually used by the Canadians.
Death trap is a really good read. It will give you some insight as to how
these vehicles were kept in running condition out in the field. U.S. armor
had to be repaired in the field in make shift repair areas. The Germans
planned on returning their broken or damaged tanks by rail to the
factories for repairs. A certain percentage of factory floor space was
reserved for the repair of damaged vehicles. Because of extensive allied
bombing the return of damaged vehicles was never really possible in great
numbers. The Germans also hoped to transport their heavy armor as close as
possible to the battlefield. Once again, because of allied bombing this
was often difficult cult. T hey were forced to actually drive to the
battlefields and the increased wear and tear was a real problem for their
more complicated, more difficult to repair and maintain tanks.
 

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Keith

Moderator
Hmmmm. Ford seem to like that "GAA" tag. They also gave it to the much much later 3.4 litre DOHC V6 that was so successful in European tin top racing (Cologne Capris?)
 
There is a guy in the UK, Charlie Broomfield, who writes a column for Practical Performance Car Magazine who has done something similar in mating a 27 litre meteor (i.e non supercharge merlin engine) in a rover SD1. Saw it at Goodwood last year and it was quite a sight. They used to start it up on the hour and it drew rathera large crowd.

The car now runs and has home made EFI but i believe the plan is to fit twin turbos to get the power up to 1001 bhp (1 more than the Veyron!) The current BHP is 650 so a few more than the sherman/mustang!

Attached are a couple of utube videos which are admittedly not the most exciting but give a good impression. Good noise though.

YouTube - 27 litre Rover starting up
YouTube - 27 Litre Rover SD1 reversing out
 

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in searching for the Meteor engined SD1 above I did also come across these!

This Merlin-engined 55 Chevy was recently completed in the States. The workmanship and finish appear to be of the highest standards - I think this did actually come up on ebay 18 months ago but failed to reach its reserve. It is not exactly something you would miss if you spotted it! Anyone recall seeing it?

Also a merlin engined Trike!
 

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All VERY COOL indeed !

But check out this site to see the absolute King of all Recip's.

Imagine running the valves on that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

weakforcepress.com/tornado_2.htm

rockonsmile
 
Minor correction on the merlin powered 55 chev. It was actually built here in Oz by Rod Hadfield, A gent of some distinction when it comes to custom vehicles.

Rod started and ran the Castlmaine Rod Shop for many many years and at the back had a bit of a museum containing all his vehicles. He has since sold the business.

To see that car in person leaves you in complete bewilderment as to how Rod had the vision and dedication to produce such an amazing piece of work.

Utterly brilliant.
 

Peter Delaney

GT40s Supporter
An old magazine article on the 55 indicated that Ron actually got "Club Plates" rego on this car - imagine going on a cruise (with fuel tanker following) !!

Awesome !

Kind Regards,

Peter D.
 
milesdearden said:
in searching for the Meteor engined SD1 above I did also come across these!

This Merlin-engined 55 Chevy was recently completed in the States. The workmanship and finish appear to be of the highest standards - I think this did actually come up on ebay 18 months ago but failed to reach its reserve. It is not exactly something you would miss if you spotted it! Anyone recall seeing it?
This car was built by Rod Hadfield who owns a custom rod shop in Castlemaine, Victoria about an hour and a half from Melbourne. I did get a look at this car a few years ago and it is a pretty neat bit of gear. I thought that the car was taken to the USA and sold. I was told that Jay Leno had purchased it, although I can’t be sure of this.

Here’s the link to their site.

The Castlemaine Rod Shop Home Page

Cheers,
Danny
 
in searching for the Meteor engined SD1 above I did also come across these!

This Merlin-engined 55 Chevy was recently completed in the States. The workmanship and finish appear to be of the highest standards - I think this did actually come up on ebay 18 months ago but failed to reach its reserve. It is not exactly something you would miss if you spotted it! Anyone recall seeing it?

Also a merlin engined Trike!

I have seen it and know the guy here in CA that owns it. It's a hoot to watch him drive that thing around his hometown with the body off. I've been trying to get him to take it to the Reno Air Races since he bought it a while back. He says if he does, I get to be his crew cheif. He is so busy that he has not had the time to commit for the display at the Air Show. You think that is something, you should see some of the other car toys he has in his 8,000 or maybe its 12,000 now sq ft garage.


Leonard
 
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