Did you experience the Speed 12?
Discussion
450Nick said:
I remember speaking to John Reid about the engines last summer and he explained that all parts were machined by hand which turned out to be very expensive and at times caused some unreliability in the early forrays into racing. Though he reckoned that the last incarnations were pretty good, though required fairly regular rebuilds due to their racing nature. He also said that he knew of only two engines that were still in existance. The one in the road car, and another he knew of (possibly the one V8 GRF mentioned) which he reckoned wasn't currently useable, but could be made to run fairly easily.
Thats interestinng. How would one (for arguments sake) go about getting their hands on a NEW one of these engines? Who has the designs/tools etc? One would assume that in detuned guise coupled with recent improvements to the S6 you could have a decent usable engine which would still sound like hell on earth and take you to 200mph! IIRC the AJP 8 and speed 6 designs originated from an AJP 12 design, so the 12 actually came first. As mentioned in the article, the 12 is pretty much just two speed sixes mated together, but a lot of parts will be bespoke eg crank etc. I believe that the 5 engines made had all of the specialist parts machined by hand, but there will be designs for them. The best bet would be to give Melling a ring I would have thought? It would be expensive, probably very expensive but I'm sure its possible! Pistonheads Speed 12 engine group buy from Melling anyone??
450Nick said:
IIRC the AJP 8 and speed 6 designs originated from an AJP 12 design, so the 12 actually came first. As mentioned in the article, the 12 is pretty much just two speed sixes mated together, but a lot of parts will be bespoke eg crank etc. I believe that the 5 engines made had all of the specialist parts machined by hand, but there will be designs for them. The best bet would be to give Melling a ring I would have thought? It would be expensive, probably very expensive but I'm sure its possible! Pistonheads Speed 12 engine group buy from Melling anyone??
The AJP8 was theoretically modular - hence its V-angle of 75˚ midway between the optimum 90˚ (V8) and 60˚ (V12).The AJP6/Speed Six is entirely different.
The Speed 12 engine was a TVR design with a unique fabricated block that used Speed Six heads (one of which was cut'n'shut).
O/T Melling's 75˚ V10 is clearly part of the "modular" group, it looks exactly like an AJP8 with an extra cylinder pair.
450Nick said:
Ah good point! Looking at the EVO article, it also says that the speed 12 is 90 degree. Wasn't the 75 degree AJP8 only done for packaging reasons though?
75˚ does make a compact V8, but its roots are in a compromise made for the V8-to-V12 scheme (which I believe is what TVR commissioned MCD to design). I'm not sure how well a 60˚ bent-eight would work; equally a 90˚ V12 would be very wide... The Speed 12 motor, at 90˚, is a hell of a lump. I suspect - but don't know - that it ended up at 90˚ through a combination of the size of the Speed Six heads; induction packaging in the vee and reducing the overall height of the motor (at the expense of width). Maybe JRG can answer that one?dhf said:
Finally got it up !
also if you notice it has race tyres which would seem unusual for a show car.
Edited by dhf on Thursday 26th February 18:31
I'm going to put slicks on my landrover, that would make it a race car yes ?.............errrr,NO !
Anyway I give up and from now on I will keep my comments to myself.
Not my point at all,it just seems a little odd for a show car with no means of motion should have a pair of used race slicks on it.its a minor point,i'd be far more interested in your comments on my previous observations,particulary of the white race car without the roof vent on the link i mentioned.
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