Building "Thor"
Discussion
A two word title that hints at the subject of this thread.
Building.............. yes I am going to build something!
Thor............. the Norse god of Thunder/Lightning!
I am planning to build a car based around one of the two 27 litre V12 Meteor engines I own. It will have very stubby exhausts and will spit flames and a fair bit of noise....hence the name!
For those that don't know, the Meteor engine was used in the Centurion tank built from 1945 to 1960 and was based on the 27 Litre V12 Rolls Royce Merlin engine that powered the WWII Spitfire. Rover and Nuffield were contracted to build the engines so that Rolls Royce could concentrate on the Merlin for aircraft.
Without the Merlin supercharger the Meteor "only" produced 650hp at 2500rpm and 1500ftlbs torque at 1500rpm.
I am not planning a speed machine but something to generate a big grin. My inspiration for this project was a visit to Brooklands Museum and the Napier Railton. I know it has a 24 litre W12 aero engine but you will have to allow me a bit of poetic licence (working old aero engines are also like gold hen's teeth and should be left for those that need them in their old aircraft IMO).
I have a chassis, diff, wheels and tyres, steering, front axle, switches, gauges, sheet alloy, fuel tank, springs, dampers plus various other bits. I am busy preparing my workshop ready for the build at present and accumulating information on the engines and other components.
There is no budget or timescale for the build but I expect it to be years rather than months. It will add up financially as many parts are from the 1920's/30's for the running gear including many vintage Bentley bits!
I know others find this sort of thing interesting (as I do) so I intend to post the build progress on here for you to watch and comment on.
I come from the Ultima forum and have a GTR that I rebuilt. Since it was completed and on the road I became aware that it generates a lot of interest and pleasure for others on the road or pavement. Hopefully "Thor" will be similar and may inspire others to do something different.
Life is short, so anything that makes it more pleasurable just has to be done.
Pictures will follow when I get stuff into my workshop.
Paul
Building.............. yes I am going to build something!
Thor............. the Norse god of Thunder/Lightning!
I am planning to build a car based around one of the two 27 litre V12 Meteor engines I own. It will have very stubby exhausts and will spit flames and a fair bit of noise....hence the name!
For those that don't know, the Meteor engine was used in the Centurion tank built from 1945 to 1960 and was based on the 27 Litre V12 Rolls Royce Merlin engine that powered the WWII Spitfire. Rover and Nuffield were contracted to build the engines so that Rolls Royce could concentrate on the Merlin for aircraft.
Without the Merlin supercharger the Meteor "only" produced 650hp at 2500rpm and 1500ftlbs torque at 1500rpm.
I am not planning a speed machine but something to generate a big grin. My inspiration for this project was a visit to Brooklands Museum and the Napier Railton. I know it has a 24 litre W12 aero engine but you will have to allow me a bit of poetic licence (working old aero engines are also like gold hen's teeth and should be left for those that need them in their old aircraft IMO).
I have a chassis, diff, wheels and tyres, steering, front axle, switches, gauges, sheet alloy, fuel tank, springs, dampers plus various other bits. I am busy preparing my workshop ready for the build at present and accumulating information on the engines and other components.
There is no budget or timescale for the build but I expect it to be years rather than months. It will add up financially as many parts are from the 1920's/30's for the running gear including many vintage Bentley bits!
I know others find this sort of thing interesting (as I do) so I intend to post the build progress on here for you to watch and comment on.
I come from the Ultima forum and have a GTR that I rebuilt. Since it was completed and on the road I became aware that it generates a lot of interest and pleasure for others on the road or pavement. Hopefully "Thor" will be similar and may inspire others to do something different.
Life is short, so anything that makes it more pleasurable just has to be done.
Pictures will follow when I get stuff into my workshop.
Paul
Jeepers.................
I thought I would be lucky to get a single response, but there seem to be quite a few like minded nutters on this forum.....
The owner of the SD1 with the Meteor engine is Charlie Broomfield. Damn nice chap. I am going to see him next week for a look at his beastie.
I will post some pictures soon, and no, I haven't started yet. I am still gathering information and parts. I received a parts list with exploded diagrams for the engines today!
I have a 1920's Minerva chassis that I am planning to use. They were a Belgian built car on a par with the Rolls Royce's of their time and used a 6 litre engine.
I am sure I have quite a few parts that I will not need but they will be sold to help fund what I do require.
As for timescale - as I said - I expect it to take years rather than months and I have no target date. I hate deadlines, they tend to require one to work harder than one want's to! I am semi-retired so have more hours available each week than most, without burning the midnight oil.
My plan is to do the engines first. I need to be sure they will run and know how they work. Then I will have an idea of how large some of the components will need to be. Dry sump tank, radiator(s), 50+ gallon fuel tank!, etc, etc.
Please don't expect daily updates - I'm too lazy and sometimes I have other things requiring my attention, so there may be weeks that go by with no progress to report.
Paul
I thought I would be lucky to get a single response, but there seem to be quite a few like minded nutters on this forum.....
The owner of the SD1 with the Meteor engine is Charlie Broomfield. Damn nice chap. I am going to see him next week for a look at his beastie.
I will post some pictures soon, and no, I haven't started yet. I am still gathering information and parts. I received a parts list with exploded diagrams for the engines today!
I have a 1920's Minerva chassis that I am planning to use. They were a Belgian built car on a par with the Rolls Royce's of their time and used a 6 litre engine.
I am sure I have quite a few parts that I will not need but they will be sold to help fund what I do require.
As for timescale - as I said - I expect it to take years rather than months and I have no target date. I hate deadlines, they tend to require one to work harder than one want's to! I am semi-retired so have more hours available each week than most, without burning the midnight oil.
My plan is to do the engines first. I need to be sure they will run and know how they work. Then I will have an idea of how large some of the components will need to be. Dry sump tank, radiator(s), 50+ gallon fuel tank!, etc, etc.
Please don't expect daily updates - I'm too lazy and sometimes I have other things requiring my attention, so there may be weeks that go by with no progress to report.
Paul
skinthespin said:
Could only happen in the US of A.Paul
205alive said:
Well I've taken it on myself to create a selection of things which give a really strong vibe of old and new - some of them from a four wheel perspective, some not.
Not saying YOU SHOULD INCORPORATE RIVETS AND AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTATION AND HARDWARE, or even GIVE IT A TAN LEATHER INTERIOR, but I just thoughgt I would share...
Some great images! Thanks.Not saying YOU SHOULD INCORPORATE RIVETS AND AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTATION AND HARDWARE, or even GIVE IT A TAN LEATHER INTERIOR, but I just thoughgt I would share...
I suspect the "cockpit" is J Lenno's car. It may have rivets - yet to decide.
I think it will be painted as I can't see me keeping the alloy looking pristine! There will be leather but colour is a choice that will be a long way off....
Paul
simonrockman said:
Transverse rear engined Muria style?
Can you imagine having the weight of a 27 lit V12 above a transmission in a mid engined car!!!!!!!!!!!!!Not a recipe for a fun drive!
Rear engine in line as in Auto Union - maybe. But they handled like a b
h. Interesting though.......... Wouldn't sound the same though.Paul
Storer said:
Can you imagine having the weight of a 27 lit V12 above a transmission in a mid engined car!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not a recipe for a fun drive!
Rear engine in line as in Auto Union - maybe. But they handled like a bh. Interesting though.......... Wouldn't sound the same though.
Paul
Actually I like the thought of an Auto Union inspired car but the chassis and therefore registration would be very difficult.....Maybe engine no 2....Not a recipe for a fun drive!
Rear engine in line as in Auto Union - maybe. But they handled like a b
h. Interesting though.......... Wouldn't sound the same though.Paul
Paul
guru_1071 said:
I wouldn't think that a Minerva chassis would be strong enough, wouldn't a phantom two rolloing chassis be a far better starting point?
great project though
Have you seen the price of a Phantom II rolling chassis - if you can find one!!!!great project though
With a welder, strength is easy to add...
Paul
No Sound said:
Pictures please. Andy
I will try to get some tomorrow. At the moment it is only a pile of rusty parts.The wheels for the engine dollys arrived today and the steel should be here tomorrow.
The project will fit in around other things. Today has been spent replacing the lower wishbones on my Discovery III. They were, as expected, a b
d to remove and had to be cut off with a reciprocating saw and numerous blades..... Also new discs and pads all round.Gearbox oil filter tomorrow and fresh oil...... another bugger of a job.
However, I have probably saved almost £1K in labour at the dealers (so I can pay for those plugs for the V12!!!). They can do a service and stamp the book to hold the s/h value.
My trip to Charlie's will have to wait until next week.
I may also have to do a day or two's work soon too.
Paul
Ok, a few pictures as requested.
Very little to see really as most is in dire need of some attention.
This is the more complete engine.
The partially stripped beast.
Starter motor - big engine, big starter!
Various bits
Bentley 8 litre dif.
The play room!
Two boxes of dolly wheels ready for the start of construction.
Paul
Very little to see really as most is in dire need of some attention.
This is the more complete engine.
The partially stripped beast.
Starter motor - big engine, big starter!
Various bits
Bentley 8 litre dif.
The play room!
Two boxes of dolly wheels ready for the start of construction.
Paul
Streetrod said:
If you are looking for some great inspiration I suggest you visit the site of Randy Grubb and the Blastolene creations, the man is a mad genius
www.randygrubb.com
I like the Blastolene Indy Special. Not into quite that much "shiny" though.www.randygrubb.com
With regard to two engines. I recon it would probably weigh about 5 tonnes and need a totally different chassis and drivetrain. Also, if you listen to the youtube clip the engine note is not as great as a single V8. Part of the aim of my project is to emulate the wonderful sound of a Spitfire flying very low!!!!!
Besides, those two V8's probably still only have a combined capacity half that of the Meteor....
Paul
No progress yet other than a visit to Charlie Broomfield for a look at his Rover SD1 Meteor beastie.
It's in bits at the moment as Charlie is developing forced induction to achieve his 200mph dream. In his own words the car "hits a brick wall at 165mph" so he is aiming for 1000hp rather than a 'measly' 600hp.......
He has the engine on his dyno trailer while he is testing how to achieve that magic number.
He has managed more than most can dream of on a very limited budget. He doesn't believe in the word "can't". In his world everything is possible with a bit of thought and effort.
Thanks Charlie.
Paul
It's in bits at the moment as Charlie is developing forced induction to achieve his 200mph dream. In his own words the car "hits a brick wall at 165mph" so he is aiming for 1000hp rather than a 'measly' 600hp.......
He has the engine on his dyno trailer while he is testing how to achieve that magic number.
He has managed more than most can dream of on a very limited budget. He doesn't believe in the word "can't". In his world everything is possible with a bit of thought and effort.
Thanks Charlie.
Paul
Ok. To help you chaps get your 27 litre fix here is a video of Charlie's Meteor twin turbo on his dyno.
It was a quick run after standing for over a month. Fired up first time!!!
http://youtu.be/-ScUXgKaxBs
Thanks Charlie.
Paul
It was a quick run after standing for over a month. Fired up first time!!!
http://youtu.be/-ScUXgKaxBs
Thanks Charlie.
Paul
Something similar to my plans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT5XkQUUePI
Watch for the twist in the chassis when he blips the throttle.....
Paul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT5XkQUUePI
Watch for the twist in the chassis when he blips the throttle.....
Paul
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