Building "Thor"

[Storer]

ARAF said:

I know you're an ebay fan, so something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-24V-24-v-VOLT-UNIVER...

Purchased one of those 30mins ago from a supplier who offers delivery on Wednesday (at extra cost) so I like your thinking.

Thanks for the thought though. If you find something I may need in future then please post it.


Paul

[Storer]

A bit more info about my engine.

The one I have fitted to my chassis buck is a Meteor MK4B and has not been run since it was rebuilt in 1989. I have the information sheet in the special holder attached to the head.

I have not stripped the engine but the exhaust manifold and valves are nice and sparkly clean with a sheen of oil. I have another engine in a similar condition in it's original crate.

I have another MK4B and a MK3, both turn over. I also have another 2 engines for spares/repair.

I am aware of the drilling mod and will probably do it prior to fitting the engine in the car.

I am always interested to hear what other owners of these mighty engines have done to make them more reliable/longer lasting.


Paul

[Storer]

I built and painted the control panel today.

Also started fitting gauges and switches this evening along with the starter solenoid that arrived today from Ireland (36 hours after ordering!!!).

This is the area I feel least comfortable doing. It is something invisible....... and doesn't have the same logic as hydraulics/mechanics. I know it is because I have never bothered to learn the basics and this is an area I need to rectify in the near future, but for now I will have to wing it!!!

I will post some pics when I have assembled the bits.

I am nearly at a point where I can bring things to life. If all goes well there will be video before Christmas.


Paul

[Storer]

Hi Rich

Yes, I think the engine has been inhibited.

I have the filter you see on top of the engine and I have the ability to circulate the oil through it prior to firing up the engine and building about 5 psi of pressure inside the engine (thanks Charlie). I intend using a modern filter system in the car as I feel things have moved on somewhat and the weight of the original is ............ substantial. Does the Shackleton filter offer major advantages as I have not heard of this upgrade before?


Bit more progress.



She is wet! Oil (25 litres), coolant (70 litres) and a bit of fuel have all been added today. Small water leak to fix over the weekend.

Battery clamps made and fitted. Control panel frame fitted and the panel fitting-out commenced.

I am not far away from being able to run tests on the engine and systems prior to firing her up now. Hopefully sometime over the weekend.


Paul

[Storer]

EddyP said:

Where abouts are you based? if it's local I could offer some help on the electrical side if you like

Theres a single main principle to electrics though, if you imagine the electricity is smoke within pipes, when the smoke comes out, it all stops working, so therefore electricity must be the same as smoke

Hi Eddy

I am near Cambridge. After a bit of Utube watching last night I think I have it sorted. I hope not to get any smoke from my wires as it could be expensive.

It is a fairly simple system but any hesitancy on my part is due to the fact that the engine is so old.

Thanks for the offer and if my skills fail me I may be in touch.


Paul

[Storer]

[quote=hidetheelephants]If you're going to have pre-lube, it's not much extra to have pre-heat as well; when the lumps of metal are as big as they are in the Meteor having everything already >40C will prolong life considerably.[/quote)


Can you imagine how long it would take to warm up 650kgs of engine plus 25 litres of oil and 70 litres of coolant. I would have had to start last year!!!!!!


Paul

[Storer]

hidetheelephants said:

The preheaters on our generators take perhaps 4-5 hours to warm through; the gennys are Cat 3306, not quite as bulky as the Meteor but in the same ballpark. The preheaters are about 2 kW I think and work on the coolant circuit.

Sounds a rather expensive way to pre-heat the engine.

Out of curiosity, how does the preheating system heats the oil as that is outside the engine until you start it?


Paul

[Storer]

Progress has been a bit slow over the last couple of days.

Throttle sorted and switches fitted but not much more.

Wiring next and I hope to get most of it done tomorrow. Then a few tests of systems before trying to fire it (her) up!


Pic's and video to follow.


Paul

[Storer]

Max_Torque said:

Whats the fuelling system (carbs) on the Meteor engines? Is it worth a check for perished diaphrams/pipes etc before adding fuel?

The carbs are Zenith - bloody enormous one's. They have a water cooled manifold and removal requires the water cooler and manifolds removal too. Not a small job as they weigh about 45kgs. I have to assume (maybe wrongly) that the Ministry used an inhibitor that protects the rubbers in the carbs.

If not I will have a little fire. Extinguishers will be at the ready and I will probably not use the carbs in the car anyway. BTW - I will be doing the test outside.

Hopefully the Darwin Theory will not be in evidence on the vid's!


Paul

[Storer]

JonRB said:

Storer said:

Out of curiosity, how does the preheating system heats the oil as that is outside the engine until you start it?

As the owner of a car with a dry-sumped engine (TVR S6) I can comment. It heats the oil in the reservoir so that when it starts, hotter oil starts circulating than if it were cold.

Howver, it's a false sense of "heating" as the engine itself, and all internals, and the diff, gearbox, and everything else are, of course, still stone cold.

But considering it can take up to 20 mins to come up to "full beans" temperature on a cold day, it's something I am on-and-off considering.

hidetheelephants said that his system heats the water system which, given time, will warm the engine - but not the oil (as it's in the dry sump).
As you say, it doesn't heat the gearbox, diff and everything else, but the engine is the component that revs at high speeds straight from the get-go. The others you can warm up gradually once you are on the move.

The LS7 in my Ultima GTR is dry-sump and maybe an oil heater would help but I currently let the engine idle while I close the garage doors, trickle down the drive in 1st (1/2 mile) and then gently warm up the gearbox oil. Before woooooooooooooahh.

Paul



Paul

Edited by Storer on Saturday 21st December 23:17

[Storer]

Robert

I think they would be a great addition to the thread so please post some.


Paul

[Storer]

I'm still here!

Progress has been slower due to sundry chores, present shopping and the fact that I am having to read the engine manual (last resort) as magnetos are not my strong point!



My crude little control panel.



And throttle.

Still to complete the booster coil wiring and bracket plus connect the various switches and gauges. Some run on 24v and some on 12v so I have to have my thinking-cap on when doing it.

Thanks for the pictures. There are many differences in the two engines when you look closely, and quite a few between the Merlin and Meteor.

If I can get someone in their workshop to take my calls it would be very interesting to have a chat with the guys at the IWM Duxford. They have a few Meteors in the Land Warfare section and some experienced REME engineers.

The V12 is a low revving, smooth running engine so I think I will be able to keep up with it!!!

Paul

[Storer]

A couple of hours on the project today.

The 24v and 12v supplies and fuse box fitted along with the connection of the pre-oiler pump and pressure gauge. Testing proved that the pump adds 3 to 5 psi of pressure around the engine (you told me so Charlie).

Tomorrow (yes I have a pass out to spend an hour or two in my "play room" on Christmas Day as daughter will be horse riding and my wife wants a 'quiet day' prior to a house full on Boxing Day) the temperature gauge, starter button and magnetos ground switch should be possible.

That just leaves the booster coil bracket and connection on Friday.

The 'Roar of Thor' will have to wait until the weekend

I hope everybody reading this thread has a great Christmas and a project building New Year...



Paul

[Storer]

Useless information time.

The Meteor was produced in far fewer numbers than the Merlin

There were 7377 Lancasters built in WWII x 4 engines
20351 Spitfires
14000+ Hurricanes
7781 Mosquitoes
15486 P51 Mustangs

In total over 150000 Merlins or variants there-of were built, 57000 by Packard in USA.

There were something between 7000 and 10000 Meteors built (nearer 7000 I believe).

However, (as usual there is a 'However') many Meteors survive and are re-buildable. Stating the obvious, when a Spitfire/Lancaster/etc. is shot down the engine tends to bury itself 4 to 6 metres into the ground with catastrophic results. A tank can be destroyed but the engine survives. The fact that they were built and used in new tanks until 1960 helps too.


OK, enough figures for now. Got to go and eat a mince pie, drink some sherry and give Rudolf his carrot.


Paul

[Storer]

How about a hovering car!

Most other cars have been built, so anybody out there brave enough?

Your engine is here - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RAF-HARRIER-JET-ROLLS-RO...

Cheap too.....
Would require quite large bal(levels of skill)ls and a lot of lateral thinking, but would certainly generate a lot of interest..


Paul

[Storer]

Today saw quite a bit of progress to the point where the first attempt to fire her up will be tomorrow.

I still need to fit the radiator fan and shroud, but that can wait until I have her running.

I popped the exhaust plugs out and turned the engine over on the starter (having pre-oiled the engine with the electric pump). All worked as expected.







Fingers crossed for tomorrow......................and yes, their will be video!


Paul

[Storer]

Baron Greenback said:

+1!

Good luck hope all goes smoothly! What the neighbours up with the glorious sou do of V12 Power!

Nearest neighbour is about 3/4 of a mile away and the village about a mile so shouldn't cause an issue.....

New Years Day is another matter............. I will be in the middle of the village so anybody not up by midday may get a rude awakening!


Paul

[Storer]

Ok.

After a few teething troubles we got this..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8gwA8mQdDg

I still have a few issues to sort, not least the fuelling of the rear 6 cylinders (a bit lean) and the rear l/h plug (which I had removed earlier and is now not firing as it should).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X5p5OYW7oE

I am also modifying the throttle for more control. Also need to learn the starting procedure.

Easy start did help but there was no smoke at all (which was disappointing at the time but shows a very healthy engine).

All in all a good day.


Paul

[Storer]

More vid here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOvEJsesQCs

and here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ9xOS4Xajo

Rather chuffed.

Paul

[Storer]

mwstewart said:

Glorious! Quite amazing how these lumps made it into fighters of the time; imagine an alloy version...

It is an alloy version!


Paul