Building "Thor"
Discussion
Lefty said:
Is that where the Meteor was originally used? I had assumed most tank engines back then would have been diesel?
Back then pretty much everything the UK armed forces were using on land ran on petrol so it made sense to have petrol tanks too, to avoid a whole diesel supply chain. 
Lefty said:
Is that where the Meteor was originally used? I had assumed most tank engines back then would have been diesel?
Remember that the Centurion was designed in 1944 and came into service in early 1945. All British army vehicles at that time ran on a relatively low octane Petrol (easily refined) so only one fuel (no mistakes) and easier logistics.Diesel was much less common in those days and NATO forces didn't adapt to it until the 1960's/70's.
Most of the Centurions sold to Israel were converted to diesel at the same time as the gun was uprated to 105mm. The heat and dust of the desert were too much for the Meteor engine.
Paul
OP, I don't know you, have never met you, and I don't think I have ever read a response or thread by you, but you are now my new favourite person on PH.
and, now I may be wrong, but I think you said earlier on in the thread you would want more power? no? well you need more power
ever thought about cryo treatment for the engine and parts? makes them about 3 times more durable, and last a lot longer, so you could, say up the power by.... oh I don't know, 2 times, and still have more running time before a rebuild.
you just need to get a spitfire forced induction on it, and it would be beautiful.
and, now I may be wrong, but I think you said earlier on in the thread you would want more power? no? well you need more power
ever thought about cryo treatment for the engine and parts? makes them about 3 times more durable, and last a lot longer, so you could, say up the power by.... oh I don't know, 2 times, and still have more running time before a rebuild.
you just need to get a spitfire forced induction on it, and it would be beautiful.
davepoth said:
Lefty said:
Is that where the Meteor was originally used? I had assumed most tank engines back then would have been diesel?
Back then pretty much everything the UK armed forces were using on land ran on petrol so it made sense to have petrol tanks too, to avoid a whole diesel supply chain. Supply chain streamlining is nice, but that's not what was going on in WW2; we had some diesel tanks, the Matilda, Valentine and Sherman III had diesels, as did some of our medium and heavy trucks and heavy recovery vehicles. Logistics with all this different kit was a bloody nightmare compared to supplying 2 kinds of fuel.
Update
Lots going on out of the workshop so progress has been a bit slow.
Still acquiring a few extra tools to make metalworking easier. A 40 tonne box pan folder and a 2.0m x 4mm sheet metal guillotine both purchased for scrap money (each weigh about 3 tonnes!). A few hours fiddling and they are both working. Very pleased.
Today saw a plasma cutter added too. I have been a bit slow adopting this technology but I needed some tidy large holes in the chassis for the fitment of coolant pipes (the chassis is part of the cooling system). Oxy/propane would not fit the bill. So £380.00 inc VAT later and I have this which will cut up to 25mm thick steel.
Used it to cut this (my first attempt freehand)
The engine test bed chassis is now solid but a few welds to complete.
Don't fret about the engine on there. It will need a complete rebuild so contamination is not a worry.
These engines were not as crude as many think. They were single overhead camshaft with 4 sodium filled valves per cylinder! The design dates from the 1930's so only 40 years after the petrol engine first surfaced!!!
Tomorrow will see a few more parts fitted to the chassis and the start of the dry sump tank (only 20 litres of oil instead of the tank's 65 litres!)
Paul
Lots going on out of the workshop so progress has been a bit slow.
Still acquiring a few extra tools to make metalworking easier. A 40 tonne box pan folder and a 2.0m x 4mm sheet metal guillotine both purchased for scrap money (each weigh about 3 tonnes!). A few hours fiddling and they are both working. Very pleased.
Today saw a plasma cutter added too. I have been a bit slow adopting this technology but I needed some tidy large holes in the chassis for the fitment of coolant pipes (the chassis is part of the cooling system). Oxy/propane would not fit the bill. So £380.00 inc VAT later and I have this which will cut up to 25mm thick steel.
Used it to cut this (my first attempt freehand)
The engine test bed chassis is now solid but a few welds to complete.
Don't fret about the engine on there. It will need a complete rebuild so contamination is not a worry.
These engines were not as crude as many think. They were single overhead camshaft with 4 sodium filled valves per cylinder! The design dates from the 1930's so only 40 years after the petrol engine first surfaced!!!
Tomorrow will see a few more parts fitted to the chassis and the start of the dry sump tank (only 20 litres of oil instead of the tank's 65 litres!)
Paul
Have you decided on what you're putting it in i.e. bespoke chassis or modifying another vehicle?
I had a leftfield suggestion
Plenty of room to mount the engine in the rear driving the rear wheels. The great thing is you can leave the 2.7 V6 in the front to pull the thing around till you need to use the real engine
Details are here and the car is both immaculate and less than a bag
I had a leftfield suggestion
Plenty of room to mount the engine in the rear driving the rear wheels. The great thing is you can leave the 2.7 V6 in the front to pull the thing around till you need to use the real engine
Details are here and the car is both immaculate and less than a bag
Hi All
I am building an engine chassis which will enable me to run each engine out of the car.
It will have dry-sump tank, radiator, fuel tank and batteries (24volt). It is equipped so that I can forklift it onto a trailer.
The hole, as said, is in new box section. Not neat yet but that will come with practice.
A bit more progress today but not quite as much as I had hoped. The guillotine has been useful and I must find the time to complete the refurbishment of it as it will speed everything up when fabricating.
Cut the sheet for the dry sump tank this afternoon. Bit of bending to do and then the welding.
Like most that do these crazy things, I find dedicating uninterrupted time to the project quite hard. There are many other demands on my time and most have a slightly higher priority.
However, I find it a very enjoyable experience and I am learning something new every day.
Paul
PS. Had a Rover 827 many year ago and not somewhere I wish to go again......
I am building an engine chassis which will enable me to run each engine out of the car.
It will have dry-sump tank, radiator, fuel tank and batteries (24volt). It is equipped so that I can forklift it onto a trailer.
The hole, as said, is in new box section. Not neat yet but that will come with practice.
A bit more progress today but not quite as much as I had hoped. The guillotine has been useful and I must find the time to complete the refurbishment of it as it will speed everything up when fabricating.
Cut the sheet for the dry sump tank this afternoon. Bit of bending to do and then the welding.
Like most that do these crazy things, I find dedicating uninterrupted time to the project quite hard. There are many other demands on my time and most have a slightly higher priority.
However, I find it a very enjoyable experience and I am learning something new every day.
Paul
PS. Had a Rover 827 many year ago and not somewhere I wish to go again......
Storer said:
Sorry, but it does nothing for me. Wooden wheels and about 10 years older than my Phantom. There were big changes going on each year back then.
Paul
PS. Are you the seller????????
no, definately not the seller...lol, owned a number of 20s and 30s americans but nothing so commercial in nature.. Paul
PS. Are you the seller????????
which one were you looking at? The one I was looking at doesnt have wooden wheels asfgar as I was aware,was mainly the chassis and front boy panels that i thought were suitable. and its sheer size.
I came across this thread last night, and I must say I admire the way Paul is going about this project and I hope all the best. Today I came across a rather striking car if you are looking for styling inspiration then maybe take a look at the Bugatti Atlantique 57, theres something really pretty about it:
Storer said:
shoestring7 said:
That's grim. Surely the Bob Peterson car is the sort of thing you're trying to achieve?
SS7
You are right.SS7
The Petersen Supercharged Road Racer is as close as I have seen so far but without the "side pods" and with straight pipes for show but with a silencer system if I want to drive to Le Mans..,,
Paul
Storer said:
I like the look of this.......
but I bet the budget was somewhat larger than what I am hoping to get away with spending.
Shame they didn't use the V16 supercharged engine but it is only make believe and special effects can make it sound right for the film.
Can you imagine driving that down to Le Mans!!!!!
Paul
Well, I sure hope to see 'Thor' at the Pistonheads meet, Saint Saturnin and the Le Mans campsites! Looking forward to it!but I bet the budget was somewhat larger than what I am hoping to get away with spending.
Shame they didn't use the V16 supercharged engine but it is only make believe and special effects can make it sound right for the film.
Can you imagine driving that down to Le Mans!!!!!
Paul
vincegail said:
Storer said:
shoestring7 said:
That's grim. Surely the Bob Peterson car is the sort of thing you're trying to achieve?
SS7
You are right.SS7
The Petersen Supercharged Road Racer is as close as I have seen so far but without the "side pods" and with straight pipes for show but with a silencer system if I want to drive to Le Mans..,,
Paul
Storer said:
I like the look of this.......
but I bet the budget was somewhat larger than what I am hoping to get away with spending.
Shame they didn't use the V16 supercharged engine but it is only make believe and special effects can make it sound right for the film.
Can you imagine driving that down to Le Mans!!!!!
Paul
Well, I sure hope to see 'Thor' at the Pistonheads meet, Saint Saturnin and the Le Mans campsites! Looking forward to it!but I bet the budget was somewhat larger than what I am hoping to get away with spending.
Shame they didn't use the V16 supercharged engine but it is only make believe and special effects can make it sound right for the film.
Can you imagine driving that down to Le Mans!!!!!
Paul
Paul
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff