Building "Thor"

[johnandersen]

A gentleman (Alan) responded to a youtube posting of my meteor powered car. He suggested that I jump into the fray regarding the use of a meteor engine in a car. My car in its current form can be seen at www.merlincar.com . The car is named merlin due to its distant lineage to the merlin engine. I had a choice of engines from a merlin, meteor, and even considered the griffon. The goal was to make the car start, run and drive like any car and it had to have an automatic transmission. The meteor mv-IVB was ideally suited as it has correct (US) rotation...that is the engine turns clockwise when viewed from the front and would be compatible with an automatic. Since the merlin and meteor are nearly identical with most parts being interchangeable, I decided to build up a meteor engine. Also since the prerequisite was a smooth running engine, I chose to not use a supercharged merlin. Those old mechanical superchargers and magnetos are no match for modern systems and did not transition well from idle to high power. One last consideration was it had to look really cool. To that end I removed all accessories including the coolant pump and starter....just too ugly and truck like. I made custom brackets that bolted automotive accessories to the front of the engine. As a nod to SPITS and Mustangs I made an oil cooler in the shape of a belly scoop and prominently mounted it to the front of the engine. I use electric coolant pumps and a large starter mounted to a caterpillar belly housing that mounts to the tranny and coupled to the motor through a steel shaft. Fun stuff, but challenges were ever present!
John

[Baron Greenback]

Grant first post and awesome car!

[chuntington101]

Storer said:

Another one.

This is the American version....very gung-ho(sp?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRVWyZf5MQk


Paul

What a great video! very american but still good to watch.

[ivanhoew]

AlVal said:

could only find this text which is associated with one of the vids

"The Meteor was specifically chosen over the Merlin due to its more advanced roller rockers and correct engine rotation. The Merlin ouput shaft rotates the wrong direction for an automatic transmission however since we did not keep the magnetos, coolant pump, or anything else, correcting the engine rotation on the Merlin was an option using new cams. We also did not need the forged crank of the Merlin. This Meteor engine has been completely rebuilt and re-engineered. We kept only the block and trashed all external components, magnetos, coolant pump...even the starter. All accessories, intake, carbs are racing parts are tuned to this engine. We are driving this engine through a 6-speed automatic set to shift at max torque RPM of 1500 rpm. The engine produces 1600 lb/ft of torque"


and this link http://www.rodauthority.com/news/video-wild-merlin...

which says it's not supercharged, and that "the carburetors were replaced with Holleys" , so I guess you're right!

had to happen one day !

[Storer]

johnandersen said:

A gentleman (Alan) responded to a youtube posting of my meteor powered car. He suggested that I jump into the fray regarding the use of a meteor engine in a car. My car in its current form can be seen at www.merlincar.com . The car is named merlin due to its distant lineage to the merlin engine. I had a choice of engines from a merlin, meteor, and even considered the griffon. The goal was to make the car start, run and drive like any car and it had to have an automatic transmission. The meteor mv-IVB was ideally suited as it has correct (US) rotation...that is the engine turns clockwise when viewed from the front and would be compatible with an automatic. Since the merlin and meteor are nearly identical with most parts being interchangeable, I decided to build up a meteor engine. Also since the prerequisite was a smooth running engine, I chose to not use a supercharged merlin. Those old mechanical superchargers and magnetos are no match for modern systems and did not transition well from idle to high power. One last consideration was it had to look really cool. To that end I removed all accessories including the coolant pump and starter....just too ugly and truck like. I made custom brackets that bolted automotive accessories to the front of the engine. As a nod to SPITS and Mustangs I made an oil cooler in the shape of a belly scoop and prominently mounted it to the front of the engine. I use electric coolant pumps and a large starter mounted to a caterpillar belly housing that mounts to the tranny and coupled to the motor through a steel shaft. Fun stuff, but challenges were ever present!
John

John

Thank you for taking the time to post on my little thread.
Your car is an impressive piece of engineering. I would like to know more about the Cat adaptor and Allison transmission and how you joined everything together.

My build utilises an od Rolls Royce Phantom II chassis and axles and I hope the body will be in keeping with a RR of that era albeit only a 2 seater.
I have been thinking about using fuel injection and throttle bodies on mine and changing from the magnetos to electronic ignition.

Any do's or don'ts would be very welcome.


Paul

[anonymous-user]

Storer said:

Interesting video building the Meteor's big brother, the Merlin

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

Nice that these things still survive.


Paul

The days before Health and Safety eh! Metal casting without even gloves or safety specs! Just using common sense!

[Storer]

Storer said:

johnandersen said:

A gentleman (Alan) responded to a youtube posting of my meteor powered car. He suggested that I jump into the fray regarding the use of a meteor engine in a car. My car in its current form can be seen at www.merlincar.com . The car is named merlin due to its distant lineage to the merlin engine. I had a choice of engines from a merlin, meteor, and even considered the griffon. The goal was to make the car start, run and drive like any car and it had to have an automatic transmission. The meteor mv-IVB was ideally suited as it has correct (US) rotation...that is the engine turns clockwise when viewed from the front and would be compatible with an automatic. Since the merlin and meteor are nearly identical with most parts being interchangeable, I decided to build up a meteor engine. Also since the prerequisite was a smooth running engine, I chose to not use a supercharged merlin. Those old mechanical superchargers and magnetos are no match for modern systems and did not transition well from idle to high power. One last consideration was it had to look really cool. To that end I removed all accessories including the coolant pump and starter....just too ugly and truck like. I made custom brackets that bolted automotive accessories to the front of the engine. As a nod to SPITS and Mustangs I made an oil cooler in the shape of a belly scoop and prominently mounted it to the front of the engine. I use electric coolant pumps and a large starter mounted to a caterpillar belly housing that mounts to the tranny and coupled to the motor through a steel shaft. Fun stuff, but challenges were ever present!
John

John

Thank you for taking the time to post on my little thread.
Your car is an impressive piece of engineering. I would like to know more about the Cat adaptor and Allison transmission and how you joined everything together.

My build utilises an od Rolls Royce Phantom II chassis and axles and I hope the body will be in keeping with a RR of that era albeit only a 2 seater.
I have been thinking about using fuel injection and throttle bodies on mine and changing from the magnetos to electronic ignition.

Any do's or don'ts would be very welcome.


Paul

Also
What sort of money is the Allison tranny and Cat adaptor. Is it a mechanical box or electronic?


Paul

[ivanhoew]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allison_1000_transmis...



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Allison-6-speed-electronic...



http://en.visonerv.com/cgi-bin/md/M11926/s1.pl?


or maybe a big truck manual ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-Eaton-13-speed-manual-...


hmmm ,looking at the ratios , it appears a truck manual would need a v high diff to work..


http://www.roadranger.com/ecm/groups/public/@pub/@...



robert

Edited by ivanhoew on Thursday 9th January 13:28

[richw_82]

johnandersen said:

Also since the prerequisite was a smooth running engine, I chose to not use a supercharged merlin. Those old mechanical superchargers and magnetos are no match for modern systems and did not transition well from idle to high power.

A prolonged idle which fouls the plugs, maybe. However if the Merlin didn't open up smoothly when demanded (say aborted landing causing a go-around) it would have been pretty useless and quite dangerous as an aero engine.

[ARAF]

richw_82].....it [Merlin said:

would have been pretty useless and quite dangerous as an aero engine.

I think the Luftwaffe found them to be far from useless, but very dangerous.

[lozzzzzz]

What a fantastic project, I'll be keeping an eye on this.

[Baron Greenback]

Hows Thor getting along?

[Storer]

Hi Baron

Sorry but no progress at all as I am busy sorting my workshop equipment and working spaces. Plus a few jobs for the ladies to help keep the peace. Got a muck skip to fit my JCB forklift to make soon.



That is the metal folder before I started the refurbishment.



And here is the after. Yes, I know the colour scheme is a little (Ok, very) bright and a little 'toy town'. The paints are all tractor colours. New Holland blue, MF red and JCB yellow. They dry even in this carp damp weather we are having!

I suspect it will be another 2 to 3 months before there is any progress on Thor.



Paul

[ARAF]

Storer said:

And here is the after. Yes, I know the colour scheme is a little (Ok, very) bright and a little 'toy town'. The paints are all tractor colours. New Holland blue, MF red and JCB yellow. They dry even in this carp damp weather we are having!

Paul

And it looks like you will have a nice, blue edged rectangle on the floor, to remember the sheet bender by.

[Storer]

ARAF said:

Storer said:

And here is the after. Yes, I know the colour scheme is a little (Ok, very) bright and a little 'toy town'. The paints are all tractor colours. New Holland blue, MF red and JCB yellow. They dry even in this carp damp weather we are having!

Paul

And it looks like you will have a nice, blue edged rectangle on the floor, to remember the sheet bender by.

Yes.
I normally like to paint this type of thing outside but this is not the sort of weather to allow that at the moment!!!


Paul

[ivanhoew]

that looks really good paul , not so much Tonka as just brand spanking new , nice job .

robert

[IN51GHT]

We are awaiting delivery of out Promecam at the moment

[ARAF]

Storer said:

Yes.
I normally like to paint this type of thing outside but this is not the sort of weather to allow that at the moment!!!


Paul

I really don't blame you.

As for the colours, it will make it easier to replicate, when Lego bring out the 'Storer's "Thor" Garage' set.

[EddyP]

That just made me think of this for some reason

[doogalman]

How about this for some insiration
http://www.claspgarage.com/2014/02/the-white-tripl...