Why is the AJP a "race engine"
Discussion
I remember Peter Wheeler once saying in interview that "the bottom half of the engine, up to the heads, is exactly as you would see in a current Formula 1 engine". They also used the AJP in the Tuscan race series before detuning them for use in the Cerbera IIRC; that's pretty much as race derived as you could ever expect a road engine to be.
Been buging me for years lol.
I think It's one of the best looking cars ever 
V8 GRF said:
It was actually designed to be a race engine and was intended to be used as a stressed member bolted to the back of defunct F3 chassis in a single seater series and leased to teams but Peter Wheeler changed his mind. The car built as a prototype was recently recommissioned.
I'm pretty sure I saw a clip of a TV program where Wheeler said something like " we designed the engine as a race engine. If we wanted to expand, we ought to make something that we could sell to other people."THe interiew with those quotes from Peter Wheeler is from Top Gear's review of the Cerbera with Clarkson. Here's the interview.
Byker28i said:
Any truth in the rumour an early derivative of it was a V10 for Honda F1, then when TVR wanted something V8 it was redesigned?
When I interviewed Al he claimed that he'd had something to do with both the Yamaha and Renault F1 engines. He did have a hand in the engine that powered the Silk Cut Le-Mans Jaguars and he said he'd used the same thinking for the head of the AJP engines so if he was speaking the truth and I see no reason to disbelieve some of what he said there's bound to be 'family' connections.I was surprised to see Al Melling pop up on a 'uk biker build-off' program a little while ago (just as a 'talking head') and he is currently making motorbike v-twins. We always tend to think of him as 'TVR engine designer' but the bike forums tend to refer to him as the ex-Norton designer! Never knew he had a history in bikes (but then again, I don't know much!).
Phil
Phil
Norton Nemesis as i recall,looked good on paper but as far as it got,Al Melling has been involved in many many engine development programs
http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/concept_car...
And one that was built can be seen here
http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/museum/e...
http://www.diseno-art.com/encyclopedia/concept_car...
And one that was built can be seen here
http://www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk/museum/e...
Edited by rigga on Saturday 11th June 19:53
I've had a look through my notes and this is what I wrote with regards to teh AJP history and development for the Al Melling article in Sprint when we wrote about his Wildcat car, it explains more about why various design decisions were made.
AJP History
Peter Wheeler originally approached MCD to create an engine to replace the Rover V8, this in itself instantly created a design problem for MCD as the Rover engine is a very compact engine and the underbonnet space in a TVR had been designed around that, even then the tight fit required the exhausts to come forward.
Designing a new 90° V8 would require the engine to be a pushrod engine the same as the Rover, however the problem with large 4.0/4.5 litre pushrod engines is that they are rev limited and the only way to increase power would be to go twin cam 4 valve, but that requires large cylinder heads and would result in an engine about 3 times wider than the Rover which clearly wouldn’t fit.
Thus the only option available was a single O/H cam and two valves per cylinder and MCD had the technology available as they had designed the engines in the Silk Cut Jaguars that had won LeMans two or three years before. Combining this with an angle of 75° they now had a design that would fit.
The other reason for designing this engine was Peter Wheeler at the time wanted TVR power to become a standalone business as up to that point TVR Power had only produced engines for TVR cars and as such had no income, so the idea was to create an engine that could be marketed as a race engine which led to its design as a stress member.
At the time there was a regulation change ongoing in Formula 3000 that led to a large number of defunked chassis being available. MCD promoted this with the intention of creating a single seater series called the Grand Prix Lights with the aim of TVR Power then leasing the engines to the teams and thus creating an income stream for TVR Power. A car was built and successfully tested round Pembery as indeed produced nearly double the torque of a F1 engine of the time. An event was held at the Belfry in conjunction with the RAC and race teams with these spare chassis were invited to attend. At this point, according to Al, Peter Wheeler withdrew his support and as a result the engine was only used in the Cerbera.
It is this design with its ability to be used as a stressed member that brings us up to date with Al now intending to use the engine in the Wildcat.
AJP History
Peter Wheeler originally approached MCD to create an engine to replace the Rover V8, this in itself instantly created a design problem for MCD as the Rover engine is a very compact engine and the underbonnet space in a TVR had been designed around that, even then the tight fit required the exhausts to come forward.
Designing a new 90° V8 would require the engine to be a pushrod engine the same as the Rover, however the problem with large 4.0/4.5 litre pushrod engines is that they are rev limited and the only way to increase power would be to go twin cam 4 valve, but that requires large cylinder heads and would result in an engine about 3 times wider than the Rover which clearly wouldn’t fit.
Thus the only option available was a single O/H cam and two valves per cylinder and MCD had the technology available as they had designed the engines in the Silk Cut Jaguars that had won LeMans two or three years before. Combining this with an angle of 75° they now had a design that would fit.
The other reason for designing this engine was Peter Wheeler at the time wanted TVR power to become a standalone business as up to that point TVR Power had only produced engines for TVR cars and as such had no income, so the idea was to create an engine that could be marketed as a race engine which led to its design as a stress member.
At the time there was a regulation change ongoing in Formula 3000 that led to a large number of defunked chassis being available. MCD promoted this with the intention of creating a single seater series called the Grand Prix Lights with the aim of TVR Power then leasing the engines to the teams and thus creating an income stream for TVR Power. A car was built and successfully tested round Pembery as indeed produced nearly double the torque of a F1 engine of the time. An event was held at the Belfry in conjunction with the RAC and race teams with these spare chassis were invited to attend. At this point, according to Al, Peter Wheeler withdrew his support and as a result the engine was only used in the Cerbera.
It is this design with its ability to be used as a stressed member that brings us up to date with Al now intending to use the engine in the Wildcat.
jammy_basturd said:
IIRC, there is a very good reason why there is only 2 valves per cylinder, and it wasn't just a decision based on cost. Something to do with either port velocities or controlling emissions.
The latest Ford Diesels are 2 valves per cylinder as opposed to 4 they were using a short while back. I believe that was due to better power and emissions. But I only build the things and don't really care the whats and the why's lol
Speaking of emissions I thought this funny.. Seeing a TVR being used in the Milbrook emissions web page.
http://www.millbrook.co.uk/Page/Home
http://www.millbrook.co.uk/Page/Home
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