Charismatic engines - your nominations please
Discussion
lowdrag said:
What is sad is the demise of the Daimler 2.5 V8. Bill Heynes, director of Jaguar when Daimler was acquired, and designer of the XK engine, decided to prove it wasn't reliable and should be dropped. So, his son Jonathan, who also worked at Jaguar, was detailed to drive the Daimler Mk 2 from Coventry to stratford and back - in second gear. The engine survived, so Jonathan was instructed to do the run again - in first gear. The engine failed, and the XK won out. But today, the Daimler engine in drag racing is producing up to 1,000 bhp. A sad story. Anyone fancy a 1,000 bhp Daimler SP250?
Could you do the Coventry to Stratford run in an XK without it failing? If it 'won' the competition I'm guessing it could. lowdrag said:
Ah, but the Jaguar engine was not being pilloried. Show me any engine that can do Coventry to Stratford and back in first gear at maximum revs will you please!
The XK engines were tested at full power for 24 hours with their power output checked at the end of the test period to confirm that they met the claimed specification before being accepted for one of their roles. They needed self lapping valves but they were accepted OK. Wasn't the real problem of the Daimler V8s that they were expensive to assemble?
The Olympus almost gained re-heat a few times in its history, but the various projects, Vulcan B3, TSR2, were cancelled. It eventually arrived with Concorde. And it was amazing to be just outside the Heathrow perimeter and hear Concorde go over your head. The Olympus didn't see as many applications as it could have as, I believe, the MoD decided to standardise on R-R Avons. Interestingly Stanley Hooker was involved in the development of both engines: first the Avon at Rolls-Royce and later the Olympus at Bristol. There's always been the question as to how fast the English Electric Lightning might have been if fitted with two Olympus engines in place of its Avons.
The Olympus almost gained re-heat a few times in its history, but the various projects, Vulcan B3, TSR2, were cancelled. It eventually arrived with Concorde. And it was amazing to be just outside the Heathrow perimeter and hear Concorde go over your head. The Olympus didn't see as many applications as it could have as, I believe, the MoD decided to standardise on R-R Avons. Interestingly Stanley Hooker was involved in the development of both engines: first the Avon at Rolls-Royce and later the Olympus at Bristol. There's always been the question as to how fast the English Electric Lightning might have been if fitted with two Olympus engines in place of its Avons.
Auntieroll said:
lowdrag said:
Ah, but the Jaguar engine was not being pilloried. Show me any engine that can do Coventry to Stratford and back in first gear at maximum revs will you please!
The RR 6.75l V8 would have done it with ease.
It did 500 hrs full chat !
In reality a 2CV can't actually reach its redline in top gear because the aerodynamic drag and gearing exceeds the abilities of the engine so even 'flat out' it's running well on the front of the power curve. The fact that the original 2CV engine was also run at a really modest tune -the first 375cc motor made about half the hp/litre as the later 602cc version - must have helped as well.
IIRC the original VW flat-four was the same; overgeared and designed with deliberately restrictive cylinder ports so the engine was never making it's potential maximum power or speed, thus could be driven 'flat out' for hour after hour.
Same could be said for the RR V8 too, I suppose. Originally built making about 200bhp with a pair of SUs and ending production with 530bhp and a pair of turbos...even if there aren't any directly interchangeable parts between a 2020 engine and a 1959 one.
If you want an engine that doesn't start lumpy but develops into a wailing banshee how about the S2000 Honda? A most entertaining engine. If you like motorbikes, try the difference between the VFR800 and the later VTEC. I preferred the former with grunt, but the later takes off at about 9,000 rpm and flies.
Another vote for the Busso here - sounds great in front wheel drive mode, even better in rear wheel drive mode and absolutely insane in race tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE365Ns7C_0
It might not be not the most impressive engine in terms of hard figures (although it's not bad for a relic from the 70's), but it just has a way of making you feel good all the way from tickover to the red line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE365Ns7C_0
It might not be not the most impressive engine in terms of hard figures (although it's not bad for a relic from the 70's), but it just has a way of making you feel good all the way from tickover to the red line.
viggyp said:
I forgot to mention the Fiat 5cyl and Alfa Boxer unit. I love the crisp, raspy noise the Alfa Boxer unit makes. In regards to the Subaru Boxer lump, is it the turbo which gives it its unique misfiring warble when idling/pootling about? Doesn't seem to sound as nice as the Alfa.
Unequal headers on Subaru flat 4 makes the noise (and 3” exhaust)If its not just for cars then here's my vote. The 18 cylinder Napier 'Deltic' two stroke diesel.
https://www.dieselarmy.com/engine-tech/engine/sign...
https://www.dieselarmy.com/engine-tech/engine/sign...
Yertis said:
OP said:
I'm particularity interested in engines fitted to reasonably attainable cars.
tdm34 said:
One word, trumps all "Merlin"
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