RR Merlin Engines
Discussion
richw_82 said:
S3_Graham said:
last time i spoke to the RR guys that look after their Observation Spit,
I could of sworn they did theirs in house, Because they were speaking about another spit they were getting ready for flight they were talking about their engine being in the shop...
That could of meant it was elsewhere mind...
They do rebuild their own Griffons for the PR XIX. They also have one built up for the XIV, but that's at Bristol with the rest of it the last I heard.I could of sworn they did theirs in house, Because they were speaking about another spit they were getting ready for flight they were talking about their engine being in the shop...
That could of meant it was elsewhere mind...
Ironically, IIRC they also did the Daimler-Benz DB605 engine rebuild for the MOD's Me109G-2 'Black 6' that was restored to fly some 20 years ago.
aeropilot said:
richw_82 said:
S3_Graham said:
last time i spoke to the RR guys that look after their Observation Spit,
I could of sworn they did theirs in house, Because they were speaking about another spit they were getting ready for flight they were talking about their engine being in the shop...
That could of meant it was elsewhere mind...
They do rebuild their own Griffons for the PR XIX. They also have one built up for the XIV, but that's at Bristol with the rest of it the last I heard.I could of sworn they did theirs in house, Because they were speaking about another spit they were getting ready for flight they were talking about their engine being in the shop...
That could of meant it was elsewhere mind...
Ironically, IIRC they also did the Daimler-Benz DB605 engine rebuild for the MOD's Me109G-2 'Black 6' that was restored to fly some 20 years ago.
The engines are heavily converted Shackleton units, that are reputed to be quite a bit more powerful than the originals.
richw_82 said:
aeropilot said:
richw_82 said:
S3_Graham said:
last time i spoke to the RR guys that look after their Observation Spit,
I could of sworn they did theirs in house, Because they were speaking about another spit they were getting ready for flight they were talking about their engine being in the shop...
That could of meant it was elsewhere mind...
They do rebuild their own Griffons for the PR XIX. They also have one built up for the XIV, but that's at Bristol with the rest of it the last I heard.I could of sworn they did theirs in house, Because they were speaking about another spit they were getting ready for flight they were talking about their engine being in the shop...
That could of meant it was elsewhere mind...
Ironically, IIRC they also did the Daimler-Benz DB605 engine rebuild for the MOD's Me109G-2 'Black 6' that was restored to fly some 20 years ago.
The engines are heavily converted Shackleton units, that are reputed to be quite a bit more powerful than the originals.
The converted 58 series engines from the Shack were originally done by RR for the restored MkXIX's when all 3 were still operated by the BBMF, as parts for the original 66's were in short supply, whereas the Shack unit's were in plentiful supply as the Shack was then (late 1980's) still in service.
RR had to design and build a number of new/unique components for the conversion.
The 58 was only more powerful in the Shack because of the fittment of water/methanol inj, which isn't used in the Spit 58 version, so, it's only marginally more powerful as fitted than the original 66.
aeropilot said:
Possiblly, as it was 20 years ago that RR at Filton did the DB605 for Black 6, so the expertise and facilities maybe have evolved/migrated to the Spit operations team.
The converted 58 series engines from the Shack were originally done by RR for the restored MkXIX's when all 3 were still operated by the BBMF, as parts for the original 66's were in short supply, whereas the Shack unit's were in plentiful supply as the Shack was then (late 1980's) still in service.
RR had to design and build a number of new/unique components for the conversion.
The 58 was only more powerful in the Shack because of the fittment of water/methanol inj, which isn't used in the Spit 58 version, so, it's only marginally more powerful as fitted than the original 66.
They were also done for the RNHF Firefly too. I know there was a lot of serious machining work done to the engine to get rid of the gearbox for the contra-rotating propellors, the Coffman starter was deleted, and I seem to remember being told the extra power was from a difference in the supercharger between the Shackleton units and the Spitfire's original.The converted 58 series engines from the Shack were originally done by RR for the restored MkXIX's when all 3 were still operated by the BBMF, as parts for the original 66's were in short supply, whereas the Shack unit's were in plentiful supply as the Shack was then (late 1980's) still in service.
RR had to design and build a number of new/unique components for the conversion.
The 58 was only more powerful in the Shack because of the fittment of water/methanol inj, which isn't used in the Spit 58 version, so, it's only marginally more powerful as fitted than the original 66.
richw_82 said:
aeropilot said:
Possiblly, as it was 20 years ago that RR at Filton did the DB605 for Black 6, so the expertise and facilities maybe have evolved/migrated to the Spit operations team.
The converted 58 series engines from the Shack were originally done by RR for the restored MkXIX's when all 3 were still operated by the BBMF, as parts for the original 66's were in short supply, whereas the Shack unit's were in plentiful supply as the Shack was then (late 1980's) still in service.
RR had to design and build a number of new/unique components for the conversion.
The 58 was only more powerful in the Shack because of the fittment of water/methanol inj, which isn't used in the Spit 58 version, so, it's only marginally more powerful as fitted than the original 66.
They were also done for the RNHF Firefly too. I know there was a lot of serious machining work done to the engine to get rid of the gearbox for the contra-rotating propellors, the Coffman starter was deleted, and I seem to remember being told the extra power was from a difference in the supercharger between the Shackleton units and the Spitfire's original.The converted 58 series engines from the Shack were originally done by RR for the restored MkXIX's when all 3 were still operated by the BBMF, as parts for the original 66's were in short supply, whereas the Shack unit's were in plentiful supply as the Shack was then (late 1980's) still in service.
RR had to design and build a number of new/unique components for the conversion.
The 58 was only more powerful in the Shack because of the fittment of water/methanol inj, which isn't used in the Spit 58 version, so, it's only marginally more powerful as fitted than the original 66.
I was only 200 odd yards away from the spot where it crashed at Duxford, and was a registered eye witness for the RN BOI. Not a pleasant day
aeropilot said:
Aah yes, I forgot about the much missed RNHF Firefly having one of those fitted as well.
I was only 200 odd yards away from the spot where it crashed at Duxford, and was a registered eye witness for the RN BOI. Not a pleasant day
I do not envy you for that task. A true shame for the loss of the crew and for the machine. I always liked the Firefly.I was only 200 odd yards away from the spot where it crashed at Duxford, and was a registered eye witness for the RN BOI. Not a pleasant day
I'll try and find out more about the modifications next time I bump into the Spitfire team. It's been a while since I visited. I recently went to help change an engine on the Avro Shackleton at Coventry, I'll see if they know anything about the modified engines when I'm back there in the new year.
Regards
Ric
Regarding the 
Bentley :
I do not want that, just a nice video of building and driving , with lots of sound please.
Good to see that the builders were so concerned about the tiny engine,
they decided to attach a wee blower to it just for the extra punch when needed,
i.e. when an SSKL might be asking for a little bit of "more spirited" driving.......
Bentley :I do not want that, just a nice video of building and driving , with lots of sound please.
Good to see that the builders were so concerned about the tiny engine,
they decided to attach a wee blower to it just for the extra punch when needed,
i.e. when an SSKL might be asking for a little bit of "more spirited" driving.......
Benni said:
Good to see that the builders were so concerned about the tiny engine,
they decided to attach a wee blower to it just for the extra punch when needed,
I seriously doubt the original Bentley blower is attached to the engine, and has just been retained for keeping original look.they decided to attach a wee blower to it just for the extra punch when needed,
I'm guessing it's also a Meteor tank engine rather than a Merlin.
Of course, there is that nutter in Australia that has put a proper supercharged aero spec Merlin in that fascimile of a 55 Chevy
Huntsman said:
aeropilot said:
Of course, there is that nutter in Australia that has put a proper supercharged aero spec Merlin in that fascimile of a 55 Chevy
We had a Merlin Engined car thread, I think we had that Chevy listed.And for a repeat..... here's the youtube linky of it being driven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIj2GVfua84
.....Just need Ian Carmichael now....
Bish said:
Should be finished in March 2010. Just fabricated teh exhaust system and finishes some details on the interior. Going to see her fired up in the New Year and will take plenty of video action!
Blimey, so it's yours!It's obviously a stonking piece of automobilia, but where does it stand in the authenticity/value stakes? By that I mean that presumably you had to destroy an old Bentley, not cheap, to make this. Bentleys are expensive and Merlins even more so, but what happens when you put them together?
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