Since there's a 27-Litre Bentley powered by an airplane engine, is it possible for a car to be powered by a prime mover, like a 38D8 or 567C? This question came to mind, because of the historic racing cars powered by airplane engines. So, is it even possible?
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Since there's a 27-Litre Bentley powered by an airplane engine, is it possible for a car to be powered by a prime mover, like a 38D8 or 567C? This question came to mind, because of the historic racing cars powered by airplane engines. So, is it even possible?
You're kidding right? Do you have any idea of the size and weight of an EMD 567 series prime mover? I don't know what a 38D8 is, nor who manufactured it but, the EMD 567 series diesel engine is 567 cubic inch displacement PER CYLINDER! Even your average three ton dump truck couldn't even CARRY an END 12-567C diesel engine.
The 38D8 is a Fairbanks-Morse engine. It was used in submarines, and for some bizarre reason I thought it was a locomotive engine. With cars though, I was thinking of an enlarged car, large enough to support such an engine.
I had a feeling it would be an unwieldy and downright absurd vehicle. But, with the right-sized frame and strong enough wheels, would it work? Forget practicality, I'm just wondering if it can even be done. I know this is an absurd question, but when I heard about racing cars using airplane engines, and one that uses a boat engine, this question came to mind.
I had a feeling it would be an unwieldy and downright absurd vehicle. But, with the right-sized frame and strong enough wheels, would it work?
No.
Forget practicality, I'm just wondering if it can even be done.
No.
I know this is an absurd question, but when I heard about racing cars using airplane engines,
What size airplane engine and in what size/class race car?
and one that uses a boat engine,
Again, what size boat engine in what size/class race car? On the other hand, look what the NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car folks have accomplished with a 500 cubic inch Hemi engine, based off the original Chrysler 426 Hemi. They now force upwards of 10,000HP for a bit more than three seconds out of those 500 cubic inches.
this question came to mind.
Hot Water, the car using the airplane engine is a 27-Litre Bentley. I believe it uses a Merlin engine. It has been on Top Gear before, along with Brutus, which is powered by a BMW airplane engine. These automobiles resemble 1920s/30s racing cars, but they were probably built for fun. There's also a Packard-Bentley powered by a 42-Litre boat engine, named Mavis.
Well, it's too bad that it isn't possible for a prime mover to power an automobile, but at least the idea sounded interesting enough to ask you guys.
10,000 hp out of a 500 in cubed engine. THAT makes a SD90 look BAD. Too bad they only have to keep up that much power in NHRA for a few seconds!
Since you could stuff two of those Ed Pink 10K Hemi's in a GE 44 Tonner, for a 20K machine .....I think we need to ask the question in reverse ! heheheheheheeee!
It's already being done in large earth moving dump trucks. They use a generator to drive electric motors at the axles. Probably not practical in an autmobile because of the additional weight of the generator and motors unless the "prime mover" is small and light enough to compensate for the weight and size of the additional required equipment. Intriguing idea, though.
Who wants to pay for the fuel to "fill 'er up?"
Rusty
The 38D8 is a Fairbanks-Morse engine. It was used in submarines, and for some bizarre reason I thought it was a locomotive engine. With cars though, I was thinking of an enlarged car, large enough to support such an engine.
Its not bizarre at all. Fairbanks-Morse used them in their line of diesel locomotives, in six, eight, ten, and twelve cylinder configurations.
Stuart
Matt,
I used to work on electric drivetrain for large Caterpillar mining trucks until last year & I remember that the electric drivetrain was more efficient (in certain, but not all applications) than a traditional mining truck with a torque convertor & automatic transmission but less efficient than a truck with a clutch & manual transmission, which didn’t matter as there were no mining trucks at that time with manual transmission. What I learnt from that job was that while the alternator could be installed in the same volume taken up by a transmission & electric motors could take up the same room as the differential & final drives, the challenge was finding room for the rectifier / invertor cabinet as the vehicles got smaller.
These are just my opinion.
Thanks,
Naveen Rajan
It's already being done in large earth moving dump trucks. They use a generator to drive electric motors at the axles. Probably not practical in an autmobile because of the additional weight of the generator and motors unless the "prime mover" is small and light enough to compensate for the weight and size of the additional required equipment. Intriguing idea, though.
There were prototype German WWII tanks which would have used a u-boat prime mover/generator/traction motor set to operate.
Just stick a built up 700R4 automatic behind it and eliminate the electricals.
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