Silk Purse Engine from a Pig's ear I6?

One boss's son had a new Testarosa that sounded so nice. It rumbled gently, screamed when he revved it, and wound down like a jet. My old Porsche sounded good too, but flatulated on the winding down part, those short pipe extensions just made it sound like a volks.

I know we're not all race car engine wizards, but discounting the V8's and preferably more toward I6's (mine's a 200 CID - 7 mains), how could you build it from roller bearing mains, and crank, and cam, to give you the reality of solid mechanical function and generate that WOW sound?

I've built and had big powered cars, raced a few, and blew a few motors in the process, but never a finely machined engine. There has to be a way to re-engineer a North American engine to sound like it can never reach its breaking point.

 

What got me thinking was the V-16's and V-12's on that Limo page, from yesterday:

http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1378

From here: http://my.net-link.net/~dcline/limocls1.htm

Mae West's 1938 Cadillac Fleetwood V-16 Limousine Model 9033F
was purchased new by the actress.



1934 V-12 Fleetwood Town Cabriolet Also owned by Mae West


How smooth would they have been? I saw a piston from one of those, way back when, no bigger than a coffee mug. I wonder if that's the secret, smaller pistons and more of them?

Put a couple of V6's in line? One fueller dragster did that with a pair of 392-hemis, back in the day.

Any ideas, theories?

 

Stormin, Check out Clifford Performance. You will be surprised at what they have for I6.

http://www.cliffordperformance.net/


Maybe my next wagon will be a I6...

 

HandyAndy, TBird and I met there in their FordSix forums. They have nice stuff, but it's not about power or speed, it's about solid mechanicals.

When you get up close to a 1958 Rolls, you don't know its running, or the Testarosa, there's no clicky-clacky, just a sewing-machine precision that tells you this thing is made to last and it delivers when you punch it. Even the Jags or BMWs couldn't do that.

I'll have to go see my buddies at the Aircraft plant for tips. Roller bearings (needle rollers, not ball-type) are a major pain to install, but the engine just cuts through the revs, up or down, like a sharp, clean knife. Which engines had the valve stems pointing down - a flat head or was it a Straight-8 Buick - no push rods - direct response, no clacking, but they were long stroked puppies.

There's a bunch of elements in that kind of smooth engine, and it sure would be nice to see if you could tweak them into a rebuilt North American machine.

 

I see what you mean now

 

thats the unfortunate part of the Ford 6...breathing!!

with that dam integral intake...hard to make it breathe!!
...unless you go old school..and get a oooold Tri power adaption for it...
or the mui expensavo Auzzie head

 

Stormin' Any way to adapt a overhead cam to your engine?

 

Now there's a thought! I remember seeing consumer engines modified for special uses (Boats, Generators, etc.) I'll have to look into that.

Rev, what do you mean by integral breathing? Air filtered on mine, even though it passes through the fender.

 

Would that help make your engine run smoother? I don't know much about mechanicals but I'm trying to learn.

 

I won't do anything to this one. It's only got a few thousand kliks since it was professionally rebuilt. It's under warranty. No, I'm thinking about powering my Real Woodie with a Real Engine.

 

Old School Flathead?

 

Maybe. I've got to do some digging, after this upcoming warm week.

 

You know of the Lincoln Zephyr has a V-12 Flathead.

 

the fact that the intake is part of the head....ford should be bitch slapped for that design
the only thing you can do is find a old school tri power adaption like the one i got for my 61..heres a pic ...its mickey mouse but...better than stock

 

Ah yes! I get it now. I'm driving this engine for a few years, while I get some other power plant for it. I can live with it, as is. Thanks for the pic.