Actually the engines were a real piece of work in their day, we used them in generators because of the light weight. there is a crosley that is a record holder at Bonneyville that looks great .
Yeah, the early cast babbit blocks were a *ahem* real piece of work! I know where a wagon is I can have for free... but the floors are 100% rusted away and it's been cut in 1/2 to make it easier to move around.
I've posted these before. This Crosley has a small block (looks like a Chevy)with a front mounted blower.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top noWrap> [*]48 Crosley Comp Coupe [*]48 Crosley Comp Coupe [*]48 Crosley Comp Coupe [*]48 Crosley Coupe Hiboy [*]48 Crosley Coupe Hiboy [*]48 Crosley Coupe [*]48 Crosley Coupe [*]48 Crosley 2dr Sedan [*]48 Crosley 2dr Sedan [*]48 Crosley 2dr Station Wagon [*]48 Crosley Pickup Police Cruiser [*]48 Crosley Pickup Police Cruiser [*]48 Crosley Pickup [*]48 Crosley Sedan Delivery Chopped [*]48 Crosley Sedan Delivery Dash [*]48 Crosley Sedan Delivery [*]48 Crosley Sedan Delivery [*]48 Crosley Sedan Delivery </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Prev
The earliest 4 bangers had their water jackets bronze-welded around the inner block--so light, the Navy used them on portable pumps for fire-fighting aboard ships. The head is part of the block, so that it's assembled from the bottom, and has a separate aluminum crankcase, IRRC. They had some success in 3/4 midgets and tiny race cars. At least one Italian co. (Moretti?) used their motors. If you get the right year ('48?), there's a little propeller on the nose that rotates as you drive.
The early motors are definately a cool exercise in engineering but they didn't last long before the jackets corroded. there were a BUNCH of sports car companies that used crosley motors. they were SOHC stock but a couple companies made some DOHC setups for them (they were HUGE) after crosley went belly up, they sold the rights to the motors to an outboard manufacturer. I don't remember which one but they made them in some larger displacments than crosley did. I'd love to get a crosley hot shot done up for racing. would be a uber cool economic driver
I always remember the Crosley engine on the cover of Hot Rod stated 180 horsepower/ 180 pounds here's one more photo
That first one is BADASS...although, it's actually a Fiat. There was a neat, yellow, mini pro-street-ish one from the 80's that had a rotary engine. Hey, the one with the Potvin(?) and V-8....uhhh, where's the driver sit?! hahahaha
Hey, the one with the Potvin(?) and V-8....uhhh, where's the driver sit?! hahahaha[/quote] When I spotted it I saw the engine first, then I thought; where's the driver fit? But...there was more room inside than I thought! You'd probably have to have short legs though....
The MOST famous Crosley and one of the most popular cars At Dover Drag Strip...The ever popular "Little Giant "...Record holder and class winner at '64 Indy nationals ..ton of info & photos at Dover site ...Type in "Little Giant" in search feature at site and look out !
Homelite during the 60'swas the outboard company that stood the little 750 cc Crosley on end and attached it to a lower unit. Way ahead of they're time and of course unsuccessful.
The Crosley engine was used in three quarter midget racing till the '70, probably into the '80s. Here is a pic of one of the toughest combinations in the east, the Werlie #02 with Tony Romit driving. The Crosley TQs sounded like Offys in these cars!
http://www.stillrunnin.com/magazine/sr2/45-46 Since we have some Crosley interest here I am attaching this link just in case any one happens to know the where abouts of the Little Giant .......... it is in our past lives section of Still Runnin Magazine. Also ironically SRM is involved in saving a historic landmark of a Crosley on a pole in Mechanisville, VA located on 301. If any readers are from this area please email me we could use your help saving it. All interested parties can learn more here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=325102
Crosleys, eh? Just one of these little guys on a shelf in my office right now: I also have a 1930 General Motors console radio that still works and plays beautifully!
The Rockers Car Club from Deep South Texas had a radical little B/Gas Crosley. And the 2nd picture could be the same car in an altered configuration?
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