Ive seen a handful of well known builds with the Allison v12, EJ potters vehicles, Arfons, etc. Lately, another guy had built a 39 Chevy with a torqueflite behind it. I know these motors are popular in tractor pulling as well. What are they running for transmissions? It seems like the drag cars of the 60s were basically direct drive with a big clutch. The 39 Chevy with the torqueflite had me wondering...
The unlimited hydros used up so many of those engines that they are now getting super spendy even for airplane restorers with deep pockets. I've talked to guys who are heavily involved in WW II war planes and that is one thing they always mention. Transmission wise I'd think that most of the race cars used either a direct drive with a clutch or and in and out box similar to what the sprint cars run. Now I'd imagine that one of the trans builders who builds automatics for seriously modified diesel pickups that put out mega hp could build one to handle what power the Allison has. None of it is going to be cheap and it will probably p*** modern Ardun V8 conversions dollar wise so fast it will make your head swim..
Man I miss the sound of the Allisons and Rolls Royces in hydroplanes! That sound goes right to your gut!
Ya I was a tank mechanic in the early 70s changed out many of the Allison V12s and Allison transmission and final drives. Kinda like a big zero turn mower drive train LOL. Agree about the sounds of the V12. But I always liked the sounds of the 8V blown Detroit’s too, like a big chain saw motor talk about RPMs Sorry got thinking about that V12 the one I was thinking of is a air cooled Continental V12.
I seem to remember an article in Hot Rod about the Arfons dragster mentioning that it used a clutch out of a tugboat that was energized by a series of starter solenoids in line. By dialing up the voltage he could increase the pressure on the disc. That was a long time ago, my memory may be confused…….
Most or all the RR Merlin builds use step down gears and I've seen Turbo 400s used. I think Jay Lenos Rolls uses a manual Allison (!) trans from a bus. There are a couple of Jay Lenos Garage videos on youtube where he looks in detail at his V12 Rolls and a Merlin Bentley that he owns too.
Jay Leno uses a New Venture Gear 5600 transmission in his Rolls—the same one found in ***mins-powered Ram pickup trucks.
I would think the best choice would be a heavy truck Allison Auto. Adapting it would be fun and take some serious machining skills and know-how, but the bellhousing would be a standard SAE pattern and the Allison V12's torque and rpm range would be similar to a built 2 stroke Detroit 12V-71 or 8V-92T. Rod Hadfield's Merlin powered '55 Chevy was backed by a 2 speed hydro. Not fancy, but effective.
Never saw one in a car/truck, but worked on Bill Muncey's hydroplane one summer when I worked for the local Chev/Olds dealer. One engine in the boat & a spare on the trailer. Sure wish I had pics ......
I remembered this one from Bakersfield when we lived there. https://www.motortrend.com/news/thr...eet-legal-1710ci-allison-v12-powered-monster/
So far speed gems and advance adapters have said they don't make anything. Waiting on TCI and patc. Patc looks like the best bet, they have extensive amounts of older engine adapters for Chevy autos...
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