VERY RARE 1930's Miller V-16 Engine fired today, PICTURES!!!

Well, I neat lil' bit of history was made today. A VERY RARE, V-16 Miller 1930's Word Record holder BOAT engines was fired off on the Dyno for the first time in 70 YEARS!! This engine last ran in 1938 when it threw a rod out the side of the block. This engine is one of two that were the power plants of "Ms. America VIII" The Boat is being restored and "Zakira's Garage" here in Cincinnati was hired to rebuild and restore the engines. They specialize in Miller race cars.

My dad and I letter some of there race cars and I've been hounding these guys to CALL me when its gonna get fired. Well today at 1:00 P.M. the Friction starter was engaged and she Beltched to life IMEDIATLY!!!

Enjoy...

 

Be patient, I have lots more, with details and facts. Give me a sec.. Thanks guys!

 

In the first 3 photos you see it on the Dyno. Original carberation was THREE inverted Downdraft millers.. But for simplicity and safety three Holly 2 barrels were used.

2 Robert Bosch 8 cyl Magnetos, with the starter below them atached to the crank.

These photos...


Engine plumbed and ready.
2 radiators, one for each bank of 8 cyl,
The throttle was worked by a choke cable, he stands ready while the starter motor whirls up like an Air Raid siren..

 

Wow, now that's cool! Thanks for posting.... please tell us you have a video

Malcolm

 

Here Jim feels the starter for excessive heat, and a final check..

The engine Fires!!! Very mechanical sounding, Like a solid lifter big block chevy. LOTS OF VALVES WORKING!!

After it ran for about a min, the red fuel can at the rear (In between the HEADERS!!) began to overflow.. Engine was killed and my dad Dan, played Fireman while the guys cleaned up the spill.

 

Here's the other one I think. It was from the Ethyl Ruth. I guess they fire in pairs. How cool it must have been to hear.

 

WOW!!!!!!! Jay Leno, eat your heart out. Are both motors going in the boat? Those are just too cool. I can imagine the exhaust note from a V16...sorta.
Any dyno numbers available?

 

how was the block repaired??

 

Check out the smoke outside the window!!! Good nieghbors..

Engine running, You can see the water break the engine is hooked too. Zakiras will FULLY break the engine in the rest of this week.

 

that is FRIGGIN' COOL! yes, please tell us that there is video...or at least audio!

 

I counted 4 carbs..... you keep mentioning only 3 ?????

Beautiful engine!!

 

Last bit of pictures, then my slow typing **** can answer some questions.. ha ha!

More detail shots..

Wire looms are originals,

Carb linkage..

 

Yes, 4 carbs.. SORRY, Brain fade.. Here some pics of the boat. and some specs. I have a ton of info, i'll get to it..

Man, you gotta imagine what these guys were doing.. 32 supercharged cylinders running wide open with about a 12 inch turned up OPEN exaust RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!!! These guys were wearin leather helmets and mabey Cotton balls in their ears??? Brave souls..

 

awesome

 

ok.. again, sorry I'm slow.

engine is 1113 c.i. they turned it 6000 rpm.

It ran 104 MPH. It was supercharged by TWO Schwitzer ***mins Roots type blowers (miller Designed) driven at 2/3 engine speed. BOOST: 10 lbs.
ONE PIECE BILLET STEEL CRANK!! Engine ***embled whieghs 1635 lbs.
Made 1800 HP @ 6000 RPM
1325 HP @ 4000 RPM
Engine was built about 1931

RYAN, It sounded good, I stepped outside to hear it,, It wasn't as deep as I expected.. Had a high pitch to it.. But, in theory its four overhead four bangers running!

(guys, my typing is terrible and i'm slow but I had to share this with ya, bear with me)
JD

 

NO VIDEO YET... Sorry. Zakira's will do that though. They do things right.

Yes, Willowbilly3 thats the other engine. Its done and ready.

Both are going back in the boat, UNsupercharged.. they want to run it again.. their goal is 80 MPH!!!

No Dyno #'s yet, I'll get them later this week.

Block was just welded up and smoothed.. you cant tell from the outside.

Thanks,
JD

 

Boat and motors are cool.Thanks for sharing.

 

When I asked Jim at ZAKIRA's if I could post this he said "HELL YEAH!! Put our phone number on there, tell them guys if they have questions or want work done, PLEASE CALL!!"

So,,

ZAKIRA'S GARAGE
513-272-2229
Jim Hemelsbeck
(We just call him "Jim Longname")

They have a website that shows shop pictures and more cars.
http://zakiras.com/

Thanks,
Joshua Shaw.

 

I wont be able to sleep............nasty!

 

This must be it?
http://zakiras.com/

I can't wait to see some video and here this thing run!

 

Spectacular!!

 

Now THAT is a beautiful engine!!! WOW!!

 

Wow, that's a ***y engine!

 

Damnfantboulous, now that's a piece of inginuety (or how it's spelled). Simply just love the oddball things. PLEASE make a note when a video is available.

 

I think this may have been posted before, but if not: http://www.milleroffy.com/Photo & Sound Gallery.htm

There are pictures of many Millers & others....very small pictures of the boat engines, though. Sound clips are at the bottom of the page.

I imagine that any pics or videos/sound clips of these engines you might like to forward to that site would be greatly appreciated....

 

Video with sound PLEASE. Thank you for posting.

 

Unbelievable! Absolutely beautiful engine.
I would have made the trip to Cincy just for the first fire.
It amazes me the power that engine created. And all back in the 1930's.
Can't wait for the video. Thanks for sharing.

 

WOW, that's an awesome story and events to bring the boat back to life is fantastic! The brute power from the 30's is so overwhelming to imagine.
Like corngrower said, can you imagine the experience those 2 guys had when that thing was wide ope between the sound, the feeling and smells...talk about sensery overload!
Thanks for sharing this, corngrower and get some video up here for us, please!

 

excellent indeed. 1930's badness with an at***ude !
thanks for sharing