Could you build a engine block by using plate, like a layer cake, instead of casting? Imagine that each layer is aligned to one another via location pins. Each layer/level is bored for cylinders (cylinders would be sleeved) through bolts(to hold the layers together) and routed for water and oil passages. With a cast block one can only do some much inside the block as far as water and oil passages. If a block were made in layers one could do all types of trick stuff, copper piping, different levels and points of oiling. Also the crank could be bedded from the top rather than the bottom (I have no idea if this could or would be an advantage) If I owned a machine shop or had the tools I would have tried this long ago, but alas.......... Any and all input appreciated.
I think it would work, but it would be costly. The reason engines are what they are is from about 100 years of R&D from the car companys.
Drinking helps (sometimes) a guy do some creative thinking. I had a pair of Detroit diesels at work that were made up from plate (not like your talking) V12s that stood about 10 tall. 1030 HP @ 700 RPM. Each had a pair of blowers that were the size of a bbc short block. Each held 100 gal. of oil.
Do some reading on the tin engine from Crosley in the '40's and early '50's. It was a sheetmetal engine. The engine was a failure and they switched to cast blocks.
I've actually seen two engines like this, running too. These are both on old pump jacks way back in the woods of Central Louisiana. They are both hit and miss engines, but they look home-made with external oiling. They have no marks or maker name anywhere on them. Looks like they are made from 3/8" plate and on top, where the two plugs are, they left every other plate tall, like a finned head. These are running on natural gas or drip.
Here's a picture of my Crosley COBRA ( copper brazed) cutaway tin engine. made of 128 pieces of stamped metal them furnace brazed together. John
Theoretically it may work, but keeping the plates all sealed together through the heat cycles could be problematic. The time spent machining and then assembling it all together would be considerable and as they say; time=$$. Given the modern machining technology you probably would be money ahead chucking up a chunk of aluminum in a robotic 5 axis cnc machining center and pushing a button: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsmiIeAkE-o
Sounds like a step backwards. But what do I know. Why not make cylinders out of water pipe, I hear Burt Monroe did.
That is how the EMD 2 cycle locomotive engines are made. It is pretty amazing to see plate and channel iron welded up to make a block. The good thing about this type of construction is that it can be repaired if the engine kicks a rod out the side of the block.
This guy made a head that way, but making a block would be a bit more challenging. It's not surprising that huge engines are made by welding up plates, and small ones are made by casting.....if you think about it as an engineer.....
Cost prohibitive!!! But, the old VW pancake 4 cylinders were CAST 2 piece blocks, WITHOUT any seal between halves. And of course they leak. squirrel, any more info on that straight eight flathead? What's it sound like with that exhaust? Butch/56sedandelivery.
It's called furnace brazing and has been done since the early days of internal combustion. And is still done today for turbine engine parts. Nasty process overall- dirty, expensive, not entirely predictable.
I found just the boost gage for the packard flathead eight shown .Some old square face vacume boost gage. I have thought it would look good on that car but didn't know how to get ahold of the owner.
Anything can be done if you have enough talent, resources and money. Would it be a better mouse trap? Who knows.
There is no head on the Crosley engine. You remove the pistons after you remove crankshaft and crankcase. Then pull the pistons out the bottom. John
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