I see someone found a price for a 1710 of 88,000 for a low time fresh engine... I would've guessed around 100,00. A rebuildable Merlin goes for way over a 100G's and with the rarity of Allison's I thought they'd be getting closer to the same value. Even if it could be bought and built for anything less a fortune....at least in my financial world... I'm wondering how it would all fit together in (or ON) a little '32 Cvevy body... By the time a frame/engine mounting system was engineered and built I think the body would look more like an accessory attached to the back end. I know there are a few RR Merlin powered cars in the UK. They're pretty neat although huge..... I don't think I've seen one with a small coupe body that is practical enough for street use.
I saw an Allison in a tracktor one night, it had three 750 Holleys fed into the stock supercharger and started fast just like a car. Ran well, made all the exhaust pipes glow really well. Hadfields Merlin still has the A/C fuel injection and needs to be primed like an airplane to start.
This picture shows the scale pretty well, the body is reduced to being a hood that just covers the big Allison.
Right? I don't have a torque wrench that'll go to 2200ftlbs... Guess I'll have to use a cheater bar... Honestly, I have never torn one of those *******s apart before, but I ain't scared...
Well,any fool can tear one apart,it's putting it back together that counts. If you aren't scared, maybe you'd do a better job if you were. There's a reason why the rebuilt motor is $88K. But, it's always good to have a dream. Post some pics when you get it running.
Allison's were also used in Pt boats. Let me ***ure you, there are still many,many brand new WW2 Allison engines still in crates sitting around. I know of a (relatively) bucks down warbirds owner/builder who literally has a pasture full of them. People can ask whatever $$$ they want for them, that doesn't mean they'll get it. I'd look for a non airworthy example to rebuild for road use. They are still out there, just like early hemis...
Well,if I were short of funds and had a pasture full of engines worth even 10K a pop,I'd put down the can of dog food I'd been eating and mosey on out to the back 40. Also,while I may be wrong, I believe, and many sources site, that almost all of the US built PT boats were powered by the Packard 4M 2500 V-12. Couldn't find anything out about Allison powered boats. http://www.pt-boat.com/packard/packard.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PT_boat
I think the number 1710 represents the cubic yards of money needed to build a car around one of these. A lot of bucks for a car you can't drive.
No,Packard 2500 cubic inch V-12's were the engines,three of them,for WW2 PT boats.There might be a few here and there...but not many or the Warbird guys wouldn't spend mega bucks fixing engines recovered from wrecks.
It also has to be kept in mind that the Allison went through a long evolution and there are many differences between the various versions. Some are much more desirable than others and a guy restoring a particular Allison powered aircraft is going to be searching for a specific model of engine. This has a direct bearing on the scarcity and value. Regardless... From my vantage point any Alloson is a rare Allison. And all are spendy when it come time to rebuild.... I think I'd be scared
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Art Arfons and the 'Green Monster'; there were several 'Green Monsters' but the most memorable, to me, had an Allison 1710 - and I saw it run in 1960 That makes it 'traditional' - for dragster use
There's a picture of on of the Green Monsters on page 2. I saw it run about the same time in Henderson, NV. I'm looking forward to seeing how the '32 Chevy body is integrated into the ch***is on this project. Also of interest will be following along with registration and ***ling issues.
Rolls and Packard Merlins were 1650 cubes, smaller outside dimensions than an Allison but heavier and much more power. If you want cubes, find a Daimler Benz out of a WWII German fighter. A DB603 was 44.5 litres, that's like 2800 cubes or so. Or a Napier Sabre out of a Tempest, 24 cylinders and 2240 cubes. If you are going to talk about dreamin', at least dream big!!! BTW, a Merlin weighs about 1400 pounds, an Allison about the same with no supercharger.
LeTourneau Technologies heavy equipment. Think Terra***an scale. Engines powered electrical generators that in turn powered large electric motors in each wheel. Kinda like a diesel-electric locomotive off the track. Longview, Texas. www.letourneau-inc.com
At the end of WW2 Lycoming had the 7755 cubic inch 36 cylinder engine running .5000 HP,about 6000 pounds,500 gallons an hour of gasoline at maximum power.Then the jet turbine was fully developed and the mega power gasoline engines were done
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