Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Video: The Inside Story of the Packard Merlin


  • Please log in to reply
59 replies to this topic

#51 Magoo

Magoo
  • Member

  • 3,703 posts
  • Joined: October 10

Posted 31 December 2013 - 13:12

Whilst I am wary of any "reliability" claims (I worked in a related field for many years), it would be interesting to hear from Tony Rudd's counterpart in Packard.

Didn't want to get into pedanticism, but the definition of what constituted a "failure" would need to be agreed or tailored to allow a valid "apples with apples" comparison.

 

 

I knew a few old-timers from Packard but they're all gone now. The head of the engine testing dept. was Russell Snowberger, the old Indy racer, but he passed when I was a teenager. 

 

 

The stories I recall were mainly about all the tremendous pains they went to in duplicating the Merlin engine -- for example, moving heaven and earth to get British thread forms made. There wasn't much in the way of bragging about improvements to the engine. 

 

 

 

...Other fun facts not in this newsreel. There was a Ku Klux Klan chapter at Packard during the war. At least one of the WWII Detroit race riots started in the plant. 



Advertisement

#52 Magoo

Magoo
  • Member

  • 3,703 posts
  • Joined: October 10

Posted 08 January 2014 - 13:20

Having apparently killed this thread with a depressing KKK reference, I will attempt to revive it with this video of a one-fifth scale model Merlin engine that runs beautifully. The patience and skill of these craftsmen never cease to amaze me. 

 

 

http://www.macsmotor...-merlin-engine/



#53 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,038 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 08 January 2014 - 22:08

Mac, you are talking history. The KKK seems to have been quite large at that time. Maybe some of them should have been sent to war!
Race riots seem to happen just about daily in some part of the world, the same as wars. And most are backed by their particular God/s. Sad but true.

#54 275 GTB-4

275 GTB-4
  • Member

  • 8,274 posts
  • Joined: February 03

Posted 09 January 2014 - 04:08

Having apparently killed this thread with a depressing KKK reference, I will attempt to revive it with this video of a one-fifth scale model Merlin engine that runs beautifully. The patience and skill of these craftsmen never cease to amaze me. 

 

 

http://www.macsmotor...-merlin-engine/

 

Ohhhhhh Magoo, you've done it again! :wave:

 

I don't think you kilt it...I think it just ran its course....it may get resurrected when some other people find it....
 



#55 gruntguru

gruntguru
  • Member

  • 7,637 posts
  • Joined: January 09

Posted 09 January 2014 - 06:59

Love the model Merlin.

If my maths is correct that comes to 27/5^3 = 27/125 = 0.216 litres.

Question. If it is a faithful copy of an engine that made say 1500 bhp @ 3000 rpm, what peak power would you expect from the model?

 

a) 1500/125 = 12 hp @ 3,000 rpm

b) 12 hp @ 15,000 rpm (same piston speed as original)

c) 60 hp @ 15,000 rpm (same piston speed and BMEP as original) that's 277 bhp/litre BTW.

 

something else?



#56 MatsNorway

MatsNorway
  • Member

  • 2,822 posts
  • Joined: December 09

Posted 09 January 2014 - 17:21

I like to look at the hp/litre ratio.



#57 275 GTB-4

275 GTB-4
  • Member

  • 8,274 posts
  • Joined: February 03

Posted 09 January 2014 - 20:24

Ohhhh boy....brave man



#58 Wuzak

Wuzak
  • Member

  • 8,416 posts
  • Joined: September 00

Posted 09 January 2014 - 20:24

Having apparently killed this thread with a depressing KKK reference, I will attempt to revive it with this video of a one-fifth scale model Merlin engine that runs beautifully. The patience and skill of these craftsmen never cease to amaze me. 
 
 
http://www.macsmotor...-merlin-engine/


Here are several model engines.

Including the model Merlin XX shown in the video
http://enginehistory...merlin_xx.shtml

And an Eagle 22 that the same guy also made
http://enginehistory.../eagle_22.shtml

#59 Ron B.

Ron B.
  • Member

  • 156 posts
  • Joined: March 09

Posted 14 January 2014 - 09:35

I think ,and i may be wrong but a lot of folks get the Merlin/Packard V12 mixed up with  the Packard V12 marine engine. a totally different engine altogether,hence discussion of one piece cylinder head barrels etc. 

http://youtu.be/4_ON2TWiHPI



Advertisement

#60 Magoo

Magoo
  • Member

  • 3,703 posts
  • Joined: October 10

Posted 21 January 2014 - 12:56

More Packard stuff....this from a time when Packard was a technology leader in the Motor City...
 
 
In the summer of 1923, there was a war on in the Motor City: Cadillac, Lincoln and Packard were battling to build America's most advanced luxury cars. Packard’s contribution was the innovative 1924 Single Eight.  Here's a backgrounder...
 
 
 
 
 
 
pu9m.jpg