7 replies to this topic

[Andrew Bishop]

Does anyone own some photos & information about the engine of the Mercedes C291 (season 1991) Sport Prototype Champinoship?

[MPJay]

Forix has some info on it.

http://8w.forix.com/...e-failures.html

There's a brief footnote down in the Subaru/Motori Moderni 1235 flat-12 section about it

Quote:

Curiously, during the same period Mercedes also designed a flat 180-degree 12-cylinder engine, the M291, for use in their C291 Group C car. This engine gave Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger victory at Autopolis in the Sportscar World Championship season finale. Earlier this engine was plagued by oil-scavenging problems but they were solved and the engine was ultimately reliable enough to win but still hefty at 170kg.

http://8w.forix.com/m291.jpg

[DuaneW]

One of my interests is researching racing cars.

Here is some info I compiled on the Mercedes M291.

180 degree V-12 DOHC 12.0:1
3497.45 cc 86.0 x 50.2 mm
B/S ratio: 0.58:1
Valves: 4 per cylinder; 40 degree included valve angle
Valve sizes: intake 36 mm, exhaust 31 mm
Engine management: TAG-McLaren
Fuel injection: two Keihin Seiki injectors per cylinder; 12 butterfly throttle system
Ignition: two plugs per cylindeer, HKZ distributorless ignition
Engine construction: Aluminum engine block with integral aluminum cylinder heads; wet Nikasil cylinder liners; magnesium crankcase; 8 main bearings; steel crankshaft, 6 pins; titanium connecting rods; Mahle light alloy pistons; Goetz rings; gear-driven double overhead camshafts; center power take-off with steel output layshafts situated above crankcase and running in roller bearings. The center drive gear powers an output shaft running the timing system, pumps, and alternator.
Lubrication: Dry sump, 7.0 bar
Cooling: Separate water cooling system for each bank of cylinders
Exhaust system: 3 into 2 into 1
Engine weight: 170 kg
Fuel: 102 RON gasoline blend (very exotic racing blends not used)

Engine output:
12/92 Racecar Engineering
680 bhp at 12,500 rpm
Maxium rpm - 13,500 race and qualifying

8/18/91 Nurburgring
640 bhp at 12,500 rpm

4/14/91 Suzuka
580 bhp at 12,500 rpm

Fuel consumption: >300 g/kw/hr

This was quite an interesting engine that was never fully developed

Hope this help you.

DuaneW

[hydra]

What are the odds of some well-informed soul telling us the bore pitch/cylinder spacing and the main & rod journal diameters?

[VWV]

Take a look at Karl Ludvigsen's Mercedes-Benz - Quicksilver Century There is a chapter on this engine. Excellent book by the way.

[Halfwitt]

3500cc / 10 = 350

(350 x 4 )/ pi = 445.63

445.63 / (8.6 x 8.6) = 6.02

So, shouldn't the stroke be 60.2mm rather than 50.2?

[VWV]

According to Karl Ludvigsen's Mercedes-Benz - Quicksilver Century

180 deg v-12
BORE 86.0mm
STROKE 50.1mm
DISPLACEMENT 3.492 Litre
Cylinder size 291 cc
Intake Valve 35mm dia
exhaust valve 30mm dia
valve angle 40 deg
comp ratio 12:1
2 10mm spark plugs per cylinder
I-section titanium con rods
8 main plain bearings
engine weight including exhaust system, alternator and starter: 375 lb
Mahle piston, with 1 compression ring, 1 oil scraper
final horsepower at end of 1991: 690 @12600 rpm
fuel consumption: 190 - 205 grammes per horsepower hour

[Halfwitt]

Oh silly me. I didn't read the V12 bit....

Profound and grovelling apologies. I feel more stupid than I really am. I'm off to finish my large helping of humble pie.