Landracing Forum

Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: coolgent01 on August 02, 2011, 12:01:14 AM

Title: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: coolgent01 on August 02, 2011, 12:01:14 AM
A little help is needed on my part..... Awhile back I was reading in the "Builds" section, and there was a short film on a dual
alison aircraft engine streamliner,that "MAY" make a debut,at one or all meets..... now this was last year or so and the short film actually showerd a little trial run, and the owner was thinking that he would trade the aircraft engines,for turbines, because of the  maintenance,and repair costs if you hurt one of the allisons......I have tried to find some information on this machine and I am either  looking wrongly or  it has gone away......So if one of you outstanding  people with a good memory or knowledge of this rig can steer me ..I just  want to see the progress.................................Thanks Steve 
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: RichFox on August 02, 2011, 04:41:39 AM
I thought they were Merlins
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Dr Goggles on August 02, 2011, 05:13:46 AM
it is owned by the landracing.com member who has the green Citroen DS as his avatar......sorry I can't remember the name.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Glen on August 02, 2011, 09:04:50 AM
Dave Cox owns it now. It is no where ready to run.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: coolgent01 on August 02, 2011, 11:18:27 PM
Thanks all you guys......I tried to find  that article and could not.......They may be merlins,I really dont know.... I know they were V12's,and was hoping to see it this year.....I went to Portland Or. at Swan Island and seen the only surviving ww2 fully functional PT Boat.... PT-658 if you want to see it on You Tube... anyway they had Packard V12 Marine engines,and those (3) were some big mo-diggers.......Thanks for your help...........................SH
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: 4-barrel Mike on August 03, 2011, 12:31:58 AM
Damn!  I didn't know that was there http://www.savetheptboatinc.com/ (http://www.savetheptboatinc.com/).   I drive by almost daily.

Mike
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: kiwi belly tank on August 03, 2011, 10:10:55 AM
Are we talking about the twin RR Meteor engine liner that was built in Aus?
I cant remember the guys name, was it Bill Davis??
Something in my over crowded memory recalls it was bought by some one over here.
  Sid.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: coolgent01 on August 03, 2011, 12:24:10 PM
Naw... they are Packards,and I was put in my place,when I thought they were allisons...they are a very serious bunch of dedicated  guys and they are very knowledgeable. I crawled my old hind end down in that engine room and fondled,and groped and rubbed and carassed,and had a serious moment with each one,....There is obe guy close to 90 who gives tours and answers  questions.. he served on one in the pacific... right out of highschool,and just barely shaving and on one of those rascals...... he said "Ya grow up real quick"
I cant begin to think like that...... You gotta have  big stones to do that... kinda like being a ball turret gunner. anyway a good bunch of guys..... If you ever get to Portland go see it... it's free, well worth it.....Steve
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: hotrod on August 03, 2011, 12:35:05 PM
My father was a machinist mate on the PT boats, Packard was given a contract to produce the Rolls Royce Merline engine, to increase production during the war.

They are the same engine as the RRM, just manufactured here in America to diversify production.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin

Larry
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: k.h. on August 03, 2011, 03:41:44 PM
The guy who owns Team Obsolete in vintage motorcycle racing is rebuilding  a few of them up the Hudson River from NY. 
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: DaveL on August 03, 2011, 06:33:08 PM
Glen Davis was the builders name. They were two turbocharged RR Meteors nose to nose mated to Allison automatic transmissions and custom built final drives (4WD). Car was built here in Victoria in the early/mid '90s.
Dave. 
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Pete1 on August 03, 2011, 06:52:40 PM
I worked at the shop that did most of the machine work on the engines for the several unlimited hydro's
based in Seattle in the 50's to the 70's.
We did both Allisons and Rolls...The Allison was a far better engine but it took more finesse to make it
go than the Rolls. An Allison held the qualifying record (about 129) for 11 years. Maverick, driven by Bill Stead.
Ricky Iglesis was crew chief. 2 stage centrifugal supercharged running 80 lb boost.
It took a redesign of boat hulls to the pickle boat to beat it.
Fuel/air/water ratio was 1 lb fuel, 4 lb air, 21 lb water.

As a side note, there is one Allison powered boat TODAY that is highly competitive with the turbines.
I can't remember the guy's name.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: racefanwfo on August 03, 2011, 07:24:17 PM
The unlimited hydro plane that pete1 is referring to is the U-3 owned by ed cooper jr. ed did not race the boat last year and is not racing this year because he is not getting along with the people at H-1. the turbine guys got mad that a piston powered boat was beating there turbine powered boats. H-1 told ed that his boat was no longer wanted on the racing circut.
 
 
 
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Pete1 on August 03, 2011, 07:39:37 PM
The unlimited hydro plane that pete1 is referring to is the U-3 owned by ed cooper jr. ed did not race the boat last year and is not racing this year because he is not getting along with the people at H-1. the turbine guys got mad that a piston powered boat was beating there turbine powered boats. H-1 told ed that his boat was no longer wanted on the racing circut.
 
 
 


Oh,man, that sucks but typical of "teabaggers".....If you can't beat them, rule them out.
I ran into that same mentality many years ago in road racing.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: kiwi belly tank on August 03, 2011, 11:28:40 PM
Thanks DaveL, I wasn't too far off mate. Now how did we get side tracked with wooden boats????? :? :?
  Sid.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Brian on August 04, 2011, 11:51:59 AM
My father was a machinist mate on the PT boats, Packard was given a contract to produce the Rolls Royce Merline engine, to increase production during the war.

They are the same engine as the RRM, just manufactured here in America to diversify production.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin

Larry


But the Packard motor in the PT boat was a very different motor from the license built Packard Merlin. For one thing the PT boat motor is 2500 inches and is physically much bigger than the 1650 inch Merlin.


Here is a PT motor and a Merlin with people next to them to give you a sense of scale.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: kiwi belly tank on August 04, 2011, 03:05:40 PM
So can any one come up with some pics of the ex Glen Davis liner, either now or then??  We saw some video of the car being tested back in the mid 90's on the way down to Gairdner, that was a whole lotta car. I was not keen on the driver out in front of the front wheels. Like Art once said "there's no reference point out there".
  Sid.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: WOODY@DDLLC on August 04, 2011, 05:12:15 PM
This it?  :?

http://www.worldlandspeedrecord.com/history1.htm
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Glen on August 04, 2011, 06:01:25 PM
Woody, that's the car and as I said earlier it is now owned by Dave Cox in Southern Calif. His plan is to put two turbines in the car. Also to relocate the cockpit.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: racefanwfo on August 04, 2011, 06:16:43 PM
Is there any chance that dave cox could give us an update on the cars current build.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Glen on August 04, 2011, 06:21:37 PM
The rebuild has not started as another project is ahead of it.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: coolgent01 on August 05, 2011, 01:26:07 AM
All this discussion between  Packard/Allison/Merlins..... I have seen Allisons and the packard Marine is entirely different...It is a Marine engine.and it is a 2500M....That knowledgable guy  who very factly explained it to me leaves no doubt in my country mind that this BIG cast iron monster, water cooled, is nothing but a bad dude......purrs along at 200RPM spinning a 36" propellar,and at a full hump all three burn 400 gallons per hour....at todays prices thats deficit travel........but the sound just gives ya that warm fuzzy feeling,like smooth galss of bourbon,or a well built flat head......(I gotta get out more)./....................................
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: RichFox on August 05, 2011, 03:50:48 AM
it is pretty common these days that when someone sees a large OHC V12 it becomes an "Allison" I wonder if in Canada any large V12 would be a Griffin, or Merlin. Collective memory.  RF
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Peter Jack on August 05, 2011, 10:00:19 AM
Around here the first thing that comes to mind is "Allison" although most of us are aware of the "Merlin" and a few with British roots swear the Merlin's better. I think "Allison" has become almost a generic term like "Kleenex".

Pete
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: RichFox on August 05, 2011, 10:55:01 AM
I think it is highly likely thay few of us would be aware of the P-51 Mustang had they continued in production with the Allison engine. The Merlin made the airframe come alive.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: 55chevr on August 05, 2011, 12:40:22 PM
You are referring to the North American A-36 Apache
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: RichFox on August 05, 2011, 04:23:38 PM
I was not aware of that.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Brian on August 05, 2011, 04:36:09 PM
You are referring to the North American A-36 Apache

The A36 was only one version of the Allison powered Mustang. It was in fact a dive bomber.


To call a Merlin very Rube Goldbergesque is a disservice to Rube Goldberg.

The Warbird guys have a saying. An Allison can carry a Merlin farther that a Merlin can fly.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: 55chevr on August 05, 2011, 04:41:27 PM
Yes it was a dive bomber and ground attack aircraft. My Dad's outfit trained with them in the big war but before they went to New Guinea they switched over to Douglas A-20 -s ...
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: jdincau on August 05, 2011, 06:35:10 PM
The way I heard it was the A-36, P-51 and P-51-A were all Allison powered. The P-51-B was the first Merlin powered airframe.

http://www.greatplainswing.org/p51.htm
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: NathanStewart on August 05, 2011, 07:37:41 PM
The liner is easily seen in about a half dozen pieces in Calloways YOW (yard of wonders). 
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: jauguston on August 05, 2011, 07:53:48 PM
Back in the days before turbines Fred Leland in Seattle had a bunch of the Packards and put one in a unlimited hydroplane. It never did much but it was something to see and hear. I believe it was one of the boats he had that was sponsored by KISW/ROCK radio station in Seattle.

Jim
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: Glen on August 05, 2011, 08:00:35 PM
The liner is easily seen in about a half dozen pieces in Calloways YOW (yard of wonders). 

I don't think that George want's a bunch of people wandering around his yard.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: RichFox on August 05, 2011, 08:05:03 PM
Some slow day I'll drag out my 1948 Jane's ATWA and look. Lot of neat aircraft in there.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: DaveL on August 05, 2011, 09:50:00 PM
I love the Allison-Merlin which one is better debate. Been going now for seventy years with no end in sight. Personally, I like the Allison.
Dave.
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: maguromic on August 05, 2011, 09:50:51 PM
Rich, Where on earth did you find a 1948 Jane's?  That must be one of the most coolest references!  Tony
Title: Re: dual Engine Alison Streamliner
Post by: RichFox on August 05, 2011, 10:00:36 PM
Hong Kong reprint. Actually it's '45-'46. First post war issue. has all the Axis equipment in it. Very nice book. As nice as a new, real Jane's.