dual Engine Alison Streamliner

[Brian]

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.

[kiwi belly tank]

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.

[WOODY@DDLLC]

This it? 

http://www.worldlandspeedrecord.com/history1.htm

[Glen]

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.

[racefanwfo]

Is there any chance that dave cox could give us an update on the cars current build.

[Glen]

The rebuild has not started as another project is ahead of it.

[coolgent01]

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)./....................................

[RichFox]

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

[Peter Jack]

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

[RichFox]

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.

[55chevr]

You are referring to the North American A-36 Apache

[RichFox]

I was not aware of that.

[Brian]

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.

[55chevr]

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 ...

[jdincau]

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