All Time Great Engine Names

[Bleach]

I found it over at the HAMB. It actually looks like some sort of diesel engine.

[Steve Braverman]

Franklins from 1930-34 are referred to as "Side-draft" due to their cooling system. A "cool" name for sure, but I don't think the factory ever officially used it.

[padgett]

There were three completely different "big blocks" produced by Chevrolet in the 1960's (four if you count the ZL-1). The first was the Z-33 racing 427 varient of the 409 used in the 1963 racing season known as the "Mystery Motor". The second was the porcupine head 396-427 (454 after 1969 was known as the Mk IV). The third was the aluminum block 430-465-494. From Vince Piggin's Green Sheet of 1972 pg 13 'No relationship with the "427" exists'.

I have seen reference to the '63 427 as "Mark II" which would make the Porcupine "TurboJet" Mk III though I have never seen that designation. The last one is only a series of part numbers.

BTW the key to "interesting" GM engines of the period was "not available with air conditioning" since HP numbers were whatever marketting decreed. I remenber identical engines with different ratings for different car lines and different engines (different cam and carb even) with the same rating.

One element commonly used was to underrate "trick" engines so that the "bright shiny object" crowd would buy the mass market engine. Hence numbers like 290 hp for the Z28 and 295 HP for the SS350 ('67 350 was just a stroked 2 bolt SBC and cranks littered the roadway) or 430 hp for the L-88/89 (88 iron head, 89 al. head) and 435 HP for the L-71.

Was interesting going though (and finding) my old books. Someday I'll have to have a dig in all of the binders and mimeographed sheets here just to see what I've forgotten.

BTW Wasn't the ARDUN head a Hemi ? Seems to be a lot of excitement about a head limited to two valves. For mere than you ever wanted to know see here.

Edited September 22, 2012 by padgett (see edit history)

[Guest]

I'll stick with my hemi head 1955 Jaguar.

I'll stick to the OHC Hemi in my Nissan.

[Guest]

When Plymouth introduced their first V-8 in 1955 it was called the "Hyfire V-8" It was named Hyfire because the engine used Polyspherical heads or semi hemi heads. The neat thing you could do with this engine was convert it's Polysphere heads over to the Hemi head.

[Yellowriv]

Wright Whirlwind, Rolls-Royce Merlin MK 100, Knight Sleeve Valve but can anything top Ducati Desmodromic ?

ps GM had bosses ever since Boss Kettering.

Yep, Desmosedici:cool:

[Guest Docc]

Gentlemen

Hudson Twin H Power..

Studebaker Sweepstakes V8, Thundebolt, Super Jet Thrust, Bearcat 259, Super Skybolt, Passmaster 259. R1 (to R4) Jet Thrust Supercharged,

Chevrolet "Stovebolt " (not offical name..) as Rat Motor, Mouse Motor,

TestaRossa..!

Edited October 1, 2012 by Docc (see edit history)

[c49er]

The post war Chrysler six engines were called the "Spitfire" same as the straight eights of the same era.

[Guest Normbc9]

I still have a Pierce-Arrow 431 V-12 and also a Hall-Scott 594 inline six. Both run well. I also have a Pontiac inline 8 that is a 1949 vintage. My family has a '41 Buick sedanette with a Century inline dual carburetor 8 too.

[Dave Mellor NJ]

Postwar Chrysler straight engines were labeled "Spitfire". Early Dodge Hemi engines were "Red Ram".

I already mentioned Chrysler "Spitfire" engines in post# 36

[Guest]

I still have a Pierce-Arrow 431 V-12 and also a Hall-Scott 594 inline six. Both run well. I also have a Pontiac inline 8 that is a 1949 vintage. My family has a '41 Buick sedanette with a Century inline dual carburetor 8 too.

When I created the thread I was not looking for nick names as such. You say you have a 49 Pontiac straight eight, and Pontiac called that the Silver Streak Eight, Like so; http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7019/6410491595_30bf3c18fe.jpg

41 Buick would have a "Fireball Dynaflash eight" with compound carburetion like so;http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/1941-buick-super-convertible-coupe-3.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2754/4294275353_88b73eedcf_z.jpg?zz=1

[Guest Normbc9]

When I created the thread I was not looking for nick names as such. You say you have a 49 Pontiac straight eight, and Pontiac called that the Silver Streak Eight, Like so; http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7019/6410491595_30bf3c18fe.jpg

41 Buick would have a "Fireball Dynaflash eight" with compound carburetion like so;http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/1941-buick-super-convertible-coupe-3.jpg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2754/4294275353_88b73eedcf_z.jpg?zz=1

If you want to see some photo's let me know. I have eleven collector vehicles including a '27 Moreland Fire Engine.

Normbc9

[john2dameron]

When Plymouth introduced their first V-8 in 1955 it was called the "Hyfire V-8" It was named Hyfire because the engine used Polyspherical heads or semi hemi heads. The neat thing you could do with this engine was convert it's Polysphere heads over to the Hemi head.

HyFire was probably a take-off on the worthless transmission Plymouth used called the Hydrive.

[john2dameron]

Sixteen. Written out, not in numbers or utilizing a "v" surname. just Sixteen. S.A.E.'s engineering advancement for the 30's. The High point (and swan song) for the engineering greatness that was Marmon.

Cadillac also spelled out "Sixteen." In the early thirties, Cadillac choices were V-8, V-12 or Sixteen.

[Guest]

Cadillac also spelled out "Sixteen." In the early thirties, Cadillac choices were V-8, V-12 or Sixteen.

You should have posted that in the famous transmission names thread.

[sfair]

Whiskey Six

Blizzard Six