ALF engine info wanted

[Bhigdog]

Below is the description of a 1944 ALF fire truck engine. For sale. I'm curious. Can anyone tell me more about the engine on general.?...........Bob

 

"This is a v-12 engine with 24 spark plugs, 4 coils, and 4 distributors. "

Edited July 29, 2023 by Bhigdog (see edit history)

[Hemi Joel]

The Auburn/Lycoming "BB" V-12 was designed in 1932 by Auburn automobile company's Chief Engineer, George Kublin. Lycoming was owned by Auburn at the time and the engine was used exclusively in Auburn automobiles. Lycoming invested over $1-million in the new engine: $400,000.00 in designing, engineering, and development; and $600,000.00 in new machinery, tools, dies, buildings, and all other manufacturing-related requirements. The Great Depression killed off luxury sales, so the V12 was sold to American LaFrance for use in fire engines. There, it lived on another thirty years.

Edited July 29, 2023 by Hemi Joel
fat fingers (see edit history)

[Hemi Joel]

V-12 Auburns set many speed records. For example, in 1933 a stock Auburn V12 Speedster set a 500 mile speed record at Indianapolis of 115 miles per hour which was higher than the winning racecar in the previous Indianapolis 500! For fire engine use, the ALF engines were poked and stroked out bigger than the Auburn engines, but retained the same external dimensions. A governor and the redundant ignition system was added as well. I think the lycamine-based fire truck engines were offered in two or three different displacements over time, the largest being over 500 cubic inches and over 200 horsepower. 

There was also a much larger V12 available later on in some American LaFrance trucks that was not based on the original Auburn/Lycoming engine.

[Bhigdog]

Thanks Joel, that gives me place to start googling........bob

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Bhigdog, ring up Tom Laferriere for specifics he has had a few of those engines..