I think there have been posts about period 8 cylinder T racers, but didn't recall for sure. If anyone has built or building one they may like this clip to show they existed:
Rob
Chevrolet produced a series D V-8 in 1917, could that be a typo or misprint?
Bob
Chevy shared the [Northway V-8] with Olds in 17 18 and 1919.It's been several years since i saw one in a 1919 Olds at the midland swap meet but i'm not sure if that is one in the picture?? Bud.
There were 8 cyl Ford racers built by extending the frame and mounting a second T engine in line with the first.
In the 20's a Ford dealer in Texas welded two T blocks together and put them in a sedan with an extra long hood. He drove it for several years. There is a racer in a museum in Kansas(?) that was a twin engine T. Gary Lafever's is in is in Speedy Bill's museum in Lincoln. Some were two engines coupled together, run as twin fours or straight eights, some the blocks were welded together run as an eight. Mark Herdman is building a twin engine car in Australia right now. They were around, plus I think there was post on an early Ford V8 on the Forum a few years ago.
John,
I was thinking of you when I saw this. I thought it was probably two fours in line. I've seen the one at the Museum of Speed (late Bill Smith museum) but didn't remember if that was a period racer.
If I come across more I'll post it to this link,
Rob
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/257047/260210.html?1352364356
The V-8 discussion.
Rich
Rich,
Good link, thank you.
I was surprised that it didn't take long to find over twenty examples. A couple are posted below.
August, 1922 Popular Mechanic:
1918:
1915 "brass era" version:
+++ jpeg +++ 482826 +++ +++
(Message edited by Rob on September 29, 2014)
Try again, 1915:
This is really interesting! I have seen a few pictures and other references to tandem-block eights over the years. However I don't think I have ever seen any of these. Most of the references I have seen were basically race cars. I doubt they were raced much, and were used mostly for show. I think this in part because I have never seen any reports indicating that such cars were victorious in racing. One problem would have been that they didn't fit into any standard local racing classes which were often divided by either displacement or cylinder count as well as amount of modification. I also suspect that reliability and handling would both be problems.
Using a lengthened standard car frame (as most seem to be), the torque of those two engines could probably twist the frame like a pretzel.
I imagine that with proper gearing, one would be really fast. Especially on long, straight, uphills.
The full-bodied car is particularly interesting. I have never seen one quite so nice looking. That other article indicates that it was planned for a full body also.
Thanks Rob, and all.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Here is Hugo Hauck's car from Council grove Kansas
This is the link to the Council Grove Track article. I did some research last year trying to track this car down. The owner donated it to the local museum a few years ago. I hope to go see it next year on the way to Chickasha.
http://winfield.50megs.com/tripod/Roller/Morris_County.htm
John - Sure would like to see a close-up photo of the intake/exhaust manifold set-up. Can't quite figure it out from this photo but looks very strange! Thanks for posting this photo as it is quite a "study" for sure,.....harold
One more link discussing the three eight cylinder cars that ran in the Council Grove area.
http://winfield.50megs.com/tripod/Roller/Eight-Cylinder_Model_T.htm
WOW! That was quick! Lots more written detail and "blowupable" (is that a word?) photos! Thanks John,....lots to read about and look at now! From just one quick glance and blow-up of the one picture, it looks like what I was seeing before was a carburetor heat stove and related piping on that first photo you posted. Thanks again,.....harold
It seems 8 cylinder Fords did race, and appeared to be competitive. One of the many races the Haucke brother's competed in in Kansas:
(Message edited by Rob on September 29, 2014)
In 1915, Arch Bromley appeared to have an 8 cyl ford that was respected at local tracks:
Yes, I read the links posted by John S above. I have known for a long time that there were in fact several such racers back in the day. However, it appears that there may have been more than even I thought, and some of them may have competed rather successfully.
It would have been interesting to have seen Haucke's car with a touring body installed as described in one of those links.
Great stuff!
Thanks all.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
I think those long stretched out cars would be hard to handle on curve and on a busy track. They look more like an early rail car
Great stuff Rob.