A look inside a Merlin engine with Jay Leno

[JBoyle]

We all lknow Jay Leno is crazy about cars.
He produces videos for his website on some of his projects.
Here are two on the Merlin-powered Rolls Royce PI special.

They were shot and posted quite some time apart, so there is a bit of redundancy, but if you’d like a nice look at a Merlin in pieces, you'll enjoy it.
(BTW: the website is run by the NBC TV network so there are brief ads before the video starts)


http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/...-pt-1/1206658/

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/segment/r ... -update-2/

Last edited by JBoyle on Sat Jul 31, 2010 4:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[The Inspector]

Part 2 comes up 'OOPS broken link' but part 1 will cause me to have nightmares tonight thinking back to very long nights either in the boat shop, or on a finger pier @ some lake thrashing a ROLLS for the next race or the next heat.

[JBoyle]

Fixed the link...

[PbyCat-Guy]

Should take the Merlins and use 'em for the Mosquito restorations, better suited this way.

[JBoyle]

Should take the Merlins and use 'em for the Mosquito restorations, better suited this way.

I'm sure if you find (or build) the rest of the Mosquito, Leno would consider it.

BTW: About 150,000 Merlins were made in the US and UK, so it's safe to assume thare are more engines than airframes to put them in.

With no Mossies flying at the present time, and if we're lucky, we might see 2-3 in the future, I think Leno can keep his engine in the car.

Besides, there is a huge tradition of aero-engined "specials" in the UK and Europe...starting in the 20s with surplus WWI engines. Long before the hot rod movement started in the US, so there is plenty of historic precedent for what Leno's doing.