Warbird Information Exchange

No, I haven't heard any rumors of such, but I was wondering if some of the more mechanically inclined WIXers out there might have a take on this. Is there any reason why the process shown in the video URL below couldn't be applied to the DB engine design? The video shows a V8 autumotive engine being fashioned out of a solid block of billet aluminum by a 5-axis milling machine. Any idea if the classic DB engine design could withstand the same use if fashioned out of aluminum? Maybe the issue would be the politics of getting something like this certified under today's restrictions. Anyway, I find this kind of modern technology absolutely amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsmiIeAkE-o&mode=related&search

_________________
Rob Mears
'Surviving Corsairs' Historian
robcmears@yahoo.com
http://www.robmears.com

An aluminum billet the size of a DB would be impressive indeed! Almost anything is possible but you would probably have 20 times the cost in cutters as the block in the video due to the extra complexity and the length of the cutters required due to the size of the case. Even though you wouldn't sell more than a few hundred top fuel blocks a year, how many DBs could you sell to amortize your start-up cost? Maybe 3-5 a year? Even with a 5-axis machine you would still need lots of custom designed cutters and dedicated fixturing. Quite an expensive proposition. As a machined part the case would be far better than a casting. Maybe someday though!

Once you built it you know that all the Anoraks would complain that the engine is a data plate restoration and not original...

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image ... utaway.jpg

The only issue I can see is provision for the various coolant jackets, especially around the valves. Since the cylinders would be sleeved with steel liners anyways, I am sure the jackets around them could be arranged in the machining of the block. I think that it is somewhat common with certain dedicated drag blocks (& heads) to omit the cooling jackets, due to the amount of time the engines will be run; I could be wrong on this though, as I've never been able to figure out how you can run a 3,000 hp engine at crazy rpm's without any cooling, even for "only" 3 or 4 seconds....

I am not sure who it was, but I remember seeing ads in some English car magazines in the 90's for a company that was reproducing Ferrari V-12 "Columbo" series blocks; I am not sure if they were machined from a billet or a casting though.

At any rate, as BDK points out it would be an impressive affair from both a machining and cost perspective. I certainly hope it happens someday.

cheers

gv

A few years ago, I watched a top fuel dragster team taking the engine apart after a race. The absence of any coolant was explained to me:

"During the few seconds it runs, it consumes 30-40 L of fuel and that's cooling enough."

The question on power ... :

"Around 6,000 hp but it depends on the traction, it pulls until it spins."

Christer

I believe the crankshafts are more of a problem to obtain/make than the blocks.

Regards,
Mike

Rob

thanks for the cool video link, I just watched it; bloody amazing, and it shows hoe they machine the cylinder water jackets, albeit for an open-decked engine.

Also very cool are these links for the machining and assembly of the VW W16 engine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU32Q6QX ... ed&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q34xIzTj ... ed&search=

Watching this process for a large supercharged (or is it mechanically turbocharged?) V12 would be mind blowing.

cheers

gv

P.S. on the link I posted above for the cutaway DB605, does anyone recognize what aircraft this is from? It seems to have a tubular mount which looks unfamiliar to me. The Swedish cockade in the background may hold a clue.

The cutaway engine/mount may be from the Saab J21,

http://ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2000/ ... il_j21.htm

Regards,
Mike