Allison V12 Start-up

[MaGicTriXz]

Sounds like my vacuum cleaner at the beginning of startup

[Politcalamity]

This monster will bust your eardrums if you aren't careful. One of the loudest engines I've ever heard.

[31144]

You know that guy loves his job (0:27)

[Hadibah]

Music to my ears! How can such a cool engine be named after a girl though?

[loki1392]

@Hadibah it is only a girls name when it only has 1 L "alison" when it is 2 L's "allison" is is a last name i know as single l is my mum's first name 2 L's is my last name

[FiveCentsPlease]

@Hadibah

The company was started by James Allison as the Indianapolis Speedway Team Company and later becoming the Allison Engineering Company. So the name likely comes from the Allison surname.

[tailwheelflier]

see,,,no hearing protection

[mrTheDide]

@tailwheelflier maybe he got plugs and we just can't see them through his trandy haircut... who knows... ;-)

[Bran247]

Allison known for being quiet, wished they would have done a walk around with the camera.

[SJP1504]

Shame running on LPG... :-(

[quiglearo]

One Mean Machine, sounds GREAT.

[rogerstill71]

Sounds like a tractor

[OFFSHORERACEING]

Quiet

[yamahonkawazuki]

Oh wow, listen to her sing. :) my new alarm clock sound lol. at near full volume. my speakers wont liek it much, btu i dont care. my neighbours are motorheads,so they wont mind

[tartredarrow]

This engine powered 3 great american aircraft. The Lockhead P38, the Curtis P40, and the North American P51.

[drbelli]

Chuck norris's office desktop-fan  :D ?!

[yamahonkawazuki]

@drbelli which he uses when he farts. to clear the air Eh?

[drbelli]

@yamahonkawazuki

eheh, he nevah farts!

[SpecOps1987]

@drbelli Chuck Norris is a sellout..

[drbelli]

@SpecOps1987

if you sellout to yourself , then?!

[KeeperofTheMountain]

@drbelli Smart car. 

[yeti21586]

hmmmm wot car could i fit this too>>???

[cydonianman]

i like the sound of the p40s with allisons more than the p51s with merlins when they make high speed passes.

[slowstang88]

WOW thats started so smooth!

[OMBIC]

this would be nice in my car :)

[XBoeingCapt]

what prop are you using a 20x7;  too big

[AGrandt]

What I find fascinating about these engines, is that those exhaust ports are not swept backwards just for show.

At full throttle those gave the plane an extra 50-100HP worth of thrust. The exhaust itself were supersonic.

[converterman200]

next time giver some throttle you had your hand on it the whole time push foward please

[avecchi220]

Is it running on propane or is that for a pony motor???

[Puckgrinder85]

@avecchi220

"Engine runs on LPG"

[whorayful]

I live five minutes from that place and I've never been there, guess where I'm off to next weekend!

[pmcload]

I would like to go see that museum; too bad its in Australia!

[pmcload]

Yep, you're right. My Dad's Allison had a HUGE flywheel on the front.

[RBOJCK]

WOW! NICE SEE MY BOATS AT RCCRAFT.COM

[eyresysleftpeg]

This bloke is definitely called Bruce

[MilhausMN]

@eyresysleftpeg Agreed the Bruce is strong with this one.

[idusclothing]

before the engine was started, something was revving up. Is that to create enough momentum to then engage the starter for it to start the motor?

Wouldn't teeth strip when engaging if this is so?

[FiveCentsPlease]

@idusclothing

Yes, an inertial starter is being used. A number of aircraft engines used this method to start since direct-drive starters with 1930s and 1940s technology were very heavy.

[pmcload]

Beautiful engine....imagine how much work went into it! Also note the mechanic doesn't gun the engine like the rest of us gearheads would!

[FiveCentsPlease]

@pmcload

Without the load of a prop, the engine would over-speed and be damaged or perhaps grenade if he tried to rev it much.

[spheresector]

the engine is oel cooled, its got a radiator , the mustag as an example has it under the belly, inside the big bulge with a scoop as airintake. This system was also used on the Suzuki GSX 750 motorbike.

[Batner112]

They should run a Jumo 213 engine :D

[FiveCentsPlease]

@Batner112

Another collector is working on a Jumo 211 for display in a few years. There may have been a running Jumo 211 in Germany a few years ago, but I have not seen any video. Several Jumo 213s are currently under restoration, and other than the former Champlain Museum D-13 I've not seen a Jumo 213 running.

[sultros]

Saw the motor and got excited. Then noticed the P38 and almost passed out.

[sonzoomspark1]

What is the bore and stroke of the engine? Is it splash oiled or dry sump oiled?

[CTParker13]

now lets put that in a car...

[n7275]

Inertia starter.

[magnum9987]

Is it loud? lol

[mustangmangz]

THATS a Good sounding Engine!

[seabees2009]

Very, very cool!

[5Toesss]

That mechanic is so chill...

[teletubbykiller54]

Is it carb'd or fuel injected?

[n2uid01]

That sound is SO SO SO SWEET!!!! What a purring kitten, until throttle up!

[Bagadaboats]

whats the sound b4 the engine starts

[FiveCentsPlease]

@Bagadaboats

Inertia starter spooling up. Inertial starters were used on a number of engine types to save weight since direct-drive, geared starters were heavy.

[Bagadaboats]

@FiveCentsPlease do all piston aero engines have inertia starters?

[FiveCentsPlease]

@Bagadaboats

Not all of them.

[michaelhpedersen]

Will that fit in my Bronco? I need it.

[madpainter69]

sounds cool!!!

[abc9128]

they use these engines in truck pulling competitions back here in holland

[DeltaLou]

Why are the exhaust stacks converged?

[FiveCentsPlease]

@DeltaLou

What do you mean by converged? The stacks are still divided by each exhaust valve, and looking at the color of the exhaust flame was one way that mechanics looked for problems with an engine or cylinder. The stacks facing backward provided a small amount of extra thrust on these planes where speed was important.

[jethrobodine011]

jesus christ....AWESOME!!!

[subarumonkey]

Propane? Whats the compression?

[21voyageur]

Better than sex! ! ! ! ! 

[Lighthead440]

Love the way propane evens out the mixture cylinder to cylinder,makes for instant cold starts.You guys have it set up nice,great clip.

[teamfab]

You just cant help smiling when one of these big motors bursts into life...

[The88drunkredneak]

put that in a ford f350

[Peter43John]

why did they stop putting this engine in the P-51's and switch over to the RR Merlins???

[Xantofons]

@Peter43John IIRC, lower than expected performances at high altitude. I always wondered what could have been the P-39 with a Merlin as powerplant. I just love that plane.

[sparbolt63]

@Peter43John Because of the lack of a good, 2 stage supercharger, the Allison didn't have the high altitude power the Merlin has.

[kenns9]

LPG has an octaine rating above 100, but is ezr to get than AVGAS

[Skunkworksblackhover]

To hear that whine build up to the blllrrrppp and the engine coming to life gives me goosebumps!!! The Allison V-12 is special to me in many ways, beyond what it accomplished in WWII. My grandfather worked for Allisons for atleast 30 years as a machnist and tool and die maker. My father worked for Allisons then stayed and made the transition over to Rolls Royce and still works today closing in on 40 years. He has nachined parts for this engine as well as many others including the new F-35 U.S.A

[waterinawell]

such big engine just to run that small fan !! :)

[saviormz]

@waterinawell lol



[BREGGREN]

@waterinawell GOOD ONE!! I Wish I'd a Said Dat! hee-hee lol

[pdmftw]

absolutely beautiful!!, i love the p 38 one of my favorite ww2 planes of the pacific!! 

[MrJp990]

@pdmftw P-38 saw VERY limited service in the pacific. But when ever a P-38 pilot had a jap in his sights, it didnt end well for the jap. Especially a Zeke.

[yumyumsashimi]

That is alot of engine for such a tiny prop! I wish I kept my alli I had in the early 70s traded it for a Hemi powered flatbottom drag boat.

[GREEVES246]

it would be nice to see a rolls on gas why ever they didnt start them on gas and run on petrol was mad !

[dhermosillo09]

Excellent video sounds good!

[savagenomore]

does the starter have to wind up before it engages to start the engine

[GREEVES246]

lovely soud as the prevoius person stated nice inertia starter sound i used to watch tractor pulling when you heard the inertia starter you knew you were in for a special sound also sounds sharp even on gas but a much cleaner fuel and easy starting !

[f00tyfr33k]

...whereas i could have been driving around for hours with the same amount of fuel they WASTED in 3 minutes -.-

[somethinextra]

Lovely sounding engine...

[daninsf]

i love the operator's face @ 25s 

[mjrpickles]

This engine sounds very well indeed.

[glichtanski]

Amazing engine. I love WWII engines! This sound is better than music...

[redbeaverone]

Rev that bitch up.

[rangerbuddy1066]

there's a modified-class pulling tractor called thumper-2 that has TWO of these giant motors while most other tractors have 4 chevys or 3 mopar engines, the guy that built the General turbine tractor built it and its amazing to watch

[KenMacMillan]

Looks like it's ready for a custom street application.

[FrapsYou]

lol at the prop

[bigwheezy312]

that whole tank of gas is proly gone lol

[BombriderKong]

Sweet little propeller.

[musicbruv]

I would have thought that the engine would have needed a flywheel, I assumed a propeller acted as one, but obviously not.

[apatheticempathy]

what is that engine worth and will it ever be put back in an aircraft ?

[sigurd1979]

@apatheticempathy They are worth a lot! They're rare as hens teeth! and as to whether it'll be put back into an airplane, who knows?

[FiveCentsPlease]

@apatheticempathy

It depends on the how the engine was used and if it has proper paperwork and documentation, "yellow tagged" in aero lingo. If the history and use of the engine or part is suspect, then it can't be certified for flight (at least any licensed mechanic who wants to keep his job won't touch it or install it.) Allisons are worth less than the other big V12s, but they are all very expensive, especially the remaining ones which can be used for flight with no paperwork issues.

[apatheticempathy]

@FiveCentsPlease

wow, .. thank you for the true insight ... hate to ask can you put a number on its value, both ways?

What does happen to the "suspect engines" ??? Lets say I go in some jungle and recover a wreck, if I properly, (legally) recover it, can I sell the engine ?

Thanks ~

[FiveCentsPlease]

@apatheticempathy

I don't have a dollar figure for engines and it would depend on the condition. Instead of scrap value, if you recover an engine it would be worth something to a collector or a museum, but many museums would rather trade than purchase. Boat racing and tractor pulling use many "suspect" engines, but they don't last very long in that application. Historically (last 50 years), boat racing gobbled up hundreds of surplus engines.

[masso172]

you got the engine but definitely not going anywhere with that tiny prop ;)

[bimmergoon]

What's with the long whining sound at the start?

[kubla777]

In the 70's a a teacher at our high school started his a few times in front of a lot of us in the big shop room. He used Sunoco 260 and 2 50 gal. drums for cooling. He got the engines army surplus for $800. The thing just thundered, it was quite a sight...and sound!

[JohnxWaynexGacy]

I like the little prop on the end

[ironmanbfe]

i have a rather stupid question but are these engines air cooled or liquid cooled? i have yet to see one with a radiator (impratical for an airplane?) but it seems such a large engine to be air cooled.

[vanman420]

@ironmanbfe Liquid cooled!! This one only has a tank of water that sits under the engine, because they don't run it for long (only 2-3 mintues). In an airplane there would be a radiator.

[5bananas1]

@vanman420 the hole in the front is the radiator probably

[colindhowell]

@ironmanbfe Though this engine is liquid-cooled, air cooling has been used with radial engines much larger than this, like the R-2800 Double Wasp, the R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone (about double the displacement of the V-1710), and the R-4360 Wasp Major (28 cylinders!).

[mpetersen6]

The Allison had the potential to be the greatest V-12 aircraft engine ever built except for one little problem. The Army Air Corps had decide to go with turbo superchargers (a valid decision based on the potential power drain from gear driven superchargers. Unfortunately radial engines for bombers sucked up almost all of the ones available leaving a the V1710 stuck with an underdeveloped gear driven type.

[sigurd1979]

@mpetersen6 interesting I did not know that.

[619426]

love the fan.

[mrgeraldbrent]

The moment I heard that exhaust... my dick shot out the front of my pants

[CruyClown]

The guy with the fanny pack ruined the whole video for me... i was about to clap and then i was like, "NOOOoooo damb you fanny pack"!!!

[imadude10]

Lol Look at the cute little propeller on the front of this massive engine.

[mk196a]

Dr Johnny Fevers new job



[spinlessbastard1]

looks like a merlin to me?

[allisguy1]

art arfons had a modified pulling tractor with v12 allisons on it then later had jet engines he called the green monster, didnt know he had a drag car by the same name.

[KnockoffNigeI]

Is there any history for this engine?

[FiveCentsPlease]

@KnockoffNigeI

If it has paperwork, then the history can be documented. Australia operated Allison-engined aircraft, so surplus engines were available to museums.

[vanman420]

@KnockoffNigeI Apparently the owner bought it about 25 years ago, used to run it on avgas but after many backfires and getting sprayed with fuel he converted it to run on LPG. As for if it was ever in a plane I don't know?

[MrNelsonb2]

@KnockoffNigeI um yeah p47s and p38 lightnings

[grndiesel]

They start up pretty quick without that huge prop attached!

[scott93257]

One of these engines are awesome....To see two or three of them on a pulling tractor? UNREAL!!!!

[9959dodge]

is it possible to put this in a car ??

[vanman420]

@9959dodge, Yes back in the 60's a few guys put Allisons in drag race cars. Art Arfons used to race cars he called "The Green Monster" there were about 6 or seven of them built over the late 50's to late 60's and they were powered by Allison V12s! Google "Art Arfons Allison v12". Also there was a guy name Jim Lytle who raced a 34 ford with and Allison, the car was called "Big Al" My dad knows a guy in Kansas who gas a Roadter (29 ford?) with one in it!

[GingerPhilG]

@vanman420 Also to add, not entirely related but you got some guys using Rolls Royce Meteor aero engines in cars, too. John Dodd's "The beast" is one very notable var of that type and is easily found on here :)

[ChicaWolverina]

@vanman420 And to mention it was a favorite on the full size hydro plane racing boats that killed so many through 50's and 60s until they realized the limitations had been reached.

[Ragebailey]

@vanman420 there was also a monster truck called awesome kong 2 with one of these engines in the bed

[2000xlt]

@9959dodge there is a guy in youtube that put a rolls royce in a 57 chevy,,

[FiveCentsPlease]

@9959dodge

It was tried back in the early drag days, but these engines were never really successful as drag motors because they are heavy with a lot of torque. Just tire smokers.

[34peterbilt]

can you put one of these in a peterbilt truck model 386 ,388, or 389..matched with an allisson transmission if so, send me link to one of these engines

[FiveCentsPlease]

@34peterbilt

The aero engines and parts are getting very expensive. See the web pages for Michael Leeds and Randy Grubb and the Blastolene cars which use air-cooled tank engines or old Detroit diesel V12s in several impressive hot rods. See the "Piss'd off Pete" Peterbuilt truck built by Randy.

[jimbo4868]

last of the merlins made more like 300 hp

[NikitasGuitars]

great handlebar :-D

[Logik426]

For what is this gas cylinder near that guy?

[privatealpha]

@Logik426 Its Nos.

Not really, its the fuel in the form of LPG. Liquid Petroleum Gas.

[Logik426]

@privatealpha WHAT?? LPG in that legend?? no way...

[FiveCentsPlease]

@Logik426

I wondered about the LPG fuel as well. The Bendix carburetor was a pressure carburetor with fuel metering (early fuel injection), so it's possible that LPG could be injected as fuel but I've never seen it anywhere except in this video.

[Bamchucknorris]

I think the cooling prop is a bit too small.

[TerminatorFRA]

Englishmens were pro in liquid cooled engines like the griffon, merlin, sabre napier etc... Americans in air cooled ones like the PW R2800,Wright 3350 etc...

[kolbpilot]

Nothing like the crackle of a big cubic inch v-twelve.

[pcmech1]

Propane conversion?

[seapeddler]

What brand of oil is used?

[Gpoint177]

is it start by compressed air?

[MegaShawy]

I don't think churchhill ever used a merlin!

do you

[rweiii1]

is that an airplane engine?

[Blue10AEMia]

@rweiii1 No it's for a minivan

[rweiii1]

@Blue10AEMia im fairly certain its an airplane engine, you dont need to be like that.

[Blue10AEMia]

@rweiii1 No it's for a minivan

[EnterpriseXI]

what does the future hold for this Allison?

[neurocytohemotoxic]

How much does the engine weigh?

[kristenburnout1]

Thumbs up if you like the sound of the inertia starter kicking in!

[gaggotgaggot]

rev it up you mangey cunt

[4freespeech]

War is "elbows and *ssholes". If my elbow can use your *sshole to WIN,

THAT is what we will do, which was the story of the Merlins in the P-51s.

[Galaxy98677]

Whatever the output guys, this beauty in music shouldn't be on a stand - I don't care if its built from parts or an original, it should be given to someone who truly understands these Godesses, rebuilt to airworthy standard and strapped to the front of a significant airframe to be flown. It'll only be wrecked in a tractor-pull in 5 years time otherwise! I'm an ex-Limey but if it wasn't for the gallant efforts of my lost American brothers I wouldn't be free today, neither would you UK man!

[TARBABY71]

@Galaxy98677 Read the description of the clip,,, Its in an Aviation Museum in Adelaide,, Australia .

[Z32spdstr]

hmmm listen to this engine u can here the power

[peteacher52]

Correct me if I am wrong - I have the impression that the use of the Merlin engine in the Mustangs was more of a political move than an engineering one. I know it is said that the Merlin had a better performance above 12000ft than the original Allison fitted to Mustangs, but surely to goodness, the Allison engineers of the time would have been able to specify an engine with the appropriate superchargers to boost power at altitude if they had been asked to?

[Nza420]

I'm glad my mom used to bring me and my brother to tractor pulls when we were little!! I love to hear these engines run!

[roadwolf2]

both the allison and the merlin were notorious for turning planes over on the ground due to the emormous tourqe they generated

[rennertz]

It`s an inertia starter.

[Bamchucknorris]

I think it needs a bigger prop lol

[barthoedemaker]

It's a clutch starter. Because you need a lot of torque to crank the engine over. First it's build op speed, and then it's released same principle as a clutch.

[MegaShawy]

The Rolls Royce Merlin Engine saved the free world!

From a very proud Englishman

[vanman420]

The Allison helped too!! From a very proud American ;) Both great engines!!

[GRATZIANI2002]

@vanman420 ..but this guy running the engine without cooling system!....maybe many engines saved free world...prom a very proud EU..

[cumminsfan]

@GRATZIANI2002 look more closely! that looks like radiator hoses running to that large blue tank underneath!

[GRATZIANI2002]

@cumminsfan sorry ! what is blue there looks like a oil tank, this 12V engine where regular inverted working with dry carter!..anyway , for an engine not flying, mean sitting , the radiators are big enough to see them very easy. Do not forget this engine has 1200 HP...same thing, what fuel using? propane looks like..because this gas cylinder..

[GREEVES246]

@vanman420 yes and well preserved testament is the quick starting ! lovely sound

[warhawk40]

@vanman420 The Allison lacked the two speed two stage supercharger to perform above 20,000ft that the Rolls Royce Merlin had.

[gnarlyest]

@MegaShawy, Free world you mention. Research the 'Strawman', my friend. Black is white, war is peace, we are free.

[SgtGrant23]

@MegaShawy the Americans also mad the merlin later and put it in the p-40's

[kidynamite58]

@MegaShawy  An engine saved the free world? And here I thought

it was Winston Churchill.

[tlfrantz1]

@MegaShawy

Now if the Merlin can save the free world from socialism,, THAT would be saving the free world!

[kubotaboy123]

do they all run on propane

[deputym9]

inertia starter

[kevrs2]

that engine looks very like a merlin

[Sid447]

Both engines very good. Neither is decidedly better. Allison didn't have the supercharger development behind it that the RR engines had. RM17SM version of the Merlin type tested @ 2,630hp. V1710 Allisons not even close but could have been with similar amount of work. Why all the fuss about this one is better than that. All are brilliant old engines for their time. Look for the Ford GAA engine, this could have been better than both.