I've often wondered why the Merlin was said to be so superior at altitude over the Allison. My gut feeling is, that had Allison engineers been given the "high performance above 25000ft" brief, they could have produced the goods. Maybe it was simply a time factor; the Merlins were there, on the spot, ready to go. I'm not talking about the politics of the deal, just the engineering facts as I see them. I was unawa re of the maintenance and weight advantages of the Allison V12; interesting!Top vid!
a million dollars my ass before id spend that kind of money on a worthless engine id buy a turbine engine, much cheeper and more RPM's, all gas engine sound great with out mufflers, thanks for posting, nice old engine,
The announcer is describing a plane taking off, I believe. The Allison motors are not priced at anything close to a million, but they aren't exactly worthless either.
It wasn't until the the Merlin was cleared for 75" that the Merlin powered Mustangs were faster than the Allison powered versions below 5000ft. The Brits corked up the pop-off valve early on for TacRecon and nothing was quicker than it on the deck till the Griffon Spit. That's why you still see pictures of Recon A models after D-Day. The Allison was more than 300lbs lighter than the Merlin, could run leaner and smoother, it would always start, and could take more abuse than the Merlin.
The MkXII came out at the beginning of 1943 (only 100 or so were made) but the MkXIV came out in 1944 and eventually took over the air superiority role from the IX and XVI which were relegated to fighter/bomber duties.
very true, the Allison was more durable and lighter than the Merlin. and had outstanding low altitude performance, however lacked in high altitude performance! the whole reason the mustang powered by the Packard merlin was faster than the Allison powered one, was beacuse the Merlin could continue to perform at high altitudes, with 1,490hp at takeoff 1,590hp at high blower at high altitudes 1,695hp Military power, and 1,720hp W.E.P Boost!
the Allison Mustang was a good low altitude performer, especially with later Allison variants it was able to exceed 400mph, some concepts of the Allison mustangs where equipped with 4 20MM cannons, which i really don't consider much of a advantage beacuse cannons aren't very reliable buy themselves, but it probably packed a real heavy.... punch!
Check out "Tractor Pull Allison" You'll see as many as THREE Allison V-12's in one tractor. The 'Miss Budweiser' unlimited hydroplane racing boat used to use these engines (or the RR Merlin) years ago. There were quite a few of them built.
EJ Potter is still around - he has a fascinating book and video available about his many exploits, like his V8 bike, his Allison-powered machines, and his JET powered toys. Both are VERY entertaining and amusing.
Allright I can see it from your point of view, but I really think the engine would purely be wourn out from being used for dragracing. I love renovating old engines and bikes, and to me these engines are as holy as it gets.
It was tried in the 1960s. It's a heavy engine with a lot of torque so it isn't practical for drag racing. You ended up just shredding tires. These engines were designed for aviation and using them in any other application is destructive and a waste of history after these many years.
Altough im very interested in how one of these engines would fit in a motorcycle. But thats just me, the torque would probably prevent one from riding it.
if you're talking at 30000 feet, you're right on the money; at sea level, the score would be closer. One the biggest "what ifs" of WWII aviation is this: what would the P-38 been like with the Merlin? My God!
Oh i wouldnt write off the Allison so quickly, they might not have been the high altitude performer the Merlin was, but at low to medium altitude theyd give a Merlin a run for its money, also they run far more smoothly and a far less tempramental than the Merlin
The high school I went to in the late 60's [Estancia High ,Costa Mesa California ] had one of these motors on a stand . [power mechanics class] When we fired it up, the whole school came out to watch! We also had a 2-cycle flat 4 cyl engine from milatary drone aircraft ,with a wooden prop. Scary to start!
he sound of the inertia start system. Many of these are still alive and well in survivor planes, boats and tractor pulling where they can be heard at full song.
Mechanically supercharged by centrifugal blower, yes. It is NOT turbocharged, as were the engines in the P-38. (Note the little stub exhausts, direct to atmosphere.)
I've often wondered why the Merlin was said to be so superior at altitude over the Allison. My gut feeling is, that had Allison engineers been given the "high performance above 25000ft" brief, they could have produced the goods. Maybe it was simply a time factor; the Merlins were there, on the spot, ready to go. I'm not talking about the politics of the deal, just the engineering facts as I see them. I was unawa re of the maintenance and weight advantages of the Allison V12; interesting!Top vid!
peteacher52 1 year ago
Wow, if that doesn't give you a woody, you might need to visit your doctor.
v12tommy 1 year ago
sounds nice and civilised for such short headers
nexgenhippy 1 year ago
That chick with the glasses was probably like yeh whatever an engine so what. Then she crapped her pants. LOL, shes right of the engine
HOMeSKILiT24 1 year ago
a million dollars my ass before id spend that kind of money on a worthless engine id buy a turbine engine, much cheeper and more RPM's, all gas engine sound great with out mufflers, thanks for posting, nice old engine,
david1513 1 year ago
@david1513
The announcer is describing a plane taking off, I believe. The Allison motors are not priced at anything close to a million, but they aren't exactly worthless either.
FiveCentsPlease 1 year ago
ALL i need is the six numbers up in the lotto ,and i would put one of these in a car ,what a beast!!!
kevrs2 1 year ago
@kevrs2 HELL YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!
spikonaleash 1 year ago
gorgeous!
silver760 2 years ago
It wasn't until the the Merlin was cleared for 75" that the Merlin powered Mustangs were faster than the Allison powered versions below 5000ft. The Brits corked up the pop-off valve early on for TacRecon and nothing was quicker than it on the deck till the Griffon Spit. That's why you still see pictures of Recon A models after D-Day. The Allison was more than 300lbs lighter than the Merlin, could run leaner and smoother, it would always start, and could take more abuse than the Merlin.
rpurdey 2 years ago 5
when did the griffin come out?
minedronebiznis 2 years ago
The MkXII came out at the beginning of 1943 (only 100 or so were made) but the MkXIV came out in 1944 and eventually took over the air superiority role from the IX and XVI which were relegated to fighter/bomber duties.
rpurdey 2 years ago
@minedronebiznis
The first prototype Griffon ran in 1939.
FiveCentsPlease 1 year ago
@rpurdey
very true, the Allison was more durable and lighter than the Merlin. and had outstanding low altitude performance, however lacked in high altitude performance! the whole reason the mustang powered by the Packard merlin was faster than the Allison powered one, was beacuse the Merlin could continue to perform at high altitudes, with 1,490hp at takeoff 1,590hp at high blower at high altitudes 1,695hp Military power, and 1,720hp W.E.P Boost!
angryace13 1 year ago
@rpurdey
the Allison Mustang was a good low altitude performer, especially with later Allison variants it was able to exceed 400mph, some concepts of the Allison mustangs where equipped with 4 20MM cannons, which i really don't consider much of a advantage beacuse cannons aren't very reliable buy themselves, but it probably packed a real heavy.... punch!
angryace13 1 year ago
Early p51 used allison.Only really succesful hi altitude with merlin
xfire7 2 years ago
i thought p51's used the Merlin.
Marshall7302 2 years ago
It did, after a test conversion done by the RAF showed huge improvement in high altitude performance when using the Merlin.
The P-51 was originally fitted with the Allison V-1710, but was not equipped with the turbocharger that the engine was designed to use.
AgentJayZ 2 years ago
at least its not a razer blade like ww2 ships
pupkrazee 2 years ago
poor engine - just sit's there and smokes a bit...
AngelusWaters1969 2 years ago
The Allison was a good powerplant but lacked the two stage supercharger that the Rolls Royce Merlin had in the P-51 Mustang and British Spifire.
warhawk40 2 years ago
whats that starter?? it winds up then starts to wind down then it cracks into life
piescrank 2 years ago
Comment removed
painlessjoe 2 years ago
piescrank:
it's an inertia starter and pre-oiler to lubricate the interior of the engine prior to ignition.
cagoness: from the description,
"Used on the US -
p51a Mustang
Kitty Hawk
Lockheed P38 Lightning
Bell P39 Airacobra"
painlessjoe 2 years ago
ahh yea thanks 4 that.. love to have one sitting in my shed..
piescrank 2 years ago
what is this engine normally for>?
cagonesss 2 years ago
I love the inertia starter!
Check out "Tractor Pull Allison" You'll see as many as THREE Allison V-12's in one tractor. The 'Miss Budweiser' unlimited hydroplane racing boat used to use these engines (or the RR Merlin) years ago. There were quite a few of them built.
JGMagoo 3 years ago
As a kid I remember TJ Potter with his tractor running an Allison enging at the pulls.
Nothing like hearing this engine working hard.
Thanks
hbunnie1120 3 years ago
EJ Potter- "The Michigan Madman". Famous for his V8 Chevy powered motorcycle.
friedheine 3 years ago
LoL... He must have run out of v12's
The big joke was he would trip over an Allison in his field get mad and then make a pulling tractor out of it...
hbunnie1120 3 years ago
Thanks for the memory friedheine. I saw him run at Bowling Green KY. over 40yrs ago. I wonder if he is still alive?
klesmer 3 years ago
EJ Potter is still around - he has a fascinating book and video available about his many exploits, like his V8 bike, his Allison-powered machines, and his JET powered toys. Both are VERY entertaining and amusing.
Order toll-free 1-877-A-MADMAN
you won't regret it!!!
friedheine 2 years ago
Thank's for the post, man. I'm in my 60's now so he got to be in his 80's. God bless him.
klesmer 2 years ago
Nice Allison, wish I had one
nocrap62 3 years ago 2
Search rod hadfields 1955 chev from Australia. It is a street legal car with a rolls royce v12 in it.
NI11KZ 3 years ago
Airplane engines should be round !
Auggie56 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Real ones are!
mitsudave 3 years ago
Well i'm happy that everyone is enjoying this as much as i did - i waited 10 mins early just to ensure i was ear drum popping proximity to it.
thankyou for all your comments
Slicktrx
slicktrx 3 years ago
man! forget putting that into a MK 1, build a dragster around it!
xfig85 3 years ago 2
You gotta be kidding me! Thats a waste of a great engine...
BikerRussell 3 years ago
no please dont get me wrong, its an awesome engine, but it would be just as cool to build a car around such a powerful engine!
xfig85 3 years ago
Allright I can see it from your point of view, but I really think the engine would purely be wourn out from being used for dragracing. I love renovating old engines and bikes, and to me these engines are as holy as it gets.
BikerRussell 3 years ago 2
Somewhere around 1964-65, some guy in California built a trike with an Allison. Pretty much just a show bike if I remember it right.
cabritorsss 3 years ago
great, BUT, plane engines are designed to bite air not to withstand the stress of ground vehicle, take that in account
walkandlookup 3 years ago
It was tried in the 1960s. It's a heavy engine with a lot of torque so it isn't practical for drag racing. You ended up just shredding tires. These engines were designed for aviation and using them in any other application is destructive and a waste of history after these many years.
FiveCentsPlease 3 years ago
I sencond that.
Altough im very interested in how one of these engines would fit in a motorcycle. But thats just me, the torque would probably prevent one from riding it.
BikerRussell 3 years ago
hi, what engine oil would that use and how many litres,when do you plan to install to a mk1 escort
leeford2 3 years ago 2
Allison built by GM.....duhhhhhhh
seairescue 4 years ago
no back when the V-1710's were built Allison were a stand alone company, GM didnt buy them out till much later
Chappo304V8 3 years ago
Comparing it to the Merlin, I give it 87/100 and I give the Merlin 100/100!
Irvine5312x6ma 4 years ago 2
if you're talking at 30000 feet, you're right on the money; at sea level, the score would be closer. One the biggest "what ifs" of WWII aviation is this: what would the P-38 been like with the Merlin? My God!
proffromgview 4 years ago
Oh i wouldnt write off the Allison so quickly, they might not have been the high altitude performer the Merlin was, but at low to medium altitude theyd give a Merlin a run for its money, also they run far more smoothly and a far less tempramental than the Merlin
Chappo304V8 3 years ago
+godzillion for that incredible sound!
VictorSobakus 4 years ago
The high school I went to in the late 60's [Estancia High ,Costa Mesa California ] had one of these motors on a stand . [power mechanics class] When we fired it up, the whole school came out to watch! We also had a 2-cycle flat 4 cyl engine from milatary drone aircraft ,with a wooden prop. Scary to start!
MCTeck 4 years ago
THNX 4 THIS COOL VID*****allways wanted 2 see1
U MADE MY DAY 2 see 1 run'n WAY COOL!!!!
000darkstar000 4 years ago
HAHA Gave the lady in the background one almighty scare when it started!
TheGrunter69 4 years ago
god dam thats sexy :)
kenns9 4 years ago
nice, but bring on the merlin
wildwoodd 4 years ago
he sound of the inertia start system. Many of these are still alive and well in survivor planes, boats and tractor pulling where they can be heard at full song.
JGMagoo 4 years ago
hook the turbocharger up to that, and give it some real ponies lol
spencermcgrew 4 years ago
it is already supercharged dude
slicktrx 4 years ago 2
Mechanically supercharged by centrifugal blower, yes. It is NOT turbocharged, as were the engines in the P-38. (Note the little stub exhausts, direct to atmosphere.)
woodscritter 2 years ago
What a beautiful noise
gcoochy 4 years ago
Allison wonderland!
SmiertSpionem 4 years ago
Nice :)
Hage3000 4 years ago