Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Cylinder head alignment for Chevy V-8


Recommended Posts

Greg, I'll just bet you recall the sound of a Lockheed Constellation flying overhead also.

I sure do.

There's a DC-3 in this area that occasionally flies over fairly late at night. Quite the time-travel experience to be lying awake in bed in the dark, and to hear that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

R-4360_2.jpgThe Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major, the largest mass-produced aircraft piston engine ever made. A 28-cylinder, 71-liter, air-cooled radial monster, the ultimate incarnation—the “51VDT”—could deliver a staggering 4,300 hp.

Edited by Greg Myers
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Correct.

One side of a vee- or otherwise-opposed engine with any number of cylinders will ALWAYS be offset or staggered somewhat to allow for connection of connecting rods to the crankshaft.

This is a flat-4 opposed engine, but you should get the idea...

subaru-boxer-diesel-pistons-crankshaft_1

And a V8, with shared rod-journals...

stock-photo-pistons-and-crankshaft-isola

Not quite true, Bill. The earliest Vee engines tended to have what were called "Fork and Blade" connecting rods, meaning that the big end of the rods on one side of the engine were made in a split, or "forked" manner, with the corresponding rod from the other side looking much like any other engine connecting rod--it's big end mounting on the same journal as the forked rod BETWEEN the two "legs" of the so-called "fork" rod. Perhaps the most notable of that style V8 was the first series Lincoln V8 engines, from 1921-about 1929-30 or thereabouts. I also believe I've read of a few aircraft Vee-engines, from WW-I into at least the early 1930's that used this sort of connecting rod layout as well.

Art

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not quite true, Bill. The earliest Vee engines tended to have what were called "Fork and Blade" connecting rods, meaning that the big end of the rods on one side of the engine were made in a split, or "forked" manner, with the corresponding rod from the other side looking much like any other engine connecting rod--it's big end mounting on the same journal as the forked rod BETWEEN the two "legs" of the so-called "fork" rod. Perhaps the most notable of that style V8 was the first series Lincoln V8 engines, from 1921-about 1929-30 or thereabouts. I also believe I've read of a few aircraft Vee-engines, from WW-I into at least the early 1930's that used this sort of connecting rod layout as well.

Art

Yes, zenrat reminded me of the "knife-and-fork" arrangement in post #21, and I modified my statement to "any vee or opposed engine you're likely to encounter in a car"... :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...