I wish Matra V-12 engines were a dime a dozen

[LDO]

Because I would have this in some wild street car. 

 

[Dodge Driver]

I'd get to drive such a street car once before my driver's license was seized. 

[Draggon]

Isn't that lovely! Sounds even better here ?

 

[sfhess]

Nothing like hearing it at full cry, echoing off buildings in Long Beach.

[LDO]

3 hours ago, Draggon said:

Isn't that lovely! Sounds even better here ?

 

Is this the one Tamiya makes a 1/12 model of?

Also- oh my gosh that’s wild!

Edited October 16, 2020 by LDO

[ZTony8]

I remember the shriek of the Matra V-12 at the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix. It was a unique sound, like someone somehow tearing metal.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Not exactly in the Matra V-12 class, but if you have a powerful hankering to build a V-12 powered street car for reasonable bucks, a ratty old Jag XJS can still be had for chump change. The SOHC engine has a whole lot of potential, especially considering the production version was seriously de-tuned for emissions.

EDIT: And there are engines out there for as little as $500.

Edited October 17, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy

[Matt Bacon]

You could even go the whole hog, like these guys have done... re-engineering “inspired by” the DOHC v12 intended to power the Jaguar XJ13:

https://buildingthelegend.co.uk/category/original-jaguar-xj13
 

best,

M.

[LDO]

44 minutes ago, Matt Bacon said:

You could even go the whole hog, like these guys have done... re-engineering “inspired by” the DOHC v12 intended to power the Jaguar XJ13:

https://buildingthelegend.co.uk/category/original-jaguar-xj13
 

best,

M.

Wow. That is a beautiful engine. I wonder what the price is?

[LDO]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Not exactly in the Matra V-12 class, but if you have a powerful hankering to build a V-12 powered street car for reasonable bucks, a ratty old Jag XJS can still be had for chump change. The SOHC engine has a whole lot of potential, especially considering the production version was seriously de-tuned for emissions.

EDIT: And there are engines out there for as little as $500.

Those look nice. I’ve read of people going nuts with that engine; things like spacers between the block and heads for long stroke/insane displacement. What I have read is only rumors of it. 

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, LDO said:

Those look nice. I’ve read of people going nuts with that engine; things like spacers between the block and heads for long stroke/insane displacement. What I have read is only rumors of it. 

I'm not familiar with that mod, but the Walkinshaw-built engines were eventually punched out to 7.4 liters, making around 750 HP in endurance racing trim...which means nowhere near the engine's maximum power potential.

The production 5.0 or 5.3 should be able to make 500 HP relatively easily with compression, cam, exhaust, and induction upgrades.

There's a lot of possibilities for induction, from 4, 3-barrel Porsche 911 Webers to 6 downdraft 2-barrel Webers, I believe there's a cross-ram sidedraft Weber setup, and a few flavors of direct-port fuel-injection.

They all look exotic, and perhaps best of all, sound like a V-12. Redline is respectable, and with a lightened flywheel and a manual gearbox, you can get the peaky "ripping-canvas" exhaust note Ferrari made famous.

                                                         

 

[LDO]

That sounds like an awesome powerplant for a dare to be different ride. 

 

Edited October 17, 2020 by LDO

[Ace-Garageguy]

Just an FYI...the Porsche 914 gearbox kinda looks the part too (for a fraction of the cost of a big Hewland, ZF, or later-stronger Porsche box) aside from the mounting ears on the back end...which can be removed and a cooler mounting means devised. The ring of studs around the side cover affords a fairly convenient attachment point for a fabricated structure that could support inboard brake calipers and suspension pickup points as in your drawing too.

There are many supposedly reliable reports of 914-Chevy V8 conversions running for years with in excess of 300 rear-wheel HP, and being abused regularly.

Naturally, the gearbox would hold 500 HP and commensurate torque if clutch-dumping starts and power shifting were avoided.

Edited October 17, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy