The Original Big Block Ford

Just thought I'd share some before and after pictures of my Ford GAA tank engine. All aluminum 1100 cubic inch V8 used in WWII Sherman Tanks. These were gas burners rated at 500 HP and 1050 Ft. Lbs. of torque for military service, but are capable of much much more using mostly stock parts. They feature a 60 degree vee, 5.4 bore x 6.0 stroke, 180 degree factory billet cranks, pent roof combustion chambers, shaft driven DOHC's, 4 valves per cylinder, and dual mags. They are pretty high tech. engines, especially considering they were built in the early 40's. I've been working on getting one of mine going for the last couple of years, and should be cranking it within a week or so. It's setting in my 70 Mustang right now which I plan on taking on short cruises when finished, 24 gallons of alcohol wont go very far. It is bolted to a heavily modified Powerglide right now. Wilcap ( Pat McGuire ) built the adapter and flexplate for me.

 

WHERE IN THE FUCK DID YOU GET THAT ENGINE????????????????????? I have no use for one but I fuckin' want it. talk about a conversation starter!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

How much does that thing weigh??????????

Seems like you would need about 700 of those cubes, just to handle the weight of the motor.

And with all that weight up front, transferring the weight to the rear wheels would be a major problem, no?

Looks like it would be good for smoking tires though!

 

I drove to BFE Nebraska to get my first 2 engines. I ended up with 5 more in a package deal just 50 miles from my house a year later.

 

AND HOW FUCKIN' C L IS THAT THING????????????????

 

Stock with all the tank accesories they weigh 1400 lbs. I've got it down to 960 lbs. now which is liveable, not much more than a blown cast iron Hemi or BBC.

 

that things rad!!! i want to hear it run! maybe you can do a YOUTUBE when you finally get it running??? HOLY CRAP!! look at the size of the header outlets!!!

 

You should put like a POTVIN style supercharger or better yet TWIN TURBO. ggaaaawwwlll dang

 

They sound neat, not like a normal V8 due the 180 degree crank. More like a Cosworth on serious steroids. I'll try to get some sort of video when I crank it. I only have dialup but I'll figure out something.

 

Too cool!!

 

Can I get one for my 32?HMMM?

 

wonder if i could mount it in the BED of my '63 ranchero???? wheelie stands all day and everyday!!! =)

 

thats fuckin awesome! talk about obscure horsepower!

 

The tractor version has 2, 103mm turbos going on it which should be good for about 32-34 pounds of boost. I thought about trying to use one of them on the Mustang, but I havent decided where to mount it yet. I also have a dual 6-71 blower setup that came with the 5 engine package deal that really looks awesome. The 2, 6-71's bolt end to end and use a coupler in between them to drive the second blower similar to a 12-71 detroit diesel. The only problem is that is another 150 lbs. over the front axle. I may still try it later though.

Here is another picture. The engine on top has the dual 6-71's that were 38% overdriven, those zoomies have 3'' primarys. The engine on the bottom belongs to a tractor puller in Kansas. He used that one, twin turbo engine to win the nationals back in the mid-eighties, beating numerous triple Hemi and BBC powered tractors along the way. He claimed 3600HP with 34 psi and alky. I imagine that # isn't far off because a 12'' 4 disc. Crower clutch was having hell holding it. It used a stock crank, rods, cams, and turned 5000+ rpm on a regular basis.

 

proving once again that nothing says success like excess

 

watching the movie TANK as a 4 year old fucked me up pretty good... (watching 1941 as a second grader fucked me up even worse)

i think i've found another thing that i can't live without but don't really need to go after. fuck man, that's amazing.

 

Thats awsome

 

holy shit.

 

MII front end cryin MERCY!!!

 

Where do you get parts for that beast? Way cool!

 

Thats what I would call gearhead Viagra!

 

Im guessing its Injected? I see an array of hoses on the top and what looks similar to a Hilborn pump on the pass lower side, driven by a belt. Also is it all aluminum? or just painted silver? Thats just waaay too cool !!!!
PLEASE KEEP US UP TO DATE ----I LOVE IT!!!--------FEDER

 

Nice score Dude! Good luck with your future plans for those mills!

 

Very Cool. I remember seeing one as a kid at the Henry Ford Museum. I always kind of wanted one, but I don't know what I'd do with it. Maybe a boat. They were originally designed to be a 12 cyl aircraft engine, therefore the aluminum construction and narrow v. They failed to get a contract. The need arose for tank engines, so Ford put this design to work by shortening it to 8 cyls. They brought back the 12 cyl version, designated GAC, for the T29 heavy tanks.

All the major automotive makers put out engines, but the Ford was the favorite, as it was powerful and reliable. GM's design was a pair of 6-71 diesels. Slow, but the fuel didn't ignite as easily as gasoline. Chrysler's infamous W design mounted five 6cyl truck engines on a common output. One engine vertical, 2 flat out the sides and 2 at 45 degrees in between. 5 different intake manifolds were designed to hold the carbs upright. Tuning was a nightmare. 5 distributors to time. Try finding a miss on 30 cylinders. A 9 cylinder radial aircraft style engine was the original designed engine for Shermans, but production priority for aircraft use led to alternative designs from the automotive manufacturers.

 

Enderle injected, 2 nozzles per cyl, 2 Impco 3.80'' throttle bodies. It is all aluminum, pan to valve covers, no silver paint here. I probably have 80 to 100 hrs. of time invested in polishing the pan, frt. cover, block, heads, and valve covers just to bring them to a satin finish.

Here are a couple of pics. from when I was doing the mock up for the Mustang.

 

Parts are very hard to come by. Some of the military surplus guys have a few parts. You have to make and modify alot of things yourself.

 

HOLY F**KING SH*T!!!!!

That is COOL!!!! A video is a must.

 

WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY COOOOOOOOOOOLLLL!!!
and we need to hear it run.

 

Does Lenno know about these? Heh heh...
I think I'd have to use one in a giant T bucket. Call it Big T or sumthun.

 

Too cool.

That mustang looks like a full scale Hot Wheels car. And 960 lbs is amazingly light considering the size of that thing.