Projects Seagrave 531 V12 Special BuiLd Up in Brazil

Holy cow... I never were there more spark plug wires on one engine! LOL

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An unusual and challenging build. Will be following your progress with interest. Go for it!

 

2 distributers-24 wires,is it a delay fire for each cylinder?
Then I noticed 2 plugs per cylinder.

 

I bet a competent 3D printer person could replicate those caps and rotors.

 

The reason for two ignition systems on the Seagraves was for dependability. They usually powered Fire engines, and the theory was that if one system crapped out the other would get you to the fire. Mack engines also had dual ignition systems.
Most of the time there is a switch that lets you chose one system or the other system or both systems. That way you can test both systems.
The engine at idle will usually pick up a few rpms when both systems are activated.




Bones

 

One system for spare. Seagrave recommendation was to use one system at a time.


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I would like to see this done. If it works, it opens up a whole new horizon for things like this. Do you have any idea of how they would handle the embedded metal parts in the cap?

 

We open the Little Beast.
A lot of good surprises, se good cylinders walls an camshaft and some bad news, like the main and crankshaft bearings.


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Here are some technical facts about de 531 V12 Seagrave.



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Can you still get head gaskets for the V-12? I know the head gaskets for the straight six are not available any more. I have one left in my hoard of parts.

Do you have new bearings for the engine?



Bones

 

Just an observation, the distributor make being Delco,
you might luck out and it would be same as Cadillac V12.
Great thread!! Good luck!!

 

We refurbished the heads gaskets with Loctite Cooper Spray.
And we made a brand new set of bearings.



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What a wealth of information,thanks to all.I googled a video of a v12 running.

 

That's a great looking engine. If it was in an Engine (pumper) it probably has more hours running the pump than driving miles. Your project is awesome!

 

More disassembling.
The V12 has one lower main block and 2 upper semi blocks.
Ultra high quality manufacturing.
This engine was primarily designed by Pierce Arrow for 1932 V12 models.
And later Seagrave commissioned for a version for its Pumper Trucks with duplicated ignition.



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They can be made up from brass stock, machined and threaded to assemble into the cap. My old BMW had a cap with replaceable inserts in it. Lucas stuff may be similar.

 

If I had one of those engines I would probably do exactly what you're doing with it!

 

You made a new set of bearings!!! Now that’s impressive!





Bones

 

How rare is this engines in USA actually?


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I would say quite rare, but there are some out there. They were common in fire trucks years ago, but like a lot of things most of them were junked out.






Bones

 

I don't think they are that rare. When I had my Seagrave, I knew where three others were within 50 miles of me. If you get in with the antique fire truck guys (SPAAMFA), things start to pop up.

I imagine everyone interested in these knows that they were originally developed by Pierce-Arrow for use in their luxury cars. When Pierce went down, Seagrave bought the rights to the engine and began making them, which adds a certain amount of panache' to them. Mine was a '48 and had 468 ci, the same as the Pierce version. Mine did not have "Seagrave" cast into the heads, but had the letters "PA" surrounded by a hexagon cast in one corner of the head.. I think yours is a later version than mine.

 

Subscribed. Love the oversize special type cars. That engine is a monster.

 

Did they use one distributor and one magneto on emergency equipment? That would be a safe guard, if the generator went out and the battery was going dead you could switch to the magneto and keep the pump going.

 

After cleaning and inspection rods, crank we assembled with brand new bearings.



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Wow!

 

Great engine and a nice frame to put it in. Subscribed

 

Enjoying your updates, great work and some impressive cars in the background..

 

Back in the day, they did many things to ensure the fire engines made it to the fire. I would imagine some manufacturer had a mag and a distributor. All of ours had two distributors. No mags. Fire trucks back in the day had a lot of “ back up” systems.




Bones

 

love this plan...hope you keep the buick cowl maybe you can find one of these cool '50's seagrave hoods with the horn/bullet thing it might make a cool rear deck for a speedster body...