Here is a question for you guys out there: Is a V12 engine out of an old ALF Fire Truck a good choice to power a hot (rat?) rod? I think the horsepower output is right around 200 or so. Is this thing too heavy to be a good choice? The engine(s) in question are low mileage, but perhaps high hours running a pump. Whaddiya think?
There is a thread or 2 on here about using that engine. You will notice no threads about Ratus Rodus's.
If I remember correctly, those are 904 cubic inches, which means they are HUGE! I'll bet they literally "weigh a ton". I would think a 518 Seagrave like the gentleman from Brazil is using is about as big as you would want for a normal build. But, like they said : "Why be normal?".
Seriously, with the transmissions, the weight of the power train alone means that you probably won't be able to use regular "Hot Rod" suspension components. Start thinking truck parts, which are usually pretty ugly, with virtually no aftermarket support. Unless you have a lot of fabrication experience and a clear vision of where you want to go, you will probably end up with something very closely resembling a ........... I say leave in the trucks where they belong.
Then you can post a thread looking for the right radiator to cool it thats cheap, and then the proper gear ratio to get it to do a burnout.
Think in terms of " a gallon a mile " as far as any potential MPG. You will need deep pockets and a lot of engineering, to potentially ever get this unit to be in a hot rod. Truck parts are expensive and this ancient relic you are considering is best put on a stand on a trailer to fire it up for fun and display. That is just my opinion. But hey, don't ever be discouraged by what fellow H.A.M.B. people suggest, your wallet and bank account will fully alert you as to, at what point this exercise in futility will take a detour and get you to consider something like a Buick valve in head dyna flash fireball straight 8, just a suggestion.
The ALF engine was derived from the Lycoming V12, which was designed for Auburn passenger cars in the early 30's. V-12 Auburns set many speed records. For example, in 1933 a stock Auburn V12 Speedster set a 500 mile speed record at Indianapolis of 115 miles per hour which was higher than the winning racecar in the previous Indianapolis 500! And the ALF engines were poked and stroked out bigger than the Auburn engines, but retained the same external dimensions. So yes, it is a great hot rod engine. In Fire truck form, there is a lot of unnecessary iron that you will get rid of, like the redundant ignition and the governor. I think someone is re-poping the Auburn heads so you can go single plug.
Is this one running dual distributors? Alsosome of them used babbit bearings Sent from my SM-G965U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Just a note to keep this thread on the straight and narrow. I believe that a couple of the previous posters are incorrect in stating that this is the "little" A.L.F V12. From what I know (and I have owned a couple of vintage fire engines), that is the big, 904 ci A.L.F. and is waaay to big to be a "Hot Rod" engine. It may be suitable for a'20's-'30's Brooklands style special, though.
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