It was introduced in 1942 and used in a M4A3 Sherman tank.
It produced 500 gross HP and 400 hp @ 2600 RPM.
It pushed the 32 ton tank along quit fast considering.
The tankers loved this engine because it was very reliable and fast.
This engine was massive, larger than a 426 Hemi. This probably why it was never used in any civilian vehicles. However it seems odd that Ford sat on this design for so many years before reintroducing it in 1996. Can you imagine and 1956 Ford T-bird with a DHOC engine, Chevy and Mopar look out!
It had 4 valves per cylinder like the Mustang of today, but the cam shafts alone were about 2 inches in dia. each.
It was introduced in 1942 and used in a M4A3 Sherman tank.
It produced 500 gross HP and 400 hp @ 2600 RPM.
It pushed the 32 ton tank along quit fast considering.
The tankers loved this engine because it was very reliable and fast.
This engine was massive, larger than a 426 Hemi. This probably why it was never used in any civilian vehicles. However it seems odd that Ford sat on this design for so many years before reintroducing it in 1996. Can you imagine and 1956 Ford T-bird with a DHOC engine, Chevy and Mopar look out!
I know you al were just dying to know this
Faspony
I got this from Wikipedia encyclopedia. It's been around since 1912.
"The first DOHC engines were two valve per cylinder designs from companies like Fiat (1912), Peugeot (1913), Alfa Romeo (6C- 1925, 512 - 1940), Maserati (Tipo 26, 1926), and Bugatti (Type 51, 1931). Most Ferraris used two valve per cylinder DOHC engines as well.
When DOHC technology was introduced in mainstream vehicles, it was common for the technology to be heavily advertised. While the technology was used at first in limited production and sports cars, the Fiat group is historically credited as the first car company to use a belt driven DOHC engine across their complete product line, comprised of coupes, sedans, convertibles and station wagons, in the mid-1960s."
The 1959 and 1960 MGA had a twin cam four option.
I drove the M48 tank in the Army in the late 60's It was powered by a straight 16 1500 HP twin cam Alison engine that got about three gallons of per mile. The M48 weighed about 52 tons and could go as fast as 45 mph.
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This engine is equipped with dual Stromberg 2 bbl carbs, dual magnetos (one for each cylinder bank), exhaust manifolds, water pump, fuel pump, carb linkage, etc. It also equipped with a large aluminum bellhousing, heavy flywheel and super duty dual disc tank clutch. The camshafts are gear driven, but not like that of a Ford 427 SOHC. Rather, they have shafts (1 for each bank) that has another gear on the other end driving both cams simultaneously. Ford actually produced 3 versions of this engine, the GAA, GAF & GAN but the differences were very minor, consisting primarily of different carb types and different governors.
The only car produced today with a "Wankel" or rotary engine is the Mazda RX8. Great concept, smooth and very high reving, few moving parts. I had a friend who had an RX7 that would kick but above 4000 rpm. If I remember correctly it red lined at 9500. I don't know why but the rotary concept never really caught on.
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The only car produced today with a "Wankel" or rotary engine is the Mazda RX8. Great concept, smooth and very high reving, few moving parts. I had a friend who had an RX7 that would kick but above 4000 rpm. If I remember correctly it red lined at 9500. I don't know why but the rotary concept never really caught on.
they last as long as a dozen doughnuts in a fat farm after the "guests ate nothing but tofu for a week
This engine is equipped with dual Stromberg 2 bbl carbs, dual magnetos (one for each cylinder bank), exhaust manifolds, water pump, fuel pump, carb linkage, etc. It also equipped with a large aluminum bellhousing, heavy flywheel and super duty dual disc tank clutch. The camshafts are gear driven, but not like that of a Ford 427 SOHC. Rather, they have shafts (1 for each bank) that has another gear on the other end driving both cams simultaneously. Ford actually produced 3 versions of this engine, the GAA, GAF & GAN but the differences were very minor, consisting primarily of different carb types and different governors.
Your correct Twister, I was referring to the first DOHC engine for Ford.
The thought that went through my mind when I learned of this DOHC Ford engine was why Ford didn't redesign this engine to work in the cars produced after WWII. As we all know the OHC engines run and perform so much better than the engines produced after WWII.
I know the old flat head Ford V8 was not very powerful and were prone to over heating, which lead to warped heads.
Of course Hot Rodding would have not been what I remembered. There is nothing like a dressed up flat head Ford engine in a 32 roadster. It may not have been fast, but it sure was pretty.
It was interesting to read the replies everyone posted. I had forgotten about all the foreign cars that had OHC engines.
The RX8 isn't Wankel powered. Those went the way of the Do-Do bird with the RX7's. The RX8 is powered by a Genesis rotary. What's the difference, I have no idea. However I made the same mistake in front of a couple RX8 owners and just about got my head gnawed off.
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Don't forget about the DOHC input Cosworth gave to Ford 4 cyl and V-6 engines in 1969 and early '70's. They may have been small displacement engines, but they made great hp and pretty much blew away the competition at the tracks.
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I know the old flat head Ford V8 was not very powerful and were prone to over heating, which lead to warped heads.
you just didn't say that!
First off, I know how to get 700hp out of a Ford flathead and make it run 300mph at Bonneville...google Flatfire
Second, a 221 in 1932 outran every American made engine, Clyde Barrow wrote a letter to Henry Ford saying that he only stole Ford V8's to use as get-away cars.
Third, a flathead was not a horsepower engine, they were a torque engine that took a beating. They were so torquey that the French government made them up until 1990 for military use!
Forth, the small flathead was the standard midget and race boat engine for YEARS! The flathead ran many years against the Offenhauser DOHC...the large V8 was fast at Indy too.
Fifth, many land speed records were set with a Ford flathead.
As for your statement of running hot, that is common of the engines of the time. A Ford flathead, if propperly maintained would get over 150,000 miles, considering that the warrenty was 30 days...and many engines needed overhauls after 30,000 miles, it was extreamly reliable. Compairing an engine that was first used in 1932 with a later engine is a poor thing to do, especially since you could not get an oil filter on a 1955 Chevy V8 in 1955!
As for the Ford tank engine, if it didn't break down once every 2 weeks, it was reliable. Obviously, Ford tested the engine and learned things In 1954, Ford released the Y block family and was able to get more horsepower per inch with less technology and less cost...
I agree. The V8 flathead ruled from the early 30's to the early 50's, until over head valve engines started to be mass produced. The favorite among Hotrod builders of the time. The first car I owned was 53 Crown Vic with a V8 flathead. Very reliable, simple and easy to work on design. They actually had two cooling systems with two water pumps that cooled each side of the engine.
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Trivia Question 
