Merlin V12

[bricol]

I have a vague memory of being told the Merlin engine had a problem in planes if they were flown inverted? Saw the SDI from Practical Performance Car last year at Barrington car show that has a much modified Meteor engine

google "Miss Shilling's orifice" about a temporary solution

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I watched a program about Spitfires a couple of days ago, namely one that was being restored and converted to dual seating. They spoke at length about the Merlin in it and reckoned it was over 100 grand for a fully rebuilt unit.

That sounds a bit steep, is it correct?

Yes, that’s about right, between 100-120k. A 500 hour rebuild is knocking on for 80k.

I have a vague memory of being told the Merlin engine had a problem in planes if they were flown inverted? Saw the SDI from Practical Performance Car last year at Barrington car show that has a much modified Meteor engine

As with any carb fed engine they will not do sustained inverted flight but can be inverted during aerobatics. They also did not like negative G manoeuvres, which cause the float to rise in the chamber and cut the fuel off.
Most of the fuel starvation problems were fixed reasonably quickly, at first with a field fix in the form of “miss shillings orifice”, and later engines had a pressure carb.

Oh, Charlie Broomfield is the chap with the meteor powered sd1. Very clever man, mad as a box of frogs.

 

[Morrisman]

Yes, that’s about right, between 100-120k. A 500 hour rebuild is knocking on for 80k..

Oh, Charlie Broomfield is the chap with the meteor powered sd1. Very clever man, mad as a box of frogs.

So, no chance I’m ever owning one then.

I see Charlie is currently building a crank driven turbocharger system for his Meteor motor, having already fitted belt driven Spitfire cams earlier.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

So, no chance I’m ever owning one then.

I see Charlie is currently building a crank driven turbocharger system for his Meteor motor, having already fitted belt driven Spitfire cams earlier.

Yes, Peter (who I worked for) altered the cams to work as they are opposite rotation in a merlin.
A ground runner ready to turn the key and run would set you back somewhere between 40-50k, plus 3 gallon per minute of avgas at full chat

 

[dyno-tron]

Does any one remember or how could you forget The Beast
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/ar...in-engined-monstrosity-infuriated-rolls-royce

I remember this on the news on TV, there were a couple of reviews in the car magazines at the time. Nuts!

 

[Morrisman]

I remember this on the news on TV, there were a couple of reviews in the car magazines at the time. Nuts!

I heard it burned to the ground at some point in its lifetime. A friend of mine did see it on a motorway in Spain many years ago.

 

[stuvy]

I heard it burned to the ground at some point in its lifetime. A friend of mine did see it on a motorway in Spain many years ago.

just had a google the old chap is still posting about it on faceache had to get her to use her profile to see it but it’s still alive and kicking and he still uses it on the road

 

[Morris]

It was back in the UK a while ago, his son was using it.
My claim to fame, I had a chat with John Dodds back in the 70's at Santa Pod. Unusual would be a good description!

 

[Farside]

Oh, Charlie Broomfield is the chap with the meteor powered sd1

Well, there's a coincidence.

From that article mentioned above.
https://www.classicdriver.com/en/ar...in-engined-monstrosity-infuriated-rolls-royce

 

[graffian]

Paul Jamesons Beast was pretty mad, you can find pics of it but no pics with the body work and zoomies.
When it started it was like a war film and a spitfire starting as the cylinders picked up till it was humming. Then
when it went though one road in the village that has a narrow road with houses, they must have set the houses out to make the most of the sound of a very low flying merlin.

I have just remembered talking to Les at Outlook Metals one day, possibly in the 80's. Someone else who was there mentioned Merlin engined cars, Les said he had a customer
on the A217[sounded like Fontgary Farm] who was building a merlin engined car.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Paul Jamesons Beast was pretty mad, you can find pics of it but no pics with the body work and zoomies.
When it started it was like a war film and a spitfire starting as the cylinders picked up till it was humming. Then
when it went though one road in the village that has a narrow road with houses, they must have set the houses out to make the most of the sound of a very low flying merlin.

I have just remembered talking to Les at Outlook Metals one day, possibly in the 80's. Someone else who was there mentioned Merlin engined cars, Les said he had a customer
on the A217[sounded like Fontgary Farm] who was building a merlin engined car.

I was speaking to Paul Jameson’s nephew last year, quite by accident. He actually lives not too far from nickk of this forum

 

[keithski122]

This is a far nicer car than the beast:- http://classiccarmag.net/salute-to-style-powered-by-glorious-rolls-royce-merlin-engines/

 

[Tinbasherdan]

This is a far nicer car than the beast:- http://classiccarmag.net/salute-to-style-powered-by-glorious-rolls-royce-merlin-engines/

The Aeroboat mentioned used a merlin built by Peter. I believe RR had a fit about it having rolls Royce engraved can covers on show, so they had to go

 

[Mick Annick]

google "Miss Shilling's orifice" about a temporary solution

Her biography is a good read

 

[Morrisman]

And then there is this Merlin engined 55 Chebby.

http://gtspeed.us/2015/11/15/fitting-a-27-litre-3000hp-v12-merlin-engine-into-a-55-chevy/

 

[jimbo84]

There was an episode of top gear where they had Brutus the German thing with an aircraft engine in it and then a British (I think) rolls royce with an aircraft engine, can't remember the engines in them though preferred the Brutus one personally, unrefined, fire breathing, oil drenched brute, right up my street