tank v8
Sherman Tanks
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Sherman Tanks
I was reading that the US Army's Sherman tank was powered by a big Ol' Ford V-8. The tank, although it stemmed the tide of WW-II because of the overwhelming numbers it was built, was known as the "Ronson" because of it's propensity to explode when hit in the right place because of it's gasoline powered engine. Was that engine a flathead??? What other V-8's did Ford make in the early 40's?
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Nope, dual overhead cam. All aluminum, 1100 cubic inches.
Photo ... http://www.enginehistory.org/Feature.../FordGAA_1.JPG
and video ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt5uSx3eFYU
Photo ... http://www.enginehistory.org/Feature.../FordGAA_1.JPG
and video ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt5uSx3eFYU
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Originally Posted by jreilly57
The [Sherman] tank, although it stemmed the tide of WW-II because of the overwhelming numbers it was built, was known as the "Ronson" because of it's propensity to explode when hit in the right place because of its gasoline powered engine.
North African Campaign: When asked by General Patton if the German shells penetrated the armor, one soldier said: "No sir, the shells come in one side and rattle around a bit."
Patton then turned to General Bradley and said: "I warned them (US Army general staff) about the *&%$# tanks, one hit...and the gasoline explodes!"
Last edited by NumberDummy; Dec 5, 2007 at 02:08 AM.
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And, conversely, the Piasecki HUP tandem rotor helicopter was powered by an air cooled radial Tank engine that had powered many of the era tanks. Apparently they had a problem sucking valves which is more problematic in a helo than a tank. Tank's don't have to auto-rotate. Gotta love government surplus.
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Originally Posted by bobbytnm
Cadillac also supplied power plants for tanks. I think all the manufacturers retooled their factories in one way or the other for the war effort. Bobby
All the assembly and other plants nationwide were turned over to the War Production Board.
btw: The 1947 Tuckers (all 51 of them) were powered by a flat six helicopter engine supplied by Air-Cooled Motors of Syracuse NY, formerly known as the Franklin Motor Car Company. Tucker "engineers" converted the air cooled Franklin engine to water cooling.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Dec 5, 2007 at 04:54 PM.
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From: La Verne, California
Originally Posted by TheWiz427
Didn't the later ones have a radial engine?
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So was the 1100 HP dohc aluminum motor Ford made for the Sherman a Ford design? And even if it wasn't why couldn't they use the experience to develop their own modern V-8? I mean, why would Ford stick with the antiquated Flathead through '53 if they had the technology to build a much more modern power plant for the Sherman? Why wouldn't a smaller version be made for their trucks? It just seems they stuck with the old flathead and ultimately let Chevy become the standard V-8 for race cars in the mid to late 50"s.
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Originally Posted by dffay
And, conversely, the Piasecki HUP tandem rotor helicopter was powered by an air cooled radial Tank engine that had powered many of the era tanks. Apparently they had a problem sucking valves which is more problematic in a helo than a tank. Tank's don't have to auto-rotate. Gotta love government surplus.
Then there's getting them started after setting awhile. Oil pools in the cylinders & the engines had to be hand cranked to blow the oil out of the cylinders before starting them, in order to keep from blowing the heads off the cylinders.
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Originally Posted by jreilly57
So was the 1100 HP dohc aluminum motor Ford made for the Sherman a Ford design? And even if it wasn't why couldn't they use the experience to develop their own modern V-8? I mean, why would Ford stick with the antiquated Flathead through '53 if they had the technology to build a much more modern power plant for the Sherman? Why wouldn't a smaller version be made for their trucks? It just seems they stuck with the old flathead and ultimately let Chevy become the standard V-8 for race cars in the mid to late 50"s.
The contract was passed to Packard who built thousands of the engines, which became the Packard-Merlin because they simplified the design.
Who actually designed that 1100 cid DOHC engine? I doubt Ford had much if anything to do with it. Henry Ford was senile, Harry Bennett and his "goon squad' were running the company, and Ford Motor was hide bound and in terrible shape during WWII. The conditions were so bad, that the War Production Board got 21 year old Henry Ford II ("The Deuce") out of the US Navy to take over the helm (Edsel died in 1943 of bleeding ulcers). Henry refused to allow this, but finally gave in when his wife Clara told him she'd sell her Ford stock if he didn't relent.
Last edited by NumberDummy; Dec 5, 2007 at 11:02 PM.
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Originally Posted by jreilly57
So was the 1100 HP dohc aluminum motor Ford made for the Sherman a Ford design? And even if it wasn't why couldn't they use the experience to develop their own modern V-8? I mean, why would Ford stick with the antiquated Flathead through '53 if they had the technology to build a much more modern power plant for the Sherman? Why wouldn't a smaller version be made for their trucks? It just seems they stuck with the old flathead and ultimately let Chevy become the standard V-8 for race cars in the mid to late 50"s.