Interesting build:
http://www.the351cforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=460
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In the 1940's Ford wanted to get into the aircraft engine market.
Mostly they were looking to compete with the Rolls Royce Merlin, so Ford built a masterpiece, a all alloy, water cooled, 27 litre (1647 CI), 4 valve per cylinder, 60 degree, DOHC V12, called the Ford GAC. From memory it was 5" bore, 6" stroke..?
It was built in automotive fashion (as pioneered by Ford with their V8s) rather than the traditional split crankcase design as was used in the Merlin.
Unfortunately the USAAF had already signed contracts to purchase the Rolls Royce Merlin, the Packard Merlin and Allison V12s and the US Navy had decided to go with air cooled radial engines.
The US Army then stepped in and told Ford they didn't have use for a V12 but they did need a reliable big V8 for their armored vehicles (tanks).
So Ford redesigned the GAC to make it into a 18 litre (1100 ci), 4 valve per cyl, 60 degree, DOHC V8. Know as the GAA.
The way Ford got around the 60 degree V8 problem was by using a flat crank (like a 4 cylinder and like current formula 1 V8s).
The engine had a distributor on each bank of cylinders and ran as two 4 cylinder engines sharing a common crankshaft. The 4 camshafts were gear driven from the crank.
It was very successful, reliable and highly regarded.
Mostly they were looking to compete with the Rolls Royce Merlin, so Ford built a masterpiece, a all alloy, water cooled, 27 litre (1647 CI), 4 valve per cylinder, 60 degree, DOHC V12, called the Ford GAC. From memory it was 5" bore, 6" stroke..?
It was built in automotive fashion (as pioneered by Ford with their V8s) rather than the traditional split crankcase design as was used in the Merlin.
Unfortunately the USAAF had already signed contracts to purchase the Rolls Royce Merlin, the Packard Merlin and Allison V12s and the US Navy had decided to go with air cooled radial engines.
The US Army then stepped in and told Ford they didn't have use for a V12 but they did need a reliable big V8 for their armored vehicles (tanks).
So Ford redesigned the GAC to make it into a 18 litre (1100 ci), 4 valve per cyl, 60 degree, DOHC V8. Know as the GAA.
The way Ford got around the 60 degree V8 problem was by using a flat crank (like a 4 cylinder and like current formula 1 V8s).
The engine had a distributor on each bank of cylinders and ran as two 4 cylinder engines sharing a common crankshaft. The 4 camshafts were gear driven from the crank.
It was very successful, reliable and highly regarded.