linking 2 engines together

[bax]

Lets just say I want to put 2 engines together in a sand drag "Bronco" keeping this bronco related. I got into a discussion on how to hook up the engines. ( In line) the question is "How to physically link the crankshafts together"? and should the 2 engines be on the same stroke together or opposing? 180 different?
Twin 496's

Bax

 

[Crewwzin]

The best people to ask would be those guys from the tractor pulling world. They used to put something like 8 V8s on one tractor frame to create an absolute monster pulling machine. I'm sure there are some forums out there somewhere.

 

[Viperwolf1]

Just a redneck engineering thought. Maybe a strong transfer case with the engines hooked up to the output shafts. Use the input shaft as the output.

 

[NGABronco]

Now bax, is this a thought that hit you because "Your Month" is half over???
That smokin' demon is in my home office and every night of Feb. I try to think of ways to keep it on the wall!!!!;D ;D ;D

 

[bax]

Now bax, is this a thought that hit you because "Your Month" is half over???
That smokin' demon is in my home office and every night of Feb. I try to think of ways to keep it on the wall!!!!;D ;D ;D

Well yes, that is what this is all about. I am going to tear march out and keep mine up.

 

[siderbox]

I've been helping pit for a guy that has run two engines for years.
Right now he is running two twin turbo BB chevys.
Before that he ran twin blown BB chevys.

I can't find any pics of the set up he is running. But I found some that are very close to his.

http://www.holy-cow.org/faq.html#1

 

[Broncobowsher]

I think it was George Barris that did one for a movie. I remember the car's anme. ZZR
The back engine was hooked up all normal like. The front crank pulley had a drive flange on it along with the normal pulleys and drives. It was set up to normally drive off the back engine and only use the front when needed.
A lot of this is from memory years ago, I hope it is right.
The cooling system was the rear engine water pump pushed water out the rear engine thermostat and into the front waterpump. Front engine had no thermostat and was connected directly to the radiator. The rear engine kept the front engine warmed up and ready to run when needed.
The front engine had a clutch from a stick shift car. If I were to guess I would say the front of the transmision as well. Back of the input shaft mated into a flange. Little dirveshaft connecting that flange to the front pulley of the rear engine. The old input shaft bearing replaced with a sealed bearing.
As far as syncronizing them, doesn't matter. Each engine has it's own fuel and ignition system.
With this set up there was flex in the system to allow for engine misalignment and chassis flex.
If you were to try it, you really need a roller pilot bearing. When running single engine the throwout bearing sits still as does the flywheel and pressure plate. But the disk and input shaft turn with the rear engine.

Nothing new, all figured out 40 years ago

 

[oleguy74]

tommy ivo and showboat.....;D;D;D

 

[Wyflyer]

Hey Bax, my irrigation friends down inthe plains do this exact thing you are describing. But, they are stationary engines that run on a set RPM. The mount them on a rail skid frame. They do not have a clutch on the front engine but it still has a flywheel. The rear engine has a clutch sometimes but not always. There is a short drive shaft connecting them together. Since they nearly always run on natural gas, they share a common vapor fuel system.
It is sorta scarey to walk up to them, running at 3000 RPM blowing fire out of open headers. They bellow, roar, scream, whatever you want to call it but they rock. Especially when they are a pair of 454's, 496's, or Ford 460's.

 

[73stallion]

ok, i have an answer to this one. a friend of mine has a model T with twin blown 950 HP SBC's, and it has a rubber coupler that goes between both engines. it has a bracket that mounts to the front of the rear engine's crank, and bolts to the front engine's flexplate. i'll try and get hold of him to see where to get the coupler he uses, but for now here's some marine dual engine couplers;

http://www.marineengineparts.com/catalog/159 - 169 marine transmission & components.pdf

and a pic of T for 2 (yes, he has used the wheelie bars!);

 

[Broncobowsher]

Forgot about some boats driving off the front of the engine. I verember a friends V-drive being something wierd like that. Had a bastard time doing an alternator belt.

 

[bax]

You guys are doing good! Lots of good information here.

 

[wildbill]

;D ;D ;D Bax I have a old sand drager I will sell you no motor has a 2 speed lenco trand with/R and dana 20 T case 4:56 spool. The front is a 30 on leaf springs its a 68 with a Ca. pink. Bill %) ;D

 

[bax]

;D ;D ;D Bax I have a old sand drager I will sell you no motor has a 2 speed lenco trand with/R and dana 20 T case 4:56 spool. The front is a 30 on leaf springs its a 68 with a Ca. pink. Bill %) ;D

Pictures of this would be nice.

 

[Broncoloupy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_TDSTNPGzU;D

 

[67ster]

Bax, check out Mark Williams website , they make couplers that may be helpful . I recall some of the top gas dragsters during the fuel ban , they ran side by side , inline and in TV Toms case inline with two driving the front axle and two driving the rear axle . Beautiful workmanship however as soon a the rear tires would bite the front axle became light and it was smoke city!

 

[bax]

Showing my age but I have seen the Ivo car run in person. Got to look it over real good. That was one of the great things about drag racing, getting to go into the pits and talk to the guys racing and look at their cars up close.
I checked out the Mark Williams site, He makes some good stuff. I once built one of his altered kits. That was a fun car. I raced it for several years.

 

[67ster]

Man those were the golden days of drag racing weren't they ? The "Showboat" has been restored to it's former glory and Ivo hangs out with the nostalgia racing gang , Standard 1320. He is a great guy spends many hours at the NHRA museum explaining how it was .

 

[67ster]

Chet Herbert built a 16 cyl smallblock chevy by welding two chain couplers on the noses of both cranks , one unit ran in reverse however the thing used a common blower induction system and a very modified Hilborn 4 port x 2 . As I recall they never could get the phasing quite right and the timing of two seperate magnetos was a bear ! The "Freightrain" and "The Oddcouple "(SBC &Hemi )are a few more that did work and are still in existence today for Cacklefests. Flathead Jack has one that competes at the heritage series events with two flatties on pop as an expo car. So yeah , it does work and can be done . Dare to be different !