jensenracing77

anyone know any more about this. i figure it is a 330 engine? i tried to blow up the picture but i still can't read it.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olds-Jetfire...-/140602670425

MDchanic

Okay, that's just weird.

Yes, it looks like a 330, but why the @*&# would you put a HEAVY, CAST IRON, water cooled engine in a light plane like that?

Airplane engines are supposed to be light aluminum, and air cooled if at all possible - that's why a lot of VW engines wound up in planes.

A publicity stunt, to be sure, but a kinda cool one .

- Eric

joe_padavano

Ah, these kids....

Keep in mind that the new-for-1964 thinwall 330 was MUCH lighter than the first-gen Olds V8 (as well as all the other first gen OHV Detroit V8s like the 1949 Caddy, the Y-block Ford, the first-gen Hemi, etc). Yes, this was a publicity stunt to promote the new lightweight engine design.

MDchanic

And just to add detail, the Olds 330 in 1964 was rated at 290 GROSS HP and weighed about 600 pounds.

The Lycoming O-360, introduced in 1955, and used in the Cessna 172 (introduced in 1956) and many other light planes, displaced 361 cubic inches and made 145 or 225 HP (NET, I believe), and weighed 258 pounds dry.

Since this airplane (and others similarly sized) has a total carrying capacity of about 750 pounds, and a full tank of fuel weighs about 350 pounds, those extra 340 pounds could really make a dent in performance.

- Eric

Rickman48

I seem to remember they also tried the aluminium 225 turbo motor, too, but don't remember what success they had!

DeltaPace77

Gotta agree, as wouldn't exactly consider a 600lb engine as light. Even older style Chevy cast iron small blocks were 560lbs. Modern aluminum GM LS engines, are 430lbs.