interesting choice of engine.....

[Zip]

Pushes out about 900BHP or something....I was told by someone who took it around a track that he got it up to about 90MPH and the engine was just ticking over

Heres a list of powers of the engine from wikipedia

This is an incomplete list of representative Merlin variants. Engines of the same power output were typically assigned different model numbers based on supercharger or propeller gear ratios, differences in cooling system or carburetors, engine block construction, or arrangement of engine controls.
Merlin II or III - 1,040 hp (775 kW) at 3,000 rpm at 5,500 ft (1,680 m); used in Spitfire Mk.I and Hurricane Mk.I fighters.
Merlin X - 1,130 hp (840 kW) at 3,000 rpm at 5,250 ft (1,525 m); used in Halifax Mk.I, Wellington Mk.II, and Whitley Mk.V bombers.
Merlin XX - 1,480 hp (1,105 kW) at 3,000 rpm at 6,000 ft (1,830 m); used in Hurricane Mk.II and Beaufighter Mk.II fighters, Halifax Mk.II and Lancaster Mk.I bombers.
Merlin 32 - 1,645 hp (1,230 kW) at 3,000 rpm at 2,500 ft (760 m); used in Barracuda Mk.II bomber.
Merlin 45 - 1,470 hp (1,100 kW) at 3,000 rpm at 9,250 ft (2,820 m); used in Spitfire Mk.V
Merlin 46 - 1,415 hp (1,055 kW) at 3,000 rpm at 14,000 ft (4,270 m); high-altitude version used in Spitfire PR.Mk.IV and PR.Mk.VII
Merlin 61 - fitted with a new two-speed two-stage supercharger providing 1,565 hp (1,170 kW) at 3,000 rpm at 12,250 ft (3,740 m), and 1,390 hp (1,035 kW) at 3,000 rpm 23,500 ft (7,170 m); high-altitude version used in Spitfire Mk.VII, Mk.VIII, Mk.IX, and PR.Mk.XI

How the hell do people get hold of these engines in the first place?

 

[Conscript]

The one this fella used was previously used in a tank, so I think it had had some modifications for use on land. Not sure, but I think the supercharger was removed or modified somehow.

Von Luck - you may be right. Whichever though, they are the size of dinner plates

 

[Lashout_UK]

There's been "quite a few" Meteor engined cars now - at least 5. Most have, as mentioned, used the tank variant - the land derivative of the Merlin engine.

For tank use the Merlin had its supercharger removed and was de-rated to approx 600 bhp (447 kW). In addition, because weight-saving was not so important for a tank engine some of the Merlin's more expensive light-alloy components were replaced with cheaper components manufactured from steel.

There was a Merlin built for speed attempts too, in a highly modified Spitfire that was pushing out around 2100HP or thereabouts IIRC!

 

[timbob]

Charlie from PPC Magazine has put a Meteor engine in an old Rover SD1. I think the plan is to beat the BHP of the Veyron at a cost of less than £10,000.

Looks and sounds awesome!

 

[TerryWogan]

Rollover=instant death

Let's hope so. He's got one of those faces you'd love to see slapped.

 

[Dr Who]

but that CLEARLY has the supercharger on it...

Thats a pukka merlin...

The biggest problem with these motors is the huge torque and low rpm... at 3000 rpm a 1500bhp motor is putting out 2626 ft/lbs of torque.. and its gonna need a low ratio diff to achieve any performance...

The pylon racing merlins put out over 2000 bhp at the crank.. awesome...

In a pulling tractor with nitrous or nitro methane fuel they are simply mind boggling, I have heard figures of over 3000 bhp being quoted...

 

[Dr Who]

Howabout thisun then?

http://www.ohtm.org/eng_wasp.html

This 28-cylinder engine, nick-named corn cob, was the largest production piston engine ever built. At first producing 3000 hp, it was improved to 3500 hp. The 4360 was used in the Convair B-36, Boeing B-50 and C-97/Model 377 Stratocruiser and the fifteen F2G-2 Corsairs. Modern piston-engined racers use the 4360 modified to produce 4500 hp.

now, to find a car to fit it in

 

[Scania]

but that CLEARLY has the supercharger on it...

Thats a pukka merlin...

The biggest problem with these motors is the huge torque and low rpm... at 3000 rpm a 1500bhp motor is putting out 2626 ft/lbs of torque.. and its gonna need a low ratio diff to achieve any performance...

The pylon racing merlins put out over 2000 bhp at the crank.. awesome...

In a pulling tractor with nitrous or nitro methane fuel they are simply mind boggling, I have heard figures of over 3000 bhp being quoted...

Indeed! Man! what an engine, never mind the car....

 

[Flibster]

Waste of a Merlin...

Simon/~Flibster