Weslake V12 engine

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Weslake V-12 engine
Overview
Manufacturer Weslake
Production1966–1992
Layout
Configuration 60° V-12
Displacement 3.0–3.5  L (183–214  cu in)
Cylinder bore 72.8–75  mm (2.9–3.0  in)
Piston stroke 56.46–60.3  mm (2.2–2.4  in)
Valvetrain 48-valve, DOHC, four-valves per cylinder
Compression ratio 11.5:1-12.5:1
Combustion
Fuel system Direct fuel injection
Fuel type Gasoline
Oil system Dry sump
Output
Power output 364–630  hp (271–470  kW)
Torque output 243–300  lb⋅ft (329–407  N⋅m) [1]
Dimensions
Length800  mm (31.5  in)
Width483  mm (19.0  in)
Height560  mm (22.0  in)
Dry weight 144–175  kg (317.5–385.8  lb) [2]

The Weslake V12 engine family is a series of four-stroke, 60-degree, naturally-aspirated, V-12 racing engine, designed, developed and produced by Weslake; between 1966 and 1992. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

The engine started life Weslake 58, as a naturally aspirated 3-litre 12-cylinder engine developed at Weslake in 1966. The engine had a four-valve cylinder head and a high compression ratio of 12:1. This engine was the first true four-valve engine of the new 3-litre Formula 1 engine formula, in force from 1966. The high-revving racing engine had a high piston speed of 21.1 m/s. Due to the small cylinder spacing, the engine had a long stroke: With a bore of 72.8 mm and a stroke of 60.3 mm, the Weslake 58 was the racing engine with the smallest bore and the longest stroke of its time. In its original form, the engine produced 271 kW (364 hp), which could later be increased to up to 420 hp. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

The engine was very light at 175 kg for a 12-cylinder and, at 67.4 cm long, was shorter than any other 1960s 12-cylinder racing engine. While the engine was 12.4 cm longer than the Cosworth V8 engine, it was 20 cm narrower. [14] [15] [16]

3.0 L engine (Weslake 58/Weslake 3000)

In 1966 Dan Gurney commissioned Weslake Engineering to build an Aubrey Woods designed 3.0-litre V12 Formula One engine for his Eagle Mk1. Their efforts produced a V12 that was smooth and powerful. At Monza, an insight into the future of engine design was seen for the first time. The engine had four valves per cylinder at a narrow included angle (thirty degrees) that allowed a single cover to enclose both the close-spaced camshafts on each bank. The sixty-degree-vee layout had a larger bore than stroke (72.8 × 60 mm). Gurney won the 1967 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, a non-championship event, and the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix with the Eagle-Weslake V12 engine. [17] [18]

At Monza in 1966, 364 bhp (271 kW) was available. This increased to 390 bhp (290 kW) during the winter. At the 1967 Brands Hatch Race of Champions, Dan Gurney's engine gave 413 bhp (308 kW) and Richie Ginther's engine gave 409 bhp (305 kW). On test, up to 422 bhp (315 kW) had been achieved. At Monaco, Gurney had 411 bhp (306 kW), Ginther 417 bhp (311 kW). Later in the 1967 season quotes of 416 bhp (310 kW) were made. (These are figures from Motoring News .) The engines peaked at around 10,000 rpm. A figure of 442 bhp (330 kW) was mentioned at the start of 1968, but after money ran out, a test made at the B.R.M. factory recorded only 378 bhp (this may have been a 'tired' engine). Harry Weslake had an eventual goal of 500 bhp (370 kW) @ 12,000 rpm. Later Ford sponsored (75.0 × 56.25 mm) versions in 1972 were quoted at 465 bhp (347 kW) @ 10,500 rpm. [10] [11] [9]

3.5 L engine

The 3.5 L engine was designed by Graham Dale-Jones and built by Terry Hoyle's JHS company using a block derived from the Weslake V12 Grand Prix unit; [19] and was branded as a 'BRM'. The engine was designed and built to compete in the 1992 World Sportscar Championship season. Claimed output was 626 hp (467 kW) at 11,300 rpm; but it proved to be uncompetitive and unreliable.

Applications

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References

  1. ↑ http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/archive/cars/brm/autos/1010.php
  2. ↑ Farmer, Dave. "WEIGHTS & SIZES organized by Dave Farmer" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "1967 All American Racers Eagle Gurney Weslake Mk 1 Formula 1".
  4. ↑ "Eagle T1G". 27 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "1966 - 1967 Eagle Mark 1 Weslake - Images, Specifications and Information".
  6. ↑ "1966 - 1967 Eagle Mark 1 Weslake Specifications". Ultimatecarpage.com.
  7. ↑ "Eagle Westlake T1G - F1technical.net". www.f1technical.net.
  8. ↑ "Home". gurney-weslake.co.uk.
  9. 1 2 "Ford - Weslake V12". 7 July 2014.
  10. 1 2 Robson, Graham (9 October 2015). Grand Prix Ford: Ford, Cosworth and the DFV. Veloce Publishing. ISBN   9781845846244.
  11. 1 2 "Ford Weslake V12". www.researchracing-documentation.de.
  12. ↑ "Time Machine: 1991 BRM P401 & P531". ACI.
  13. ↑ "BRM P401". ACI.
  14. ↑ "Eagle F1 Car, Technical | Dan Gurney's All American Racers".
  15. ↑ "Eagle Westlake T1G". 22 June 2008.
  16. ↑ "Getting Personal with Dan Gurney's Eagle-Weslake Mk1 at Goodwood". 11 September 2018.
  17. ↑ "8W - What? - Eagle Gurney-Weslake".
  18. ↑ "Engine Weslake • STATS F1".
  19. ↑ "Regeneration game". Motor Sport Magazine. April 2006.
  20. ↑ "#MotorsportFail – the 1992 WSC BRM P351". 19 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "The BRM P351 Story | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com.
  22. ↑ "Barely racing - 1992 BRM P351". 3 April 2017.
  23. ↑ "BRM P351 WSC Group C 1992". GTPlanet. 13 April 2015.
  24. ↑ "Sports Cars - BRM". 28 March 2015.
  25. ↑ "imca-slotracing.com". ww12.imca-slotracing.com.
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