Panhard Big Bore Engine
15/03/13 20:18
This is a placeholder for some parallel developments that will be used in Brian’s engine, but ultimately these are for the next generation Panhard engine enhancements, the big bore variants. The capacity of the development model will be 1040 cm3, but thereafter the engine size will increase to 1130 cm3, however this is dependant on acquiring a suitable piston forging. The standard crankcase will have to be machined, as will the cylinders, but the liners will be completely new. I can go even larger, but for now I am looking at refining the combustion processes first, and improving the power delivery, rather than going all out at once.
Panhard engines have a long history of being over bored, so none of this is new. Historically the most common overbore was a 954 cubic centimetre variant, but the Le Mans derived racers tried all different sizes, as these photographs show.
The big bore engine will also need the latest oil revision modifications, which essentially balance the main bearing crankshaft oil feeds, reduce the lubrication to the timing gears, yet still increase the flow rate from the standard pump, which is more than up to the task. The biggest single improvement, after better filtration, is to add more oil capacity, so this too will be revised.
It goes without saying, you will need a good crankshaft, too, and additionally the standard ignition and breather will be replaced with a better system, more able to cope with the new engine capacity.
The big bore engine parts enquiry has already been started, and as expected, there will be new lighter weight pistons, with new cylinder liners and quite a few esoteric mods for those that want them.
First up is this skunkworks timing cover design. This will be machined from solid aluminium billet, incorporate a Viton oil seal, whose Ø68 mm OD caters for various IDs, from Ø55 to Ø35mm with the option to allow for a Hall effect electronic ignition sensor to be fitted, which will expand the ignition options, and offer more specialised fuelling in the future.
I have already made enquiries about getting a cover made for Brian’s engine, with a limited run thereafter. I anticipate making six big bore engines, as twelve pistons is the minimum order quantity, so it makes sense to have some spare timing gear covers too.
If you are interested, do get in touch, because these will be limited quantity items.
Panhard engines have a long history of being over bored, so none of this is new. Historically the most common overbore was a 954 cubic centimetre variant, but the Le Mans derived racers tried all different sizes, as these photographs show.
The big bore engine will also need the latest oil revision modifications, which essentially balance the main bearing crankshaft oil feeds, reduce the lubrication to the timing gears, yet still increase the flow rate from the standard pump, which is more than up to the task. The biggest single improvement, after better filtration, is to add more oil capacity, so this too will be revised.
It goes without saying, you will need a good crankshaft, too, and additionally the standard ignition and breather will be replaced with a better system, more able to cope with the new engine capacity.
The big bore engine parts enquiry has already been started, and as expected, there will be new lighter weight pistons, with new cylinder liners and quite a few esoteric mods for those that want them.
First up is this skunkworks timing cover design. This will be machined from solid aluminium billet, incorporate a Viton oil seal, whose Ø68 mm OD caters for various IDs, from Ø55 to Ø35mm with the option to allow for a Hall effect electronic ignition sensor to be fitted, which will expand the ignition options, and offer more specialised fuelling in the future.
I have already made enquiries about getting a cover made for Brian’s engine, with a limited run thereafter. I anticipate making six big bore engines, as twelve pistons is the minimum order quantity, so it makes sense to have some spare timing gear covers too.
If you are interested, do get in touch, because these will be limited quantity items.
