By Robert Emslie
You know, anything from Russia is automatically weirder than its western counterpart, it just goes without saying. Maybe it’s because of the secrecy under which much of the former Soviet Union used to operate, or maybe its all the water of life that’s supposedly consumed there. Whatever the reason, even their engines – as exemplified by the above Missile Boat monster – the Zvezda m503. A radial design encompassing 7 banks, 42 cylinders, and 143-litres, the diesel engine is unlike anything anyone outside the iron curtain may ever see. And that’s why it’s here.
Image Source: [Comtourist]
Jeff Glucker
Hmmm, lets see, thats 7, 6 cylinder engines on a common crank, displacing a little over 20 litres each. Kinda makes the R4360 look like tinker toys. On the other hand, if you put this in an aircraft, it probably wouldnt have the power to lift itself and the plane off the ground. Anything worth doin' is worth overdoin' I guess.
Hmm. I have a spare Ford Falcon chassis sitting here going unused… May have to reinforce it all a little bit, but hey, it's okay. P-platers are allowed to drive cars with more than six cylinders, if they're diesels. this totally counts.
Sounds like a plan. You will need to extend the nose a little bit – according to Wikipedia, the engine is 3.7 metres long.
I've got this weird 'Ed Roth-style' mental picture of the mother of all gassers, but mine would be based on something only slightly more fitting to the engine – a GAZ-M-21 Volga
If I still had photoshop, this would be my next project.. I like to imagine it would turn out a little like this <img src=http://cdn3.worldcarfans.co/2010/7/2/medium/7146070381586281556.jpg> but less British.
The Wiki page on this beast is a hoot. My fellow tech junkies need to check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zvezda_M503
…when shifting the plugs may set you back a week. Still, 42 cylinders you say? Sure Douglas Adams wasn't an undercover Soviet? And that this engine might just be powerful enough to make the probability machine go round?
Hey, Chrysler did the same thing, making a 6-bank radial out of five straight-6 engines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_A57_multiba…
That's 8637.2 cubic inches, if you're interested. That would be a long fender badge.
'Ring time?
The Lycoming XR-7755 made 1,000hp more than this guy with 48 cylinders, although the overall displacement was smaller. Neat piece.
Brain fade, Lycoming engine had 36 cylinders.
I actually did a story at Hooniverses sister site "Atomic Toasters" about that motor some time ago. Its on display at the Smithsonian. http://atomictoasters.com/2012/01/7700-cubic-inch…
There was a link on the Zvezda's wiki page for Napier Deltic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napier_Deltic. Check out the diagram of how it works by scrolling down a bit on the page. It's awesome!