| Author | Message | ||
     Strokizator |
We picked up a job where we're updating some pumps that were installed in 1962. The units that are coming out are powered by 4-71 Detroit Diesels. These engines are immaculate and with only 30 minutes run time each week over that last 50 years have only 1300 hours on them. They sit inside a building and have been meticulously maintained over the years. The owner says that I can have them if I offer a small amount of money, otherwise they'll go on e-bay. I'd like to have them just because they look cool. The valve cover is embossed with "General Motors". They have the roots blower on the side of the block and use a water-to-water heat exchanger (possible marine application?). So the question is, should I take them and what are the possible uses for them? What do you think they're worth. The only odd thing I see is that they're positive ground from the batteries. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Gnarly Hot Rod? | ||
| Dwardo |
The coolness alone is reason enough. Who cares if they are useful for anything? I remember seeing diagrams of them in my father's 1943 BlueJacket Manual. If I were you I would grab them in a heartbeat. | ||
| No_rice |
how cheap is cheap...?! be a great setup for a custom build......... because obviously i dont have enough projects. | ||
| No_rice |
they really arent all that powerful though from what i can find. atleast compared to something like my 6.6 | ||
| Hootowl |
Build yourself a standby generator | ||
| Dwardo |
The wayback machine (my brain) says that each cylinder is 71 cubic inches so you can calculate the size by the number of cylinders. I believe they went from 3 to 8 cylinders. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Actually the "71" series went from 1-71 to 24v-71 (yup 24 cylinder "v" motor)...at one point in time, worldwide the 1-71 and 2-71 were the most common engines for agriculture. Used for water pumps and a bunch of other power drive applications. Usually in "3rd World" applications. Power output is low, but they are very simple, with rocker actuated mechanical injectors. The only real problem is when they get a lot of hours, they will suck crankcase oil. A really, really loose one will "run away" unless you pull the emergency shut down or use some other way to stop the intake air flow. They are technically 2 stroke motors. The cylinder fires on every rotation. The valves are all exhaust valves. the intake is through ports in the cylinder walls. The "blower" is needed to pump air into the cylinders. | ||
| Ohsoslow |
the 4 means its a 4 cylinder, not having a "v" in the model number means its an inline motor. and yes 71 cubic inches per cylinder. they are only rated something like 155hp. could be a cool pickup truck project, or a generator setup. 2 stroke Detroits are loud! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
That would be a great engine for a ratrod. I saw a Cummins BT4 hotrod on youtube. Was sweet! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
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| Ft_bstrd |
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| Ft_bstrd |
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| Ft_bstrd |
'Course, a 4x4 Detroit Diesel Rat Rod would be about as nasty as one could get: | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
This one is for No_rice: | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
This one scratches a couple of itches: | ||
| Strokizator |
I don't know man, according to the 'net these engines weigh 1780 lbs each. Then add an Allison transmission. I was thinking you'd want to use them in your cabin cruiser on Tellico Lake. I may just put one on a test stand and fire it up whenever I needed a fix. I'll be back out there next week and try to get some pictures and maybe a video of them running. | ||
| Thumper74 |
Generator! | ||
| 6gears |
Where are you located??? I want one!! I eat, sleep, and breathe diesel. BTW, I have worked on a 24v71 quite a bit and they are UBER-COOL! | ||
| No_rice |
nice! and i found a bug similar to that one except no top and not the gixxer motor for sale that i keep debating on... | ||
| Tom_b |
I know a man who scours TX, KS, Ne, Ok, TX for the old hemi engines that used to for irrigation pumps. he sell them to vintage racers, rat rod builders, period car builders and such. he actually has a pretty cool collection of old hemi engines | ||
| Luftkoph |
4-71 were used in a lot of construction equipment,I ran an old Hein-Werrner excavator with one in it,on start up it would blow big smoke rings 10 to 15 feet into the air,one right after another. | ||
| 99savage |
1. The superchargers certainly have value - Not much into the hot-rod scene anymore but last I checked they were still the gold standard. 2. Was cleaning out my stuff & came across a pamphlet GM punished in 1956 detailing the development of the 2-stroke diesel for locomotive purposes. (My old may was GM tool maker for 40 years) Available for a SASE | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My Dad is a TOTAL train nerd. That pamphlet sounds like something he would go mental for is it like a little book? | ||
| Jramsey |
4-71 runaway, surprised it didn't kick a rod. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M1o2rpO_JY&feature =related | ||
| Hughlysses |
I know a man who scours TX, KS, Ne, Ok, TX for the old hemi engines that used to for irrigation pumps. They must have used anything and everything for power at one time or another. I saw a couple of 308 cubic inch flathead 6 Hudson Hornet engines a Hudson enthusiast had gotten from a similar source. | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
See those guys  when it goes crazy and the old-timer does not blink an eye. | ||
| Hughlysses |
My dad, who ran construction equipment from the late 1930's up into the 1980's, told me that during WWII, it was pretty common for GMC two-strokes to "run away" like that if they were allowed to run out of fuel. According to him, the only way to stop one was to physically bog it down. He said it was pretty common occurrence on Euclid scrapers (which had GMC 2-stroke diesels). He said you'd see some guy go flying by on one with the engine screaming (the throttle did nothing when this happened) until the driver could find a place to bog the scraper down. Dad said the engine didn't seem to produce much power when this happened; it just ran fast. I never have figured that one out- all I can think of is the engine must have been burning the blow-by fumes & oil from the crankcase. I just tried to google it and apparently this is what happens. Crazy. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I have never heard something so large rev so high! I know it's a two stroke so it'll sound twice as fast as it really is but that's still pretty fast! The kid said that it sucked in that rag, I wonder where it went! | ||
| Fast1075 |
The "newer" versions had a spring loaded "trap door" on the inlet side of the blower. There was a cable operated latch that, when pulled allowed the trap door to slam closed. This cut off the air. I saw one 6-71 that was so loose, the emergency shut down didn't stop it. It DID eventually go BOOM! |
