QUOTE(356 @ Feb 26 2008, 07:34 PM)
Dude...they put that motor in airplanes and PT boats.....no tranny....
PT Boats used Allison V1710 engines, same as Unlimited Hydroplanes before they went to turbines. The Allison was similar to the Merlin, and thus the Meteor.
The Meteor was a derated, normally aspirated version of the Merlin that was used to power the Cromwell tank. It made 600 HP from 27 liters.
The Rolls Royce Merlin typically made 1600 HP with 61 inches of manifold pressure and powered such notables as the Supermarine Spitfire and North American P-51 Mustang.
Today, the Merlin is featured at the Reno Air Races. They use Allison cranks, and make over 4500 HP at 120 inches of manifold pressure. That's 51 PSI boost. Jack Roush is one of the builders.
Here are some photos that I took at Reno in September 2006. Halfway down the page is what happens when they throw a rod at 450MPH and 150 feet AGL.
http://www.photografik.net/reno/Click to view attachment