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The building I am in has boat gear everywhere.. under canvas, in boxes, under old boats.. etc. Old engines, transmissions, diesel generators, shafts, props, etc.

Today I found what looks like two large Detroit V8 engines bolted end to end.. on a single frame.

Just curious what HP these might be? This may be a dumb question, but all I know about Detroits is they are supposed to run forever and leak oil.

Where might the nameplate be?

Frank - that would be a DD 16 cylinder V engine, which is two V8s end to end. Either a 16V71 or a 16V92 series (cubic inches per cylinder). Pretty common in big sportfishermen and commercial vessels. I've seen some with a common oil pan and some with spearate ones.

Don't know where the name plate would be.

UV

HP is going to be in the 1,000 to 1,400 range I would imagine depending on if a 71 or 92.

DD 8V71 weighs in at 2,310# and the 8V92 at a staggering 3,230. The 71 is 51 inches high so you'd need some rather tall motor boxes.

UV

If its really big it could be a 16v149 but most likely a 71 or 92 series.

Try one of these on for size.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m48vyc5beNg


hb

Thanks guys.. I had never seen such an arraingement before and was surprised at how big this assembly was. I knew I would get answers here.

And Harry... All I can say is WOW.. just to be in the same room with that monster running would make my week!

Best part was when it started and you couldn't hear ZZ Top no more.

Like an ak47, the distinct sound of a Detroit is unmistakable.

Amen

I think its the racks surging. Right bruce?

Thanks guys.. I have no idea where this monster came from.. they have been repairing and building boats here for 20 years.. plus the building owner has a couple of old tugs and some ex fire boats, and a handful of cranes.

Yesterday I took a closer look and saw on two of the oil filler caps the words "92 Series", so I guess it is the bigger of the two UV mentiones above.

All of them are two cycle so they fire twice as often as 4 stroke motors....like Bruce says, you can i.d. them 10 miles away. The 71 series is renowned for long life and reliability; the 92 series on the other hand, is a short-fuzed time bomb. Avoid at all costs.

UV

UV...

That may be the reason it is sitting in a corner under a tarp!

The 6-71's were the workhorse engines around here. The city people who have moved in her always complain about having to listen to them fire up at 4:30 in the morning! Most were run drystack. I kinda like it myself.

Some of the menhaden boats had two of the 12 or 16-71's. On the older ones that were converted from Navy minesweepers they were used to replace the old Fairbanks Morse engine. a shipyard near me used to have a lot of them sitting in the wood until scrap went up a few years ago.