I am a dominant male.

May 27, 2006 5:28 PM

Please find me examples of vehicles which have V24 engines.

I found a prototype V24 Maybach, but I'm especially wondering if there are any such vehicles actually in production. I think there could be locomotives or boats or giant trucks with such an engine.

posted by thirteenkiller to travel & transportation (13 comments total)

A quick Googling reveals a few airplanes that had V-24 engines. The Macchi M.52 had one that "proved to be dangerously unreliable." The Fisher P-75 prototype also had one that apparently generated 2885 hp.

I've never heard of a personal transportation vehicle that had one; the 185 hp 1932 Cadillac V-16 stands out in memory as the most cylinders on a production automobile.
posted by ikkyu2 at 5:49 PM on May 27, 2006

Heavens, don't miss this.

From the auction description:

1954 Seagrave
Worlds largest hot rod with a V24 engine, 22 foot long, 5 speed with overdrive. Covered with fur.

That's right, COVERED WITH FUR.

I think your shopping is done, you manly man sir.
posted by ikkyu2 at 5:51 PM on May 27, 2006

but can it corner?
posted by caddis at 5:52 PM on May 27, 2006

WW2 fighter aircraft. See pretty photo. Or you could look at a motorcycle instead.

PS - Or you could search Google.
posted by ZakDaddy at 5:54 PM on May 27, 2006

Caterpillar 797

...with 12,170 pound-feet of torque available from the 117-liter, V-24, quad-turbo diesel, either 797 could rip Madison Square Garden off its foundation and tow it across Manhattan and into the East River.

Yeah, searching would find this stuff.
posted by kickingtheground at 5:56 PM on May 27, 2006

ZakDaddy, none of those are V engines.
posted by thirteenkiller at 5:57 PM on May 27, 2006

kickingtheground, according to this site, the 797 has two v12 engines.
posted by thirteenkiller at 6:01 PM on May 27, 2006

Thank you to ikkyu2 for great finds!

Regarding the 797, this description says: The 797's powerplant is essentially two V-12s lashed together with integrated intake, exhaust, and turbocharger systems.

Depending on how they're arranged, I guess it could still be considered a V24. Maybe?
posted by thirteenkiller at 6:13 PM on May 27, 2006

Are you kidding? First hit on that page is a *double* V, which is even manlier. Cue Tim Allen grunting. Or maybe an X-24, although apparently that never made it into production. What's this obsession with V, anyways?

Although these boats are nice.

To that end, I hereby submit for your review the following Google search:

Click Me
posted by ZakDaddy at 6:27 PM on May 27, 2006

Those boats do not have V24 engines, they are 24 feet long.

I did that exact google search before posting this and I've looked at all those links already!

X24 is not V24!

I just wanted to see if there were actual V24 engines because they seem really ridiculous.
posted by thirteenkiller at 6:34 PM on May 27, 2006

Phooie. That'll teach me not to read.

Slightly off-topic:

The Most Powerful Diesel Engine in the World!
posted by ZakDaddy at 7:41 PM on May 27, 2006 [1 favorite]

You're not likely to find much because even if you needed the power, an engine with less cylinders would be better. Lots of cylinders are nice because they provide a more even delivery of torque. But that torque is transmitted by the crank shaft, which is inherently weak because of its stepped shape. The front of the crank only has the torque of 2 cylinders on it, but the back has all 24. Better to have less, but larger cylinders. And of course, less horsepower is robbed by the friction of all those valve lifters, etc.
With modern technology, you can get all the usable horsepower (which I define as the ability to spin the rear wheels at any speed) for a passenger vehicle out of a lightweight aluminum V8, for instance this guy sells an aluminum v8 that has put out 2800 horsepower (on a dyno with lots of boost). Check out his customer's cars.
posted by 445supermag at 8:07 AM on May 28, 2006

Thanks for the links to those wacky Pontiacs, supermag.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:34 AM on May 30, 2006