can someone tell me about this engine Options

[bd1308]

i know this was in the 50s ,and propelled a car at like 110mph or something from what i think i've read.

I think this was the coveted 4 cammer engine?

used in the carrera2? (i thought i heard it was from this car)

can someone provide detailed stats about this engine?


b

[Jake Raby]

547 4 cam Carrera Better known as the Fuhrmann 4 cam... Used in the 550 Spyder and the Speedster Carrera, CarreraII as well in a later form. Overhead cam design driven from a lay shaft via bevel gears. The bevel gears drive shafts that actuate the exhaust cams first and then power is transmitted through those cams vai another set of bevel gears to the intake cams.

The early versions were 1500cc and had roller bearing cranks, and were very difficult to assemble. These were used through 1958 and can easily be noted due to their dual distributors at the end of each intake rocker cover (one on each side) to fire the twin plug ignition. The later engines (like the one pictured) had both dizzies triggered from a shaft off the crank.

These engines started in 1959 and were known as "Plain bearing" engines these were more modern internally with non roller cranks and plain bearings and most were 1600cc. Later versions were all the way through the RSK series and some displaced up to 2 liters.

The stock 15-1600cc engines made about 135 BHP and revved easily to 8,000 RPM even in the mid to late 1950s, on the street the engine is a dog as I have driven a couple and they don't START making power till past 5500 RPM. Some race prepped version made up to 165HP from 1600ccs, these were generally known as "Abarth Tuned"... The design of the engine was about 40 years ahead of its time and was a modern marvel in the 50s! Hell they even have a dry sump oil system!

Now for the good part... To buy one of these engines rebuilt you are talking 85-110 THOUSAND BUCKS! Pistons are 1oK per set, Rods 8K per set, heads 10K EACH (used needing rebuilding!) I have seen a BOX of parts sell for 65K on German Ebay before and their wasn't even a list of what you got for that price o the auction!

Here are some pics of one that I worked with most recently. These engines are painstaking, finicky and down right intimidating! Most guys that know anything about them are dead, or retired. Of all the things I have worked with including Turbine engines nothing was more difficult than the 547. I do enjoy the work because I feel privelaged that anyone would trust me with a car that sold for over 400K bucks and let me work on their 100+K engine from that car! The car in the pics is a 1959 Carrera GT Speedster raced at Leman in 1960 and then wrecked (rolled) there in 1961. The car was completely restored after all its parts were sourced with matching numbers from all over the world after being parted out in the mid 60s- The resto took 12 years and cost over 300K to complete. The engine was Abarth tuned and made 163HP at 8,000 RPM. The brake drums are aluminum and have vented backing plates. The doors, hood, decklid are aluminum and that was only done on 12 cars (supposedly)..


Here is the 59 carrera GT Speedster
(IMG:http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/pics/carrera/DSCN0022.JPG)

In this pic you can get an idea of the drive arrangeent for the cams via shafts and bevel gears.
(IMG:http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/pics/carrera/547-3.jpg)

Another view
(IMG:http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/pics/carrera/547-5.jpg)

And here Brent and I pose with the beast just before reinstalling it
(IMG:http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/pics/carrera/547-9.jpg)

Don't EVER try to adjust the valves on one (takes all day+) and don't ever try to synch set the ignition timing because both dizzies have to get the same dwell, point gap and initial and full advance simultaneously or the engine runs like shit....

Bill Doyle, one of the only 4 cammer wrenchs still around invited me to come stay at his place for a month or so and take a deep crash course on these babies because he wants to retire soon... He only builds 3-4 per year and believe it or not the cars are still raced (and engines blown) on a pretty regular basis...... These guys are definately not 914 guys!!!! LOL anything that happens to that engine cost 20K to repair...