NGC, but cool. Ford X-8 engine

[SmithSwede]

Went the the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn a couple weeks ago.   Fantastic place.

But my favorite was this cross-8 cylinder prototype engine.   4 banks of 2 cylinders arranged in an X pattern on a common crank.   Just cool.   Don't think Henry ever got it to work right.

[TOMB]

I think some early nineteen-hundreds airplane engines had the same arrangement
TOMB

[ITSec]

A variation on a radial aircraft engine design, it seems to me - but without the staggered pistons that allow the second bank to cool. The cast metal fans seem rather heavy; I wonder if they were intended to act as stabilizing flywheels? The design between the banks on the near side seems to indicate a side-valve type of arrangement. Like a lot of early engine designs (even with many cylinders), I bet this one produced plenty of vibration.

[Don G]

Looks like an air compressor! DonG

[LowRyter]

I'd like to see the crank on that engine.  I wonder how many rods are on a throw?

[jas67]

I'd like to see the crank on that engine.  I wonder how many rods are on a throw?

I'll bet it's a master/slave arrangement like a radial.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I think some early nineteen-hundreds airplane engines had the same arrangement
TOMB

Yeah. Didn't work there, either. 

[kirby1923]

The X configuration can be successful.
Allison built two during WWII the 3420 ci and the 4520 ci.

Just prototyped  never made into the fleet before the end of the war but were successful.

:-)

[ken farr]

The X configuration can be successful.
Allison built two during WWII the 3420 ci and the 4520 ci.

Just prototyped  never made into the fleet before the end of the war but were successful.

:-)

...as did Continental and Chrysler, everything I read was the end of the war didn't stop further development, but rather complications of the complex designs, and the emergence of the jet engine.
  There was a Continental engine locally in a warehouse of goodies that the previous owner of the old "Cars of the Stars" had, the carb was the size of a VW !!!
( overstatement yes but man....)

kjf

[Rough Edge racing]

 This Lycoming 7745 cubic inch was the largest running piston aircraft engine ,about 5000 hp and 400 gallons an hour of fuel at rated power...It was running at the end of WW2 but never used


       

[Roebling3]

Wasn't there a diesel engine for GA aircraft having 4 cylinders in a + configuration, w/in the last 10 years?  R3~ 

[LowRyter]

I'll bet it's a master/slave arrangement like a radial.

That crossed my mind but it looks like a conventional type crank based on the 90 degree (x 4) banks.