We have told you about the awesome Ford GAA V8 more than once around here but we still get excited when we see them come up for sale or appear in other random dark corners of the internet. This time one has popped up for sale on eBay and it comes with the whole package, albeit disassembled, you get all the stuff you need to put it back together after making he necessary repairs. No, the title does not have a typo in it, this is technically not a GAA V8 but rather a GAF which is an updated version of the original monster.
The GAA tank engine was originally designed for use with a dual disc clutch that transferred the power from this monster to the transmission and ultimately to the tracks of the tank. The GAF was designed to work with a torque converter as that was the drive system used on the Pershing tank. There is a slightly different intake manifold and exhaust manifold set on this engine as opposed to the GAA as well. In short, it was modified for the application it was being used in.
In case you have forgotten, these engines are 1,100ci aluminum V8s that produced 500hp and over 1,000 lb-ft of torque nearly through their entire operating range. The engines weigh 1,400lbs and are equipped with 32-valve, dual overhead cam style cylinder heads. They are a “hemi” style design with a centrally located spark plug in the combustion chamber.
These engines basically came about when Ford lost the contract to built Merlin engines to Packard. Annoyed, Henry Ford decided that he would design an engine that was more advanced and better than the Merlin and in some ways this thing is. Sure it does not produce the sheer massive horsepower but it has a lot going for it. Note in the second photo below the gear drive built into the front of the engine that sends power in multiple directions to spin everything from the magnetos to the water pumps and camshafts. Totally radical.
eBay: This GAF Ford V8 is 1,100ci of Pershing tank engine greatness – buy it!
“…..equipped with 32-valve, dual overhead cam style cylinder heads. They are a “hemi” style design with a centrally located spark plug in the combustion chamber.”
There’s no picture of the combustion chamber, but I suspect it’s a pentroof chamber rather than a hemi.
Ummm…in the one photo you can clearly see the plugs are dead center of the valves. We are still impressed with your vocabulary tho.
Both hemi and pent roof have the plug in dead center. The pent roof is generally used for 4 valve per cylinder heads.
The spark plugs in a hemispherical combustion chamber are NOT dead center. There’s simply not enough space between the valve seats to drill a hole for a spark plug. They’re slightly offset from the center. Google “hemispherical combustion chamber” and click on “images”.
Ummm….pent roof combustion chambers have centrally located spark plugs like a hemi. Not impressed with your spelling though.
Would probably be a fantastic boat motor in an old twin cockpit Chris-Craft. Hmmmm…
Well glad to see all you high-end college buddies get together over this engine. However, years ago I went to a Kansas ranch. I had bought a pair of old Hemis from the rancher off eBay. He had a pulling tractor with one of these in it. And he had over a dozen of them in a barn. I SEEN THEM. he said they weighed only 70 pounds more than a big block chevy. They are all aluminum. He had sold one to a guy in Texas. The guy said he was putting it in a Mustang. Look up mustang tank engine. On youtube. I think it’s the guy. It’s running in a 70’s Mustang.OK sorry, to interrupt your boy’s high-end education talking. Go ahead now, I’m done
Look at the piston domes. Definitely a pent roof.
The aircraft version was a V12 , google Ford GAC.
A few were built, but not many.