Yesterday’s challenge sure turned into a layup! The good looking straight engine that was sitting in the shop at Valley Head Service in Northridge, California was in fact a Duesenberg engine. We’re not 100% sure of the vintage but if it was the straight eight used in the famed Model J (and the supercharged SJ) it displaced 420ci, had dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, and was built by Lycoming for the Duesenberg company. Considering that this engine was introduced in 1928, those are some amazing attributes. There is some debate as to how much power the engines actually make but we’ve read anything from 250 to 270 depending on who is being quoted. With some beefed internals and the addition of a centrifugal blower for the ultra rare (35 built) SJ models, the engine made 400hp and made the car the most dominant performer of its era. In 1934, an SJ ran 160mph at Bonneville. That’s insane.
Ok, now that we’ve regaled you with Duesenberg history, it is time to take a peek at the photo below and tell us what this pile of parts is trying to be! This should be a gimme, right? Hell, you’ve got the block, heads, box of rods, etc. Go ahead and tell us what this engine is and for bonus points, what it will be installed into. If anyone can tell us those two things, you’ll win a shirt!
Name this engine and application!
30’s Packard v12? no clue what it goes in but it has to be cool.
I’m going to 2nd the Packard (’30’s era?) guess. The best clue is that the port arrangement appearing to match the manifolding on the Packard.
Pierce Arrow designed V12 for a Seagrave Fire Truck
So do I get the T-shirt? I correctly identified the engine.
Im going with the Seagrave bet too If I could see the heads It would be easier as it was a dual plug model in the firetrucks… Never could get mine started.
allison
lincoln K series
We just wanted to say that we appreciate all the good guesses and, quite frankly, getting some enjoyment out of it too. We’ve got plenty of unusual projects to choose from, so it’s safe to say that it’s going to get a lot tougher from now on.
Good luck!
We fear no VHS iron (or aluminum)!