Magnesium block?!?!?!?!?!
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Le Mans Master
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From: Richmond Kentucky
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Magnesium block?!?!?!?!?!
Has anyone ever seen or heard of magnesium or aluminum small blocks (283 / 327) cast by GM and or Mickey Thompson? I know GM isntalled soem aluminum 377's in the Grand Sports and Chaparrals ran aluminum engines.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Livonia MI
Actually seen this done as prototype's at automotive trade show's. The engine block's were a GM 3.8 litre V6 pushrod unit's, and could easily pick it up with one hand. Talking with the rep's, cylinder liner's weren't needed, but coolant corrosion was a problem they were still working on. With most of the engine weight now being in the reciprocating part's, be interesting to see if this goes anywhere. Also, with most formula one team's easily meeting current minimum weight spec's with aluminum block's, probably a big factor.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Oxford Ohio
I don't remember the car, but some company had a Mag block many years ago. I remember being on a crash report, car fire and the fire department was all bound up over getting the fire out before the block ignited. Told me it had a mag block. Might have been a VW or some European vehicle.
They told me, if ignited, they couldn't put it out, that it would burn into the pavement.
They told me, if ignited, they couldn't put it out, that it would burn into the pavement.
Drifting
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From: Kissimmee fl
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St. Jude Donor '07
IIRC, Buick had an aluminum block back in the early sixties, somewhere around 300 CID. Eventually the tooling was sold to British Leyland, (sp?) and it was then used in the Triumph TR8.
Le Mans Master
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From: columbus oh
I don't remember the car, but some company had a Mag block many years ago. I remember being on a crash report, car fire and the fire department was all bound up over getting the fire out before the block ignited. Told me it had a mag block. Might have been a VW or some European vehicle.
They told me, if ignited, they couldn't put it out, that it would burn into the pavement.
They told me, if ignited, they couldn't put it out, that it would burn into the pavement.
Le Mans Master
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From: Butler Pa
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Drifting
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From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Melting Slicks
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Old VW beetles since 1930's and some Porsches have magnesium blocks and gear box casings so not impossible that other motors have been made from it too.
Last edited by ToniH; Mar 24, 2011 at 10:29 AM.
Team Owner
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One of the History of the Small Block Chevrolet books would probably kick up an aluminum block. I cannot recall any production V8 aluminum blocks, but it's likely GM experimented with them.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Schaumburg Illinois
Commercial airliners have wheels made from magnesium. If they ever get a brake fire the wheel will ignite and water does not put out a magnesium fire. Only a C02 type agent that basically suffocates the fire. The FAA mandates airliners do a max weight rejected takeoff using only maximum braking to stop the aircraft. Then they have to sit for 5 minutes to see if anything catches fire. The airport fire brigade is standing by needless to say.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
In the NCRS DRIVELINE Jack Podell (FI restorer) has listed a GM 1959 aluminium block that was a Mickey Thompson project. Steel sleeves, and can be built from 263 to 377 cubic inches. Mid 5 figures buys it.
Regards,
Alan
In the NCRS DRIVELINE Jack Podell (FI restorer) has listed a GM 1959 aluminium block that was a Mickey Thompson project. Steel sleeves, and can be built from 263 to 377 cubic inches. Mid 5 figures buys it.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
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From: Reno Nevada
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At the shop we weld up broken and cracked magnesium parts. big and small chevy Lucas injections are mag manifolds. The valve covers, timing covers, injection pumps. Hewland trans axles Porsche trans axles
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
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From: Hesperia California
mag, blocks
Yep, VW block halves. You build a nice hot camp fire put an old V-DUB block or half of it,in the middle of the fire and back off a 100 feet or so at night, put your sun glasses on and look out, boy is it bright like a welder, but cool as hell. If you can manage to get close enough to spray a little water on it the bright flames will turn all kinds of colours, ask me how I know, don't get to close the fumes are very toxic, try it sometimes it will light up the sky for miles and miles, cool.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Winston-Salem NC
Commercial airliners have wheels made from magnesium. If they ever get a brake fire the wheel will ignite and water does not put out a magnesium fire. Only a C02 type agent that basically suffocates the fire. The FAA mandates airliners do a max weight rejected takeoff using only maximum braking to stop the aircraft. Then they have to sit for 5 minutes to see if anything catches fire. The airport fire brigade is standing by needless to say.
You should see those magnesium wheels blow up and explode on a fighter acft with hot brakes. Better be at least a 100 ft away.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Tolland CT
Aluminum also burns if ignited. Not a problem in engine blocks. Its pure magnesium powder that ignites easily, not so easy to ignite a magnesium block.
Old VW beetles since 1930's and some Porsches have magnesium blocks and gear box casings so not impossible that other motors have been made from it too.
Old VW beetles since 1930's and some Porsches have magnesium blocks and gear box casings so not impossible that other motors have been made from it too.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
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From: Cameron Park CA
Chevrolet made all aluminum 283s in the late 1950s! They tried sand casting and found the metal was too porous for economical production. These were linerless blocks, the intent being to have no ferrous metal in the cylinders and the valve guides. They had a lot of problems as you can imagine. One of the engines made it into CERV-1 in 1959. Mickey Thompson got a couple for Indy, and sleeved them down to 255 cu in. Roger Penske got one and shipped it to Traco to be built for his Cooper Monaco. So aluminum blocks/engines go way back with Chevrolet.
Reference: Chevrolet -- Racing! by Paul Van Valkenburgh, chapter 8.
Pete
Reference: Chevrolet -- Racing! by Paul Van Valkenburgh, chapter 8.
Pete
Le Mans Master
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From: melbourne florida
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i lit a magnesium anode rod from a water heater and cut the roof and fender off a junk car faster than a cutting torch. i seem to remember Mickey Thompson. doing alot of things with magnesium, Pontiac sticks in my mind