[konjaril]

So guys, fancy hot rods? Wonderful creations arent they? you either love them or hate them but you cant ignore them. For some, its pure blasphemy but for some its a way of shoving it to manufacturers and say, "Hey dog, i can do it better than ya all".

I have a fetish for hot rods and recently came across these nut cases better known as blastolene brothers. yes they are nut bags, not just because they create some shiny looking, ground kissing, rods, but for their plain mad projects.

So, whats different? i am just going to take one of their fine examples here to showcase what they can do. I recon they think in the lines of- "hey look at that destroyer, i bet its got a big engine, lets plonk it in a car!". I know, i know i am exagerating . BUT, am i? keep reading...

(Note to mods, i am quoting this directly from their site and if you find it inappropriate please remove it or do the needful.)

So this is one of their fine projects called as the BLASTOLENE SPECIAL

Randy Grubb's car started with a M47 Patton Tank V12 engine (1950-1955) 1800 cu. inches all aluminum - air cooled - overhead cam - Engine alone cost U.S. Govt. $100,000. to produce in 1955. She takes 17 GALLONS OF OIL - 1000 h.p. - 1500 ft. lbs. of torque.Y E S ! ( The engine was designed to run under water ! )



Randy Grubb with rolling chassis at the park in Grants Pass Or.



Randy fabricated the adapter that mated the tank engine with the allison automatic tranny out of a greyhound bus. Please note the cooling fans that pull cool air in from the sides of the cylinders and out the top of the engine.



Chassis with wood bucks in Al Trumbly's shop. Fabricating the aluminum panels which then will be welded together.



Great shot of the chassis with the wood bucks in position.



Body panels, belly pan, hood and grill....it's all coming together.



Shot from rear quarter with nasty exhaust pipes and cool gas filler.



Looking forward at cowl hood and front end.



Suicide front end, Radius rods are 2" o.d.- front axel, from ford semi truck with disc brakes was narrowed 7" with hand built 1/4 elliptical spring suspension. Note the hand formed grill shell. ( Randy, you can stop smiling now! )



at Goodguys 2002



Ready to show ( at Goodguys 2002 ) with custom built alcoa style wheels. NOTE: This entire vehicle was conceived engineered and built in 365 days.


Source: The_Special

Jay Leno purchases the BLASTOLENE SPECIAL




Quote from wikipedia:

Randy Grubb made the Blastolene Special with a Continental AV1790-5B(A huge engine that weighs the same as a Volkswagen Beetle) used in a 51-ton M47 Patton Tank back in the 1950s, a Greyhound bus transmission and metal for the body. The glass blower figured he made about USD$125,000 selling it to Jay Leno to put into the extensive collection of cars he owns (84 cars and 73 motorcycles as of April 11, 2006). The car was built at Grubb's shop in Grants Pass, Oregon.
After purchasing the car, Jay Leno made numerous enhancements to the roadworthiness of the vehicle including new gearbox (six speed Allison automatic), rear brakes, new electrical system, chassis work.Recently, the engine has been upgraded with fuel injection and twin turbochargers from Gale Banks and his company, Gale Banks Engineering, estimated to produce 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) and 3,000 ft·lbf (4,100 N·m) of torque.

There is also a video of the engine firing up, put up in their site. please do hear it!

Guys, i have created this thread purely to share a work of genius. If you want to know more visit them at Blastolene Michael Leeds Big Cars V12

[dot]

What a blast of a car. Any idea of the performance numbers? The link didnt say much, or could not find out. The firing up sound was awesome. Forgot that laptop volume was set at high. Didnt realize that some colleagues had gathered behind my back to find out where the sound was coming from

One reason such hobby profession has an healthy presence in developed countries is due to patrons like Jay Leno. A Dutch colleague in our company recently quit his job and started refurbishing old bikes. Enough to keep oneself happy and enough to sustain.

[konjaril]

Originally Posted by dot

What a blast of a car. Any idea of the performance numbers? The link didnt say much, or could not find out. The firing up sound was awesome. Forgot that laptop volume was set at high. Didnt realize that some colleagues had gathered behind my back to find out where the sound was coming from

One reason such hobby profession has an healthy presence in developed countries is due to patrons like Jay Leno. A Dutch colleague in our company recently quit his job and started refurbishing old bikes. Enough to keep oneself happy and enough to sustain.

Hi abhijeet, last i read and if i remember correctly the 30 liter V12 car initially used to pump around 900 bhp and some gazillion torque figures. but his fuel efficiency was a 'bit' low, around3-4 miles to the gallon and it is then when he decided to further add two turbochargers running at 6 psi boost ,making the engine now churn out 1600 bhp and unlimited tire slip till third gear. Oh and he also improved his fuel efficiency to 6 miles to the gallon he has hit 145 mph on the monster and the quater mile timings was around 14 secs or so.

[Sankar]

Here's another tank engine car hybrid. This one looks bit more tame and conceals its 27000cc engine quite well. Now if anyone wants to retrofit their Standard 2000s with a tank engine...

The car:
Practical Performance Car (PPC) magazine, a monthly publication aimed at real car enthusiasts | 27 Litre Rover SD1

Some videos:
Practical Performance Car (PPC) magazine, a monthly publication aimed at real car enthusiasts | Charlie Broomfield

The build:
Pics of 27 litre Rolls Royce Meteor engine installation.

[konjaril]

@ Shankar, wow thanks for the link buddy, i spent all my day just reading about the rover beast although i have a little more inclination towards the rod as i think she looks more gorgeous.

[dot]

Originally Posted by konjaril

Oh and he also improved his fuel efficiency to 6 miles to the gallon he has hit 145 mph on the monster and the quater mile timings was around 14 secs or so.

Amazed to see that they actually bothered about FE. Quarter mile dash figures seems to be feeble, but really who cares. The engine was not designed to sprint. It is the image, I guess.

Originally Posted by Sankar

Here's another tank engine car hybrid. This one looks bit more tame and conceals its 27000cc engine quite well. Now if anyone wants to retrofit their Standard 2000s with a tank engine.

How on earth did they balance the weight. The car would be too nose heavy isn't it?

[Foxbat]

I am interested in cars but tanks also

I guess this car was fabricated in the US and the engine was taken from a M47 Patton Tank. But the tank in the picture is from the East German Army. Is the picture just for reference or the engine was taken from a German Army tank?

[adityabenz]

if you have GT5 for PlayStation, then you can drive this virtually .
Its a monster.

[konjaril]

Originally Posted by dot

Amazed to see that they actually bothered about FE. Quarter mile dash figures seems to be feeble, but really who cares. The engine was not designed to sprint. It is the image, I guess.



How on earth did they balance the weight. The car would be too nose heavy isn't it?

Hi abhijeet, the car actually sprints more than we think, infact with the monster torque the engine generates, the car initially used to twist like a pretzel. the car does more than 200 kmph at less than 2000 rpm, yes thats correct. the engine does it with such grace that you think that the engine is just idling while she is doing 140+mph.

Regarging the rover, i think the engine is more inside the car than in the bonnet..lol. go through the build up pics and the whole front and mid section of the car just houses the massive engine. beautiful project none the less isnt it?

Originally Posted by Foxbat

I am interested in cars but tanks also

I guess this car was fabricated in the US and the engine was taken from a M47 Patton Tank. But the tank in the picture is from the East German Army. Is the picture just for reference or the engine was taken from a German Army tank?

Yes sir, i too think the picture is just for reference purposes.

Originally Posted by adityabenz

if you have GT5 for PlayStation, then you can drive this virtually .
Its a monster.

God how did i miss that. on my way to get the game already .lol

Adding more of jay leno's tank car pics.

[bikxsans660]

That is one heck of a ride. Jay Leno is on a monster.
Nice find "konjaril".

[Mr.Boss]

The monster engineering!
Nice execution, the hard work reflects in each and every nut & bolt of the machine.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by konjaril

@ Shankar, wow thanks for the link buddy, i spent all my day just reading about the rover beast although i have a little more inclination towards the rod as i think she looks more gorgeous.

Yep no doubt. The Blastolene Special is a beauty!!

[konjaril]

hey guys a special video on "the tank". apparently this is before the twin turbo install.

YouTube - Jay Leno Tank Car

Turbo install

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAG0O5d0wHY