Complex Engine Duesenberg W 24

[Frank S]

Given many of us here on HMT.net are considered by those who do not know about this site to be slightly off kelter in our way of thinking, as well as our admiration for the bazar complexity of things.
I thought I would share an engine which I think was both ahead and behind its own time
I give you the Duesenberg W24 made up from 6 4 cylinder blocks on a single crankcase 1 crankshaft 6 cam shafts 4 valves per cylinder but for some reason a total of 30 exhaust ports. Throughout its evolution it went from a single carburetor to 5 carbs back to 1 carb, only 2 of these engines were ever built with enough parts to build a 3rd and 1 still survives


https://oldmachinepress.com/2013/03/...marine-engine/

[Paul Alciatore]

It'a a doozie!

[mwmkravchenko]

Given many of us here on HMT.net are considered by those who do not know about this site to be slightly off kelter in our way of thinking, as well as our admiration for the bazar complexity of things.
I thought I would share an engine which I think was both ahead and behind its own time
I give you the Duesenberg W24 made up from 6 4 cylinder blocks on a single crankcase 1 crankshaft 6 cam shafts 4 valves per cylinder but for some reason a total of 30 exhaust ports. Throughout its evolution it went from a single carburetor to 5 carbs back to 1 carb, only 2 of these engines were ever built with enough parts to build a 3rd and 1 still survives


https://oldmachinepress.com/2013/03/...marine-engine/

How is it that I only count 8 spark plugs on the second picture? Should be 12? I like the multivalves. So many kids think this is a new idea. Not to many things have not been tinkered with at some point. The biggest differences is the cost to make them and better metal alloys.

[Frank S]

How is it that I only count 8 spark plugs on the second picture? Should be 12? I like the multivalves. So many kids think this is a new idea. Not to many things have not been tinkered with at some point. The biggest differences is the cost to make them and better metal alloys.

you can only count 8 because it has 3 banks in this configuration "\|/"

[Frank S]

One interesting tid bit of information is the W 24 engine was contracted to be built in 1925 or 26. Duesenberg had been building overhead valve engines from the very beginning of their existence and in 1919 built a huge V16 engine for aircraft contracted in 1918 by the government to develop engines for war planes the war ended before they were completed. The model H V16 engine was massive in that it had 3393 cubic inches displacement 3 valves per cylinder a single camshaft.
For automotive engines Duesenberg always had overhead valve engines and from very early on used overhead camshafts. but by no means the pioneers in OHC or DOHC. Maudslay Motors probably holds that distinction dating back to as early as 1902
In the USA though Many american car manufactures hung onto the F head design "Flat head" engine up until the early 1960's I believe that Nash/Rambler was the last to convert to OHV Yet still in 2022 not all engines are OHC due to their complexity and cost of manufacture