Kiekhaefer engine

[Basil]

I am contemplating building a big block Chevrolet V8 for my next project. Kiekhaefer and Mercruiser used these Can Am style injected engines in offshore powerboats and that is what I plan to build. I want to include lots of detail and have decided on a scale of 3.5 to 1. Between 1/4 and 1/3rd scale.
First job is drawing everything up and 3d printing at this scale to see how everything looks. My progress so far.

 

[lohring]

I was privileged to ride in Dry Martini, a 1973 Cigarette deep v powered by two of these engines. It is owned by Mike Bontoft and is raced every year in the Cowes Torquay Cowes offshore race. I have a lot of pictures taken during the engine rebuild including the original gear cam drive that was swapped for a more modern drive. I'll attach some pictures. Let me know if you would like more.

Lohring Miller

 

[Basil]

A little more progress on the Kiekhaefer engine project. Alternator and distributor next. I'll leave the cylinder block to last I think. lol

 

[Basil]

Moving along. The engine is getting large! I printed a rough form up for the block so I could mount everything and check for fit.

 

[Basil]

A little more progress with the Kiekhaefer powerboat racing engine in Fusion. Waiting for new Filament from Prusa. Just had a very bad experience with damp PLA from another manufacturer.

 

[Shopgeezer]

A little more progress with the Kiekhaefer powerboat racing engine in Fusion. Waiting for new Filament from Prusa. Just had a very bad experience with damp PLA from another manufacturer.

I have taken to dehydrating my PLA reels after reading about problems with moisture in filaments. I modified a food dehydrator and then store the filament reels in vacuum bags. Not sure it is worth all the effort. I can see that there could be a problem during our humid summers but winters here are desert dry.

My poor old Crealty CR 20 died after hundreds of prints. Got a new Ender 3 V2 on the way from Amazon. Half way through a large RC model. Hope to start on an engine project next once I get the new printer settled down and running smooth.

 

[Basil]

Slow going but a little bit more progress on the Kiekhaefer engine CAD project. I printed the crankshaft laying down for strength. Camshaft next me thinks.

 

[Shopgeezer]

What a lot of work. It looks great. The closest piston on the right in the bottom photo seems to be contacting the crank counterweight. Looks like the relief slot in the skirt of the piston isn’t quite long enough, or the piston is twisted slightly.

I dream of the day when we can print actual metal parts at home. Have a selection of reels, various grades of steel, cast, brass, aluminum. Just keep printing until everything fits. Don’t suppose that will be in my lifetime. It would be handy in space. Halfway to Mars and the helmet clasp in your space suit breaks? Just print up another one.

 

[GreenTwin]

Very nice project.
Many/most of those parts could be cast.

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[minh-thanh]

Very nice project.

 

[Basil]

What a lot of work. It looks great. The closest piston on the right in the bottom photo seems to be contacting the crank counterweight. Looks like the relief slot in the skirt of the piston isn’t quite long enough, or the piston is twisted slightly.

I dream of the day when we can print actual metal parts at home. Have a selection of reels, various grades of steel, cast, brass, aluminum. Just keep printing until everything fits. Don’t suppose that will be in my lifetime. It would be handy in space. Halfway to Mars and the helmet clasp in your space suit breaks? Just print up another one.

That is just the photo. They are all straight and clear the counterweight, not by much though. I put the crank in the lathe and rounded up all the journals. Printing this part flat gave a slight teardrop effect. Accuracy of these parts still amazes me though. I had to space the piston rings out of their grooves a few times to get to be visible on the finished part.

 

[Basil]

Very nice project.
Many/most of those parts could be cast.

.

Was thinking the same but the only experience I have was in metal shop at school. Then there is the equipment purchase.
Maybe!