honda flat 6 engine am I dreaming or??

[slider]

I need something explained ,I think I read somewhere that the idea for the flat 6 came from an engine used in a  industrial application.Some thing along the lines about the industrial  engine running for days on end with minor  down time for oil changes etc and the Honda person who saw it being so impressed with that, the engine design was used as a base for the Flat honda 6.I maybe dreaming   this but I cant get it out of my head that I read it some where.could any of you enlighten me ?

[sheets]

They've been around for years. They were used as bus engines in the old days. 

[Patrick]

I'm not sure how the 'flat' or 'boxer' engines came about, but, they did come about in the late 1800s. If I remember it was credited to Benz.
A boxer is a flat engine, but, a flat engine is not necessarily a boxer.  Many auto makers have used these style engines for a long time.

[Jess Tolbirt]

nope, the flat 6 has been around for years, i think tucker was the first.. flat 6 enging front wheel drive hooked up directly off of the torque converter

[old2soon]

nope, the flat 6 has been around for years, i think tucker was the first.. flat 6 enging front wheel drive hooked up directly off of the torque converter

From the movie I believe they said it was a helicopter engine. But then again I could be not correct. RIDE SAFE.

[Patrick]

nope, the flat 6 has been around for years, i think tucker was the first.. flat 6 enging front wheel drive hooked up directly off of the torque converter

From the movie I believe they said it was a helicopter engine. But then again I could be not correct. RIDE SAFE.

The Tucker used an air-cooled Franklin aircraft/helicopter engine that was half-ass converted to water cooling. Oh, it was mounted in the rear.
The 'flat' engines as previously mentioned have been used for a century.

[Flat6Valk]

I saw an old train engine that had a horizontal opposed cylinder engine.  Cant remember what era it was.  Older than me.

[Red Diamond]

I am a retired industrial mechanic, one of the plants used a compressor with pistons having a diameter of 36 inches in the same comfiguration as the honda engine. It was huge, but easy to work on, as usual these have a separate oiling system.

[R J]

nope, the flat 6 has been around for years, i think tucker was the first.. flat 6 enging front wheel drive hooked up directly off of the torque converter

From the movie I believe they said it was a helicopter engine. But then again I could be not correct. RIDE SAFE.

It was a helicopter engine.  Engine was mounted in therear so I doubt that it had front wheel drive.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/tucker-cars.htm

http://www.laubly.com/1948tucker.htm

A Rare Look at Tucker Cars

[Big Al of Tennessee]

You all have it right.

For the full story, all of these are mentioned except for the Tucker. Which was a fine car, saw

the movie as well. About the Tucker Car. My bad it does mention the Tucker.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat-six_engine

[Skinhead]

There is a Tucker at the Gilmore museum in MI.  It is an excellent collection of rare vehicles, They have a vintage motorcycle day each year, I highly recommend it.

http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/



   
Looks like Inzane will cut into attendance this year.
Vintage Motorcycle Show & Swap Meet
Sunday, June 8. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

[GiG]

Jim Miller down at Miller Motors in Ypsilanti - World's only Hudson Dealer -  had several Tuckers last time I was there. He also had a few mock-ups from the movie that were modern junkers made to look like Tuckers for the final movie scene when all the cars were driven around the courthouse.

Love this thread!  





http://www.ypsiautoheritage.org/

[Rams]

Can't say where the design came from but, I've been told it was a German design.   Whether true or not, I've never been inclined to investigate.   But, the first helicopter I ever flew had a flat six, was coupled to the helicopter transmission via six fan belts.    They said the bird could fly on as few as two but, no one really wanted to see if that was true.  

[Jess Tolbirt]

my bad on the front wheel drive part,, i will have to do some research and see what i was talking about..
here is what i saw, thought it was the front but i guess i was dreaming,,


Preston Tucker LLC

The Original intended engine for the Tucker '48 - a Ben Parson's design 589 cubic inch flat six. The engine featured aluminum construction with integrated head and cylinder jugs ; hemispherical combustion chambers, hydraulically actuated valves (no cam), and many other innovations. It is shown in a factory test chassis with torque converter drive to each wheel - no transmission!

[dreamchaser]

The PT Boats were powered by a flat engine that they called a "pancake" engine.......Subaru engines=Boxer.

[Jess Tolbirt]

o yea my corvair had a flat 6 also...

[Patrick]

The PT Boats were powered by a flat engine that they called a "pancake" engine.......Subaru engines=Boxer.

The only PT boats I've seen were all originally powered by 3   V12 Packard engines.

[Jess from VA]

Now a fully operational plywood hull PT (patrol torpedo) boat with two pair of Ma Deuce twin 50s would be my idea of some fun yachting.  David vs Goliath of the Pacific theater.

Love to fly one up into the DC tidal basin and watch the Coast Guard poop themselves.

They Were Expendable part 8 of 10

[Patrick]

There was a PT giving [ well, selling] rides in Key West for a couple years. I can't remember its number though. I started talking to the fella one slow day and told him those engines didn't sound like any Rolls-Packards I've ever heard before. He laughed and asked what I thought they sounded like, my response was good old 2 cycle diesels made by GM. He said he couldn't afford to keep up the originals and re-engined it with 2 Detroit's. I got to go for a ride in it that day, fun day.

[Regis]

My neighbor is 81 . he was checking out my valk last fall . He said he used to own an airplane with a larger displacement flat 6 made by Continental .

[Patrick]

My neighbor is 81 . he was checking out my valk last fall . He said he used to own an airplane with a larger displacement flat 6 made by Continental .

I recently sold our C185 which has a 520" Continental.

[RP#62]

There was a PT giving [ well, selling] rides in Key West for a couple years. I can't remember its number though. I started talking to the fella one slow day and told him those engines didn't sound like any Rolls-Packards I've ever heard before. He laughed and asked what I thought they sounded like, my response was good old 2 cycle diesels made by GM. He said he couldn't afford to keep up the originals and re-engined it with 2 Detroit's. I got to go for a ride in it that day, fun day.

The movie PT109 was filmed in the middle keys - just off Munson Island near Big Pine.

-RP

[RP#62]

My neighbor is 81 . he was checking out my valk last fall . He said he used to own an airplane with a larger displacement flat 6 made by Continental .

Cessna 150's have O-200 continentals , which are 200 cu in, 100 hp 4 cylinder flat engines.  Most light aircraft engines made since the early 40's were flat (opposed) engines.  I think BMW has them beat though as they've been using flat engines in motorcycles since the 20's.

-RP

[BnB Tom]

  My Piper Cherokee P-235 had an IO540 flat 6 cylinder Lycoming in it. 

Burned 12 gallons of fuel per hour.  And that was thru ONE single throat carb!!   

  Glad my Valk gets better mileage 

                     

[Patrick]

There was a PT giving [ well, selling] rides in Key West for a couple years. I can't remember its number though. I started talking to the fella one slow day and told him those engines didn't sound like any Rolls-Packards I've ever heard before. He laughed and asked what I thought they sounded like, my response was good old 2 cycle diesels made by GM. He said he couldn't afford to keep up the originals and re-engined it with 2 Detroit's. I got to go for a ride in it that day, fun day.

The movie PT109 was filmed in the middle keys - just off Munson Island near Big Pine.

-RP

Yep, so was Operation Petticoat. I guess 'Arnold ' and his crew took over the island when they made True Lies.  Its now called Little Palm Island and is a highfalutin' resort for thousands a night/day. I don't know when its name changed. We are just across the bay on Ramrod.

[RP#62]

There was a PT giving [ well, selling] rides in Key West for a couple years. I can't remember its number though. I started talking to the fella one slow day and told him those engines didn't sound like any Rolls-Packards I've ever heard before. He laughed and asked what I thought they sounded like, my response was good old 2 cycle diesels made by GM. He said he couldn't afford to keep up the originals and re-engined it with 2 Detroit's. I got to go for a ride in it that day, fun day.

The movie PT109 was filmed in the middle keys - just off Munson Island near Big Pine.

-RP

We used to hunt airplants (tillandsia utriculata) on the middle torch keys back in the early 70's.   That movie Final Countdown was also filmed in the keys.  The opening scene is supposedly in Hawaii, but it was actually filmed at the Naval Air Station on Boca Chica.  My father in law rigged the harness that was used to lift the senator's character into the navy helo (he was working SAR duty in a Sea King outfit at the time).

-RP



Yep, so was Operation Petticoat. I guess 'Arnold ' and his crew took over the island when they made True Lies.  Its now called Little Palm Island and is a highfalutin' resort for thousands a night/day. I don't know when its name changed. We are just across the bay on Ramrod.

[Patrick]

There was a PT giving [ well, selling] rides in Key West for a couple years. I can't remember its number though. I started talking to the fella one slow day and told him those engines didn't sound like any Rolls-Packards I've ever heard before. He laughed and asked what I thought they sounded like, my response was good old 2 cycle diesels made by GM. He said he couldn't afford to keep up the originals and re-engined it with 2 Detroit's. I got to go for a ride in it that day, fun day.

The movie PT109 was filmed in the middle keys - just off Munson Island near Big Pine.

-RP

We used to hunt airplants (tillandsia utriculata) on the middle torch keys back in the early 70's.   That movie Final Countdown was also filmed in the keys.  The opening scene is supposedly in Hawaii, but it was actually filmed at the Naval Air Station on Boca Chica.  My father in law rigged the harness that was used to lift the senator's character into the navy helo (he was working SAR duty in a Sea King outfit at the time).

-RP



Yep, so was Operation Petticoat. I guess 'Arnold ' and his crew took over the island when they made True Lies.  Its now called Little Palm Island and is a highfalutin' resort for thousands a night/day. I don't know when its name changed. We are just across the bay on Ramrod.

Thats a nice story, glad to hear it.  I wish I had wondered into the Keys back in the 60s or 70s, I don't think I would have left. I'll look into Airplants, don't know about them.

[John Lane]

I spent 10 years in the US Navy as an engineman. The fairbanks morse was a 10 cylinder opposed piston engine. Two crankshafts with pistons coming together and it was a 2 stroke. I was on a minesweeper the USS Pledge and it had Packard V-12 engines (4). Lots of fun to work on!

[BigBod]

1972 Honda made their first flat 6 prototype....cursed if I can find a picture of it though....

[Raverez]

Found this page


http://www.goldwings-northwales.org.uk/goldwing-history.php

Also one here

http://physiology.usouthal.edu/restore/gl1000/prototype.jpg

And here.   

http://www.classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=1309&view=print


Be cool to see one live up close.

[BigBod]

Found this page


http://www.goldwings-northwales.org.uk/goldwing-history.php

Also one here

http://physiology.usouthal.edu/restore/gl1000/prototype.jpg

That's the one, knew I'd seen it somewhere..

And here.   

http://www.classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=1309&view=print


Be cool to see one live up close.

[Jess from VA]

Then there's a Ferrari Flat-12.