Engine Type 547/0 Serial P90009

[Joris Koning]

Interesting stuff, thanks to everybody chiming in on this.

Jacques, Vernon did the engine for 550-09, I will ask him about it next time I talk to him.

Below a picture which has been posted before. It shows a very early 4-cam engine. Probably one of the 547-xx numbered ones. Look at the part number cast into the head. I have never seen this on any of the later cylinder heads. This engine has many interesting details, pretty cool.

[Jacques Lefriant]

Thanks Joris
i think he used a set my pistons on it. i will call him also.
jacques

[Andrew Hosking]

550-09 was fitted with engine No 547-10, but 550-12 was fitted with 547-09. Most of the 547-xx engines did not have the black fan shroud cover - it was more common to be silver, like this one from 550-10

[Joris Koning]

This engine appears to have the later heads and covers, is this correct Jeff, Jacques?

I know that some of the first sheet metal was actually aluminium and that certain parts were riveted instead of welded. I'd be interested to learn if this was something particular to the first engines or was done on certain specific engines maybe from the point of weight savings (Le Mans engines???)

The engine I posted has all signs of being one of the very first ones. Unlike some/all of the 547-xx engines it however has black sheet metal

With regard to the 547-xx numbered engines were these really the first engines built by Porsche or was there an even earlier series of engines, perhaps with no numbers, which were used for testing? Steve, what is your view on this?

P.S. great picture Andrew, thanks for posting

[Michael Doyle]

There has to be 4 or 5 (maybe more) different 4-cam motor, Furhmann, Carrera and Spyder discussions going on now tied to this one thread that Jack Walter simply began on the above Subject line.

I posted to the main web-site menu "Forum and Site Q&A" requesting that there be a new "4-Cam & Carrera" Forum Category:

http://porsche356registry.org/356talk/15/28999.html

If we were to have this added to the Talk Forum, I think it would add a lot of interest, participation and learning to many people. There seems to be a misconception and/or other underlying strange distance-disregard about 4-cam related cars. It shouldn't be that way. You don't have to own one or be a tech-mechanic to appreciate what they are.

There is currently an "Outlaw Corner" Forum category. It was the Porsche Factory 4-cam cars and Carrera's that were the first original "Outlaws". Let everyone enjoy reading and learning more about all of Porsche's models.

Thanks for reading (again) about my interest to see this happen.

Michael Doyle

[Bil Brown]

Well put Michael......I`m all in for a 4-cam forum....Bill Brown

[Steve Harrison]

To do that shouldn't be that big a deal. It's a perfect fit for this site.
The club itself is what the members make it right? If need be, we could take a survey poll...note the results, and act accordingly. There shouldn't have to be a bunch of pleading and uncertainty. Let's do it.

I for one think pictures of the four cam approach the level of artworks. But I am an admitted gearhead. 8)

[Jacques Lefriant]

Hi Joris
when the 547-07 was at Symbolic it had one of each head. they had to fabricate some of the engine tin in house i loaned them some samples i had from a 547/3 engine. 550-010 had an external oil cap and extensive lightning like driling the starter motor housing it was an early Le Mans car 1954 it DNF(engine) but was the fastest Porsche at 211Km
jacques

[Michael Doyle]

Bill, Steve and others...thanks to you and those that have commented positively about the idea of a new
"4-Cam & Carrera" Forum Category.

Rather than mixing it into the continuation of this thread that started with Jack Walter's cool Dean Jeffries "Special" 1500GS Carrera and 547/0 motor, I started a new subject line at this link below:

http://porsche356registry.org/356talk/1/29007.html

Any and all comments appreciated (including Board members..new and old).

-Michael Doyle-

[Bill Block]

BLOCKS BOOKS now has in stock Hans Mezger's autobiography PORSCHE & ME. Mezgar redid the calculations on the Fuhrmann motor -- over 15,000 calculations, by hand for the new cam shafts. Incidentally, Jorus' the never before seen photograph with Ferry porsche and the early 547 motor is present but backwards. $65.00 (list $79.95) + $4.00 shipping.
www.BLOCKS-BOOKS.com.
bill

[Michael Doyle]

BLOCKS BOOKS now has in stock Hans Mezger's autobiography PORSCHE & ME. Mezgar redid the calculations on the Fuhrmann motor -- over 15,000 calculations, by hand for the new cam shafts. Incidentally, Jorus' the never before seen photograph with Ferry porsche and the early 547 motor is present but backwards. $65.00 (list $79.95) + $4.00 shipping.
http://www.BLOCKS-BOOKS.com.
bill

Dear Bill,

I think you are trying to capitalize...financially (blantantly) on the fact that there "Does" need to be a new "4-cam & Carrera " Forum category on this web-site. I welcome your advertisement above, as you further the cause in your own way. But c'mon...this current category is Jack Walter's subject line, about His Car & His Motor. NOT the BOOK you are trying to SELL.

And using Joris Koning (as an innocent cover) I don't think will work well with with Joris, me...or the rest of us.

By example, if you scroll through the Forum Menu category of "Authenticity Corner", a simple request by Joris on a 4-cam - Carrera motor question was about a basic "decal" on the Fan shroud. But really...can I please ask you: Where should that question really have been asked...?

To Me...Answer: A "4-cam & Carrera " Forum category.

Might you perhaps be interested in endorsing it...or not? (Again..to me) this is part of the misconception on the psuedo-thinking that there is an "elitist" group associated to 4-cam cars and 356 Carrera's. Oh, you can't talk to "them" only on the side...but go ahead, make an Outlaw into a Carrera, and to try and be something that Porsche did a long, long time ago...but get this...."that is very-very cool". "Specials"..."Outlaws" - "HOTRODS"...that's all great creativity. And that is what "Walter Glockler" was all about (and me too). If it wasn't for him...there (perhaps) would never have been a Porsche 550 Spyder, an RSK, an RS 60...a 904, a 917..?

And if I may please ask, what picture is on the Cover of the Nov-Dec 356 Registry magazine? ...the Bruce Sweetman picture of early Porsche 550 Spyder's at the Porsche Race Car Classsic (PRCC...thank's to Steve Heinrichs). Are there 4-cam motors involved here...?

What's the 356 Registry doing here..? With those non-356 Spyders on the Cover..? (how dare Gordon Maltby do That!) btw...this is tongue in cheek.

And the money side on this subject matter leaves a lot to question...if it's good for that one individual, then it's Ok. But as a whole..."OH NO" that's an elitist group (don't go there). Geez, let's try and be real, cooperative, and have fun this year.

How about trying this...DO NOT BE AFRAID.

Michael Doyle

[Jack Walter]

I received this picture from the owner of Spyder #550-022 - the original home for 547/0 engine # P90009 when it was raced at the 1955 Sebring event. The owner has had this car since 1975 - beautiful!

[Andrew Hosking]

So do you think you will be able to work something out to get the engine back in the spyder?

Andrew

[Mike Hoynck van Papendrecht]

Stumbled upon this thread as I was strolling through the site looking for Carrera related articles.
I was amazed at the amount of info that came up on this particular Carrera engine and it made me wonder if anyone could shed a light on my engine.

It is the non-matching engine for my '56 Coupe and has nr. 90074 ( see picture )
As I understand from the thread, coupes are starting at 905xx ? I knew it wasn't the original engine for my car, but I didn't realize it might have been in a Spyder, which I regretfully do not own

I hope I am not interferring with the original thread, that seemed to be on lifesupport anyhow, and any info would be appreciated.

The engine has just been overhauled by European Carrera specialist Hloch and will be back with me in two weeks. It is converted to crank-driven distributor, but still has it's Hirth crank, who's function I now fully understand, thanks to Joris's excellent column in the registry magazine

Hope that the thread will come to live again and if anyone has info on the whereabouts of my matching # engine 90737, I would be very thankfull.

To test everyone's knowledge on Carrera engines I ask you to follow this link on a Carrera housing I have 3D scannned some time ago.

http://www.amitek.nl/view/Scan-4cam.htm

It takes about a minute before the download starts to run and actual downloading takes only 30 seconds. It runs on every computer, no matter how outdated it may be. Once downloaded you can rightclick on the image and turn it freely around, very nice. Leftclick and you can cut the piece in half with the bar on the left.

Wonder if anyone can make out what type of engine it is

Thanks,

Mike Hoynck van Papendrecht

[Tim Herman]

I received this picture from the owner of Spyder #550-022 - the original home for 547/0 engine # P90009 when it was raced at the 1955 Sebring event. The owner has had this car since 1975 - beautiful!

Jack, et al

Do you know any information on the Spyder equipped with Jack's engine at 1955 Sebring, i.e Driver, Race No., entrant ?
I do not have the chassis numbers but the following 550 Spyders ran Sebring in 1955 (all finished!) and wonder which was 0022 being propelled by Jack's engine:

Car #68 , finished 8th and 5th in the Index of Performance, driven by von Hanstein/Herbert Linge in 1500cc

Car #61, finished 11th driven by Robert Davis/Candy Poole in 1500cc

Car #81, finished 23 driven by Paul O'Shea/Fritz Koster, in 1100 so can be likely ruled out

Car #67, finished 42nd driven by Evans Hunt/ Howard Hanna in 1500cc

Car # 72, finished 48th driven by Norman Christianson/Don McNought in 1500cc