Engine Numbers

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Bill Lawless
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Engine Numbers

#1 Post by Bill Lawless »

2 Questions:
What does it mean when there is no number stamped on a 912 engine where it should be? just Blank.

And:
What are these INDUSTRIAL Engines.. What were they used for.. I've been seeing them for sale a lot lately..

Thanks,
Bill
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 Thanks,
Bill
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Mike Wilson
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Re: Engine Numbers

#2 Post by Mike Wilson »

Either the numbers were shaved off or it is an unstamped replacement third piece. I have one as well from a NOS/NIB 912 case.

Mike
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Geoff Fleming
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Re: Engine Numbers

#3 Post by Geoff Fleming »

The 'industrial' engines were built by Porsche for non-automotive use, such as powering various types of industrial equipment. They normally ran at low speed during operation, so extreme wear on the moving parts is minimized. They make good bases from which to begin an engine rebuild, since the cases were never stressed enough to cause deformation, while many regular 356 engines now require line-boring or other case machining in order to bring them back to factory spec. For automobile use, later camshafts and rods, etc. should be used, as the original components were not meant to develop a lot of power over a wide band, while a car engine does need more flexibility.

Some of the industrial engines powered generators for the F-104 fighter jets used by the West German Airforce in the sixties and seventies.

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Adam Wright
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Re: Engine Numbers

#4 Post by Adam Wright »

Little known fact about Industrial motors, people tend to think they were blank case because the front had no numbers. But you look to the right or left there is a number stamped, normally starting with an 0. Not sure why they are stamped on the side, but they are.
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Martin Benade
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Re: Engine Numbers

#5 Post by Martin Benade »

Did the F-104 use the engines only on the ground, or was it part of the airplane?
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Ron LaDow
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Re: Engine Numbers

#6 Post by Ron LaDow »

Martin Benade wrote:Did the F-104 use the engines only on the ground, or was it part of the airplane?
They powered the start-package; fuel pressure, electrical, etc. Once the engines were started, they were pushed away.
They were also used to provide electrical power for Oerlikon AA installations, so quite a few ended up in Switzerland after they were obsoleted (Oerlikons being patented and mfgd in CH).
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