Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: SunTracker on December 28, 2004, 08:26:04 PM

Title: P-51 engine modifications
Post by: SunTracker on December 28, 2004, 08:26:04 PM

Read on another message board that not only were radial engine fighters (like the P-47) modified to run at increased MP, but inline engine fighters were too.  It states that the P-51 could be modified to run at 77 inches manifold pressure, reaching 410mph at sealevel.

Quote

On the WEP vs. Military Power issue,in Francis Dean's "America's 100,000" it states that WEP was used quite a bit in excess of the 5 minute limit without damaging the engine though it goes onto say that the engine was almost always inspected after using it in excess of 5 minutes. In the P-51 the USAAF planes normally drew 61" on MP and 67" on WEP,however once better fuel was obtained they were modified in the field to draw 77" in WEP,RAF models drew 81". A stock P-51 hit 380 MPH at SL,however the modified ones hit 405 MPH(USAAF) and 410 MPH(RAF). THis info was gotten from P-51 pilots themselves over on the mustangmustang.com board. I understand the US radial engines held up well in excess of 10 minutes using WEP ,info from the same board. It seems those P & W's , Allison's, and merlin's/packard's were immensely tough.

http://www.tgplanes.com/Public/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7&whichpage=24

Title: P-51 engine modifications
Post by: GScholz on December 29, 2004, 04:38:18 AM

The WEP increases were in regard to the availability of 150-octane fuel. In late 1944 and 1945 there were indeed Mustangs running around using 150-octane fuel. However a "stock" P-51 does not do 380 mph on the deck.

Title: P-51 engine modifications
Post by: SunTracker on December 30, 2004, 12:13:21 PM

http://www.aafo.com/racing/people/vlado2.htm

Interesting website on the modification of a P-51 to high manifold pressure.

Title: P-51 engine modifications
Post by: HoHun on December 30, 2004, 01:48:15 PM

Hi Suntracker,

>http://www.aafo.com/racing/people/vlado2.htm

Great read, thanks! :-)

Here's another one on that topic:

http://www.supercoolprops.com/ARTICLES/gwhitegearheads.htm

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

Title: Re: P-51 engine modifications
Post by: joeblogs on December 30, 2004, 02:45:32 PM

Check out Graham White's columns on the Reno races. They boost so much they have to use extra bolts & straps to keep the supercharger from separating from the engine...

Quote

Originally posted by SunTracker
Read on another message board that not only were radial engine fighters (like the P-47) modified to run at increased MP, but inline engine fighters were too.  It states that the P-51 could be modified to run at 77 inches manifold pressure, reaching 410mph at sealevel.

 

http://www.tgplanes.com/Public/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7&whichpage=24