Old Fire Trucks
- Thread starter Steve Frazier
- Start date
This engine intrigues me. It appears that it could be two rows of 6 cylinders side by side. I'd love to know more!
BoxCarKidd
Active member
Great job Steve! Thanks for sharing. As for the six cylinders side by side I doubt it. It was common on gas fueled fire trucks two have dual ignition systems. This one looks to also have a dual fuel system. If one does not work just turn the other one on. Some also have multiple starters and generators. However it if has another exhaust manifold on the other side my jaw would drop.
In the late 40's and early 50's Seagrave had some weird V-12s of their own design... This may be one of those.
Great thread Steve. This should keep us busy for awhile!
Truck Shop
Well-known member
Wonderful pics Steve. Your right on that RZ, there were some strange engine designs in those days. If you look real close there is
another exhaust manifold on the right side.
Truck Shop
BoxCarKidd
Active member
OK WOW! They must have a set up like my friends old Indians. They ran two rods off of a single width journal. If I figure out how to send pictures I'll do that.
I didn't realize that engine setup until I looked closely at the pics or I'd have figured out a way to get more on the other side. It sure looks like everything is duplicated on both sides! I was hoping someone would recognize it and could explain. I'd love to see it tore down!
There were so many trucks there it was overwhelming, I just kept snapping pictures. Some were stacked in so tight it was difficult to get pics. This is an annual affair, I'll try to give notice when it's coming up again, it was located in Middletown, NY
There were so many trucks there it was overwhelming, I just kept snapping pictures. Some were stacked in so tight it was difficult to get pics. This is an annual affair, I'll try to give notice when it's coming up again, it was located in Middletown, NY
That engine is an American LaFrance V-12. I found a YouTube Vid of the same model. Unfortunetly, I'm too dumb to be able to post a link.
Thanks rzucker!! I found a couple that explain this thing!! Very interesting that American LaFrance built their own engine!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSEJL_x3xHE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hql42WOcrM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSEJL_x3xHE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hql42WOcrM
Truck Shop
Well-known member
I think American LaFrance was originally Ward LaFrance. But I'm not surprised that they built their own engines also. White even had their own line of engines
as many truck builders did in that time. But most all offered Waukesha, Continental, Buda, Lycoming- which made a twin straight eight. Not to forget the
1200 cu.in Hall Scott.
Truck Shop
as many truck builders did in that time. But most all offered Waukesha, Continental, Buda, Lycoming- which made a twin straight eight. Not to forget the
1200 cu.in Hall Scott.
Truck Shop
Wasn't the big Hall-Scott a 1090 Cube engine? IIRC they could do 375 HP on Butane back in the day.
I've been able to drive a few big gassers, IH 450 and 501's, and a 6601? continental in a military 5 ton, and a continental in an old White cabover. Most all put out some real good power. When I was a kid the local FD had an old KW with the 1090 Hall Scott, wish I had got it when it was surplussed out.
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Truck Shop
Well-known member
Went and looked in my books-it was 1091 cu.in. to be on the money I guess. But it didn't list hp ratings. Noisy as hell with a straight pipe though. And actually It
was a hemi ohc before anyone else came along. IIRC
Truck Shop
was a hemi ohc before anyone else came along. IIRC
Truck Shop
I knew both Ward LaFrance and American LaFrance trucks were available at the same time for quite a long period so I looked up both companies. It turns out two members of the LaFrance family went into separate businesses building fire equipment. The fire department I joined in 1978 had a Ward LaFrance on a Ford F Series chassis, I think American LaFrance was strictly custom chassis. Both were originally based in Elmira, NY. Very interesting!
The fire company (our department was made up of 3 companies) I belonged to had a '74 Ford L-900 tanker, 1600 gallons with the 534 gas and a 5 speed Allison behind it. I always shifted the truck manually and doing that could just about keep up with the '78 Mack pumper we had with a Maxidyne in it!
The fire company (our department was made up of 3 companies) I belonged to had a '74 Ford L-900 tanker, 1600 gallons with the 534 gas and a 5 speed Allison behind it. I always shifted the truck manually and doing that could just about keep up with the '78 Mack pumper we had with a Maxidyne in it!
I went to an estate sale today, at a ranch here in town. They had an old Peter Pirsch open cab fire truck there for sale. It has been sitting in the weeds for probably 30-40 years. One side of the hood was opened up so you could see the engine. The engine is a HUGE, 6 cyl. It is a Waukesha gas/gasoline engine, according to the plate on the side of the engine. I am not sure I have ever seen a 6 cyl. gasoline engine, that large, in any truck.