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Posted by Joe Cimoch on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 19:32:23 :
In Reply to: Re: What can you do with 5 flatheads? posted by Doc Dave on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 19:23:36 :
Supposedly, it was a reliable engine.
From Allpar.com:
Campbell inquired if Chrysler could produce a tank engine from tools and machines that already existed within its own plants.
The only possible solution was to use engines that already existed. To bring an engine to par would take about two years. There was no time for that. Unhesitatingly, Mr. Keller and his engineering team volunteered the Chrysler 6 cylinder engine for tank duty. Engineering put 5 Chrysler 6 cylinder engines onto a common crankshaft. Mr. Keller warned the Army that such an engine had been assembled with a minimum number of changes since its application into production was the utmost need. He added that it may not just be the ideal engine for such a duty.
He need not have worried. The multibank engine proved to be nearly ideal for the M3. It was installed in 7,500 of them! Ordinance reported that the "Eggbeater" as it was nicknamed proved the best engine of all. Lower maintenance, lower fuel consumption, ease of routine checks, and no loss of power over extended periods of running. It was touch and go on the production line until the multibank arrived.
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