The Ryan Falconer V-12 Engine

Engine Type Aluminum 90 degree V-12, Ryan Falconer Industries (RFI)

Displacement 601 CID

Horsepower 640 HP @ 4500 RPM

Torque 700+ ft./lb. @ 4000 RPM

Compression Ratio 10.9:1

Bore 4.125 in.

Stroke 3.750 in.

Fuel 100 LL Avgas

Heads Cast aluminum with splayed valve design

Cylinders Steel sleeved

Main bearing size Same as 400 CID Chevrolet "small block"

Rod bearing size Same as 350 CID Chevrolet "small block"

Cam bearings Similar to Chevrolet "small block"

Rods Forged, Carrillo Industries

Pistons Forged aluminum, J.E.

Valve train Dual spring

Valves Stainless, 2.190 intake / 1.610 exhaust

Rocker assembly investment cast stainless steel, 17-4

Roller tappets AC Delco

Pushrods Smith Brothers

Manifold RFI, with end entry plenums and 70mm butterflies

Ignition Delco Direct Fire (no distributor) with dual MOTEC computers
Freeze plugs Threaded with o-ring

Port runners Pre-machined for better flow

Crankshaft Bryant

Timing gears RFI custom

Head gasket Special, Fel-Pro

Dry oil sump pump RFI custom

Damper Fluidampr

Length 55.5 in.

Width 24.25 in.

Weight 980 lb. (firewall forward, includes: accessories, batteries, gear reduction unit, hoses, propeller, etc.)




Gearbox

B.J Schramm headed the project to develop the gearbox for Papa 51. Final design and analysis was done by Mr. Oswald Webb of England (now retired), who worked on the original Merlin engine reduction and was Chief Design Engineer for GKN, the largest gear works in Europe. The unit is designed to endure up to 1500 HP, pulling 13.5 Gs doing 1 second snap rolls for more than 400 hours! We expect some owners to build more horsepower and go racing, and we wanted the gearbox to last. The reduction ratio is 2.8:1. It is a straight cut spur gear arrangement with a quill shaft between crankshaft and drive gear.

Propeller

The 8 foot diameter, constant-speed 4-blade prop is manufactured by MT Propellers. many hours of extensive engineering and consultation was involved in arriving at the optimum design of each component of this system. The gear box ratio of 2.8:1 turns the prop at 1607 RPM for the optimum ratio for the best prop efficiency and high speed with the V-12 turning 4500 RPM. The 100 lb. propeller is of composite construction utilizing a wood core, which is self-dampening and non-fatiguing. This saves weight compared to metal propellers and reduces the gyroscopic effect of the prop on takeoff.

Accessory Section

The accessory drive was developed by Papa 51 and designed so that each of the ribbed serpentine belts will drive the entire five pumps and prop governor should one belt fail. A third belt drives the alternator only. Ryan Falconer Industries is currently (2003) in the final design stage of a supercharger installation for high altitude or higher horsepower applications. It mounts just aft and below the rear of the engine.