Donovan 4 Cylinder

Found them still listed on Google. Checked out their site. Needed some smelling salts after I checked the 4 cylinder price list. Cost's a lot to fly first class.
 
I seem to recall the late Dennis Piranio used the aluminum blocks in his Bonneville cars. He set unbelievable speeds for that design.
 
Not quite, Dennis did build a few D motors but were not run for records
SCTA and BNI do not allow any blocks not an original production pre’35

And yes the records are very impressive for 85 year old metal

J
 
The Donovan was the hot ticket when it came out. Individual intake runners (IR), 5 bearing crank & cam, 4 bolt main caps, lightweight, pressure oiling. The Burtz only lacks the IR and 4 bolt mains but is heavier.
Here is the price list on their site. It's 2011 so you'll need to probably use the 100% post Covid price increase. If I had an unlimited budget and was chasing a record it would have to be the Donovan. Building a 100hp streetable toy the Burtz would be the way to go for ultimate reliability. But then a polished Donovan with a candy paint job would be a show stopper - even at SEMA.

You could run it at Bville but not in the V4 class. I doubt you'd have much luck against a current 4V OHC 3.6 liter Japanese engine.
V4 stands for vintage four-cylinder and designates pre-1935 four-cylinder engines up to 220 cubic inches. OHV and specialty heads are allowed.


http://www.modelaparts.net/hiperf.html/donovansem.html


https://qix.owj.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ModelD.pdf
 

Attachments

  • s-l1600.jpg
    s-l1600.jpg
    50.4 KB · Views: 31
Last edited:
Yes, the V4 regs are very detailed and competing in the open displacement classes are challenging.

Even with this sort of hardware it is difficult to compete against a modern architecture motor.

John
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0436.jpg
    IMG_0436.jpg
    62.6 KB · Views: 95
The Burtz engine has pretty modern internal architecture yet looks the same as an original engine from the outside. How do the judges know what they are looking at?
 
No problem to tell, if record beaten you must drop its pants, same in any sport, I know you are cheating because im cheating & you are beating me ,
 
You can easily stick a borescope in the oil fill tube on the model A engine and see the crankshaft and the main bearings. You can easily see if it has a counter weighted crank and if it has more than 3 mains. You can buy these small borescope cameras that work with your iPhone for under $10.00 on eBay!
It’s time to work smarter not harder guys by using modern technology.
 
Fullraceflathead said:
You can easily stick a borescope in the oil fill tube on the model A engine and see the crankshaft and the main bearings. You can easily see if it has a counter weighted crank and if it has more than 3 mains. You can buy these small borescope cameras that work with your iPhone for under $10.00 on eBay!
It’s time to work smarter not harder guys by using modern technology.
Click to expand...

Is it normal for the judges to at least partially dismantle things? Ie, take out the filler tube.
 
Probably referring to race scrutineers rather than concours judges. Competitors can protest that you have a modern block in a vintage class. I believe Bonneville record breakers have their motors cc'd to make sure they don't exceed the cu. in. limits of their class.
 
I just looked on Ebay for horoscope cameras. None for $10, but you can get semi rigid or soft wire. What do folks recommend buying?
 
You would be amused at some of the "improvements" attempted on V4 motors.
The SCTA-BNI site publishes a list of modifications allowed and not allowed, understand there is a reason this guide exists.

J
 
Bruce of MN said:
I believe Bonneville record breakers have their motors cc'd to make sure they don't exceed the cu. in. limits of their class.
Click to expand...

Back in the early days of stock classes in drag racing, the cheaters would leave #1 cylinder cc's the allowable amount but bore all of the others larger, hoping the tech would check that cylinder for size using a volumn checker and leave the others alone.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top