Merlin power with Modern Tech but Unleaded Petrol

[GreenKnight121]

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That looks EXACTLY like mine did - same color, same non-vinyl roof!

The power-retracting radio antenna and automatic headlight-dimmer sensor in the grille by the left turn signal block also made for fun driving.

The only photo of mine in my computer (I need to scan in more of my 35mm slides) - July 1983, Dead Horse Point area, Utah - family camp. Just the front of my 1968 Sedan deVille

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[Operation Chastise]

The Merlin was 27L and produced end of war 1800hp reliably. However this was on 150 Octane fuel which would be banned today based on the high lead content.

Clearly no one would build a piston engine like this today as we have jets. But let's say some billionaire with a love of WW2 engines did this with modern materials and CAD.

Now clearly the output of a modern car compared with 40s car is superior, but the Merlin relied on the high octane fuel to allow the high compression of the two stage supercharger.

So given the advantages of modern tech, but the constraint of unleaded fuel, could a 27L engine be built that delivers a reliable 1800hp?

It is funny you should mention a billionaire with a love of WW2 planes/engines. I happen to know of one, his name is Jack Roush. He owns (or owned) "gentleman Jim" and "old crow" P-51 mustangs, probably others too. If you are not familiar with the name Roush, he is an old drag racer from here in the Detroit area that later opened many automotive related businesses, from R and D for Ford and others, performance vehicles (Roush mustangs, etc) Carbon fiber bodies for funny cars, owns Roush/Fenway nascar team, etc etc etc. Jack got tired of sending his Merlins to Europe/UK, and having the cash, the talented people, and the machines to do it, he opened his own Merlin shop. I toured it back in 2011

The Merlin was 27L and produced end of war 1800hp reliably. However this was on 150 Octane fuel which would be banned today based on the high lead content.

Clearly no one would build a piston engine like this today as we have jets. But let's say some billionaire with a love of WW2 engines did this with modern materials and CAD.

Now clearly the output of a modern car compared with 40s car is superior, but the Merlin relied on the high octane fuel to allow the high compression of the two stage supercharger.

So given the advantages of modern tech, but the constraint of unleaded fuel, could a 27L engine be built that delivers a reliable 1800hp?

It is funny you should mention a billionaire (I know he's at least a multi hundred millionaire) with a love of WW2 planes/engines. I happen to know of one, his name is Jack Roush. He owns (or owned) "gentleman Jim" and "old crow" P-51 mustangs, probably others too. If you are not familiar with the name Roush, he is an old drag racer from here in the Detroit area that later opened many automotive related businesses, from R and D for Ford and others, performance vehicles (Roush mustangs, etc) Carbon fiber bodies for funny cars, owns Roush/Fenway nascar team, etc etc etc. Jack got tired of sending his Merlins to Europe/UK, and having the cash, the talented people, and the machines to do it, he opened his own Merlin shop. I toured it back in 2011. I think I have some pics to share on my work computer. The guys in the rebuild shop said (IIRC) 1500 cubic inches, 1500 hp, but they can be turned up to 2,500 hp at low altitude with the supercharger, but they don't last long. He then showed me a piston from one of the engines taco'd in a U-shape. I'll see if I can find the pics today. -Rudy