Some Questions About Merlin Engines

[GregP]

I have read recently that Ford produced 30,428 Merlins in their Manchester plant and that many went into Lancasters and Hurricanes. Does anyone have production numbers by variant? I can find the references to the fact that Ford built Merlins (unsubstantiated), but no actual production numbers data. Seems unusual that it would be so hard to find the data, unless it isn't really true data.

Also, Rolls-Royce apparently built 500, 600, and 700 series Merlins for commercial use post-war. I found this:

From another forum:

Merlin 500 series: Two Speed - Single Stage Supercharger

Identical to Merlin T24-2 but termed Merlin 500 for Civil or Commercial operator

500 B.O.A.C. Lancastrian York
500-2 B.S.A.A. Lancastrian York
500-3 Alitalia Lancastrian
500-4 Skyways Limited Lancastrian York
500-5 F.A.M.A. Lancastrian York
500-6 Silver City Airways Lancastrian
500-20 Fiat G.59
500-21 Flight Re-Fuelling Ltd Lancastrian
500-23 Egyptian Government Lancastrian
500-29 CASA C.2111
500-45 Hispano HA-1112
501 T.C.A. Lancastrian
502
502-1 B.O.A.C. York
504 No Production
530 No Production
539 No Production
549 No Production

Merlin 600 series: Two Speed - Two Stage Supercharger

600 Tudor Prototype (Converted to Merlin 102A)
604 Argentine Government
620 T.C.A. & RCAF D.C.4 M.1
621-1 B.O.A.C. Tudor II
621-2 B.S.A.A. Tudor II, IV, V
621-5 Flota Aerea Mercante Tudor
621-15 Argentine Government Lincoln
622 T.C.A. (Domestic) D.C.4 M.2
623-2 B.S.A.A. Tudor IV
624-10 T.C.A. (Atlantic) D.C.4 M.2
625 No Production
626-1 B.O.A.C. Canadair IV C.4
626-12 Canadian Pacific Canadair IV C.4
630 No Production
631 No Production
640 No Production
641 No Production

Merlin 700 series: Two Speed - Two Stage Supercharger

724-1 B.O.A.C. Similar to Merlin 626-1 with cooling mod.
724-1C B.O.A.C. As Merlin 724-1 with crossover exhaust
722-10 Canadair As Merlin 622-10 with cooling mod.
724-10 Canadair As Merlin 624-10 with cooling mod.

Source: Rolls-Royce Production Drawing Office, February 1953.



Unfortunately, also no production numbers data by variant. If anyone has these number, it would be greatly appreciated.

The same forum stated that the Hispano Ha-1112 was equipped with a Merlin 500-45 engine. We happen to HAVE a Hispano Ha-1112, and it's engine plate says it is a Merlin 224. The 200 indicates Packard, and the 24 indicates it is a Packard-built Merlin 24, single-stage, 2-speed engine, which it is by visual inspection.

Perhaps the 500, 600, 700 series were paper designations? But I thought the "transport" Merlins (supposedly the same 500, 600, 700 series units) had different heads that were stronger and of more modern design.

I thought I had a handle on this until some reading this morning. Now, I'm not so sure.

Cheers!

 

[Juha2]

I have read recently that Ford produced 30,428 Merlins in their Manchester plant and that many went into Lancasters and Hurricanes. Does anyone have production numbers by variant? I can find the references to the fact that Ford built Merlins (unsubstantiated), but no actual production numbers data. Seems unusual that it would be so hard to find the data, unless it isn't really true data.

Also, Rolls-Royce apparently built 500, 600, and 700 series Merlins for commercial use post-war. I found this:

From another forum:

Merlin 500 series: Two Speed - Single Stage Supercharger

Identical to Merlin T24-2 but termed Merlin 500 for Civil or Commercial operator

500 B.O.A.C. Lancastrian York
500-2 B.S.A.A. Lancastrian York
500-3 Alitalia Lancastrian
500-4 Skyways Limited Lancastrian York
500-5 F.A.M.A. Lancastrian York
500-6 Silver City Airways Lancastrian
500-20 Fiat G.59
500-21 Flight Re-Fuelling Ltd Lancastrian
500-23 Egyptian Government Lancastrian
500-29 CASA C.2111
500-45 Hispano HA-1112
501 T.C.A. Lancastrian
502
502-1 B.O.A.C. York
504 No Production
530 No Production
539 No Production
549 No Production

Merlin 600 series: Two Speed - Two Stage Supercharger

600 Tudor Prototype (Converted to Merlin 102A)
604 Argentine Government
620 T.C.A. & RCAF D.C.4 M.1
621-1 B.O.A.C. Tudor II
621-2 B.S.A.A. Tudor II, IV, V
621-5 Flota Aerea Mercante Tudor
621-15 Argentine Government Lincoln
622 T.C.A. (Domestic) D.C.4 M.2
623-2 B.S.A.A. Tudor IV
624-10 T.C.A. (Atlantic) D.C.4 M.2
625 No Production
626-1 B.O.A.C. Canadair IV C.4
626-12 Canadian Pacific Canadair IV C.4
630 No Production
631 No Production
640 No Production
641 No Production

Merlin 700 series: Two Speed - Two Stage Supercharger

724-1 B.O.A.C. Similar to Merlin 626-1 with cooling mod.
724-1C B.O.A.C. As Merlin 724-1 with crossover exhaust
722-10 Canadair As Merlin 622-10 with cooling mod.
724-10 Canadair As Merlin 624-10 with cooling mod.

Source: Rolls-Royce Production Drawing Office, February 1953.



Unfortunately, also no production numbers data by variant. If anyone has these number, it would be greatly appreciated.

The same forum stated that the Hispano Ha-1112 was equipped with a Merlin 500-45 engine. We happen to HAVE a Hispano Ha-1112, and it's engine plate says it is a Merlin 224. The 200 indicates Packard, and the 24 indicates it is a Packard-built Merlin 24, single-stage, 2-speed engine, which it is by visual inspection.

Perhaps the 500, 600, 700 series were paper designations? But I thought the "transport" Merlins (supposedly the same 500, 600, 700 series units) had different heads that were stronger and of more modern design.

I thought I had a handle on this until some reading this morning. Now, I'm not so sure.

Cheers!

From top of my head 500 and 600 series were post-war productions.

 

[Vintageaeroengines]

All the Rolls engines you quote were built.
the Packard 224 is a current choice to keep aircraft flying and bolts in with little changes.
Advantage is the better supercharger oil seal on rear bearing and the Bendix PD carb. No more float carb.
On the plus side is the late Packard rods but the cylinder banks are the Packard -7, same as the Rolls 60 series for the most part.
There are so many mods and changes with these engines that making comparisons is a slippery slope.
A line needs to be drawn to separate what was done for the military and commercial aircraft verses what has been done since the aircraft were sold into the private market. That market keeps most of these engines flying by mixing and modifying them in so many ways that it is impossible to list them all.
Example: The P-51 D engine was a Packard -7 or later the -9A was also fitted. As the transport head and bank assemblies were becoming available they were fitted onto the Packard engines. Aero Sport at Chino CA had a STC approval for that mod.
Some of the combinations fitted to the P-51:
-7 with Packard -9 banks, Rolls 500, 620 and 724 banks
-9A with all the above and even Packard -7 banks were used.
Next all the mods in the UK to keep Spitfires and Hurricanes flying.
There is even a mod to use a P-51 propeller governor on a Spitfire.
Remember, our mission is to "keep them flying".
Mike

 

[PWR4360-59B]

And then there are the Roush parts that are available. Parts – Roush Aviation
I just wish I could have got some stuff when I was a youngster. Like 700 dollar Merlins, mom didn't want anymore junk around.