JetFire

[travlnz28]

Greg,

Put me in line for a ride when you get it done!

Gregg

[69SSZL1]

You got it Gregg. When it ever gets done. Still waiting on some parts. Turbo Rocket Fluid tank is installed. It gets pressurized by the Turbo to the same PSI (6-7PSI)and injects the methanol/water mix into the carb to prevent detonation and add a little power. Maybe substitute Nitro Methane? This really is a well engineered system. The only problem was customers not keeping fluid in the tank. A light on the Boost gauge would come on warning of low fluid. The wastegate would open and a 2nd throttle body would close to prevent engine damage. Customers would bring the car to the dealer and complain of low power!



Spare bottle to use on the road if you ran out:

[StealthBird]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: earntaz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Same as the Buick? </div></div>

It's a Buick 215 V8. Buick did all the design and cast all the blocks, and it was first available for the 1961 Buick, Olds, and Pontiac line. Obviously, the front mounted distributor was a telltale sign that it was NOT an Oldsmbobile or Pontiac engine, but it was still marketed as a &quot;Rocket V-8&quot; by Oldsmobile, and as an &quot;...available 155 hp aluminum V8&quot; in the Pontiac Tempest.

Mickey Thompson entered a stock block Buick 215 V8 in the 1962 Indianapolis 500 (driven by Dan Gurney). It was the only non-Offenhauser engine in the entire field, and Gurney qualified 8th, retiring about halfway through the race with a trans/rear end problem.

Buick abandoned this casting a few years later due to a very high scrap ratio. They had massive porosity problems, which resulted in massive oil leaks. The aluminum Buick 215 V8 was discontinued after 1963. They sold the the design, tooling and manufacturing rights to British Leyland (Rover/Jaguar/Triumph), which evolved into 3.5, 3.9, and 4.2 liter engines for many British cars, like the Land Rover, Rover 3500, TVR, TR8, and in the early 70's was available in the MG.

In 1980, Pontiac introduced their Turbo Trans Am (and Turbo Formula), using the 301 V8 as the platform. Many automotive writers of the day erroneously billed that as the &quot;first turbocharged American V8&quot;, but that incorrect. Oldsmobile had the first turbocharged American V8 with their 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire.

The Oldsmobile Jetfires were cool little cars. I really like them. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[69SSZL1]

Yes, thats right. And the only difference between the Buick and Olds versions was the pistons and heads. Olds used the combustion chambers to get various compression ratios like Chevy did, the Buick 215 used different pistons and the same nailhead looking type heads on their versions. Olds also had an extra headbolt around the cylinder, like the ZL-1 has.
The Jetfire was the WORLDS 1st turbocharged production passenger car engine!

[jimbo]

Neat car.
What is the back story on the car?
Where can you buy the &quot;rocket fluid&quot;?

[69SSZL1]

I found this car in August in Los Angeles. It was sitting in the garage for 25+ years because it was not running. I found out later that the harmonic balancer had broken. The original owner had died 2 years ago and his estate was selling it along with 2 80's Caddys and the house. The Executors of the Estate are the owner's son-in-law and the owner's brother. They both remember when Tom (owner) bought it.
Its in great shape with no rust at all and all original.

The Turbo rocket fluid has been decoded and there is a recipe for it:
-35* windshield washer fluid (Methanol and water) + HEET (Methanol) + a little Prestone radiator Anti rust solution. There is a JetFire website with a regestry (about 5 working Turbo 1962 Jetfires in the world)with lots of info:

http://oldsjetfire.com

[Xplantdad]

Pics of one at Pavillions today...

Jetfire at Pavillions (towards the bottom)