Pre-1980 VW Beetle Gas Turbine - Episode IV - A New Hope

[lazeruspete]

I did some googling and found this video



Also, on the off chance I searched the name of the youtube channel 'JohnstoneMFG' in Instagram and it returned a result, nothing I could see which suggests its not the same person.


also these pics www.thenewtriumph.com/2013/04/turbine-powered-spitfire/

[metalshapes]

Yeah, that build was done a long time ago.

My buddy who was part of the build team has since moved out of state.

No idea what happened to the car, but the turbine may just have been a loaner.

In which case it was probably parted out. ( or maybe it became property of the college they were in )



I've seen the car in person, and seen it run ( in a parkinglot )

But I have no more info than that.

[lazeruspete]

Apr 9, 2022 17:54:07 GMT metalshapes said:

Yeah, that build was done a long time ago.

My buddy who was part of the build team has since moved out of state.

No idea what happened to the car, but the turbine may just have been a loaner.

In which case it was probably parted out. ( or maybe it became property of the college they were in )



I've seen the car in person, and seen it run ( in a parkinglot )

But I have no more info than that.

it's pretty crazy and serendipitous that someone who has seen the car in question turns up here.

small world right?

[rallyboy]

Incoming madness ! I can't wait.

[Frankenhealey]

Of Roadtrips and Rabbit Holes Part 1

Having found the turbine , how to pick it up? If you're a devious s0d like me you ask O.C. Homefront whether she'd like a mini-break in the Peak District before tourist season? That was warmly received so I mentioned that I would also use the trip to see a man for 10 minutes on the way. Her eyes rolled but after many decades she knows me only too well. She would have also twigged that you don't get to Buxton by way of Chorley. As recompense I booked a decent B&B



I took her to all the points of interest locally



Never mind Bakewell and its tarts check out Bakewell's Thornbridge Brewery with its Necessary Evil 13% Bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout



Got to Harry's for my 10 minutes and this was waiting for me. Minimal instrumentation, maximum noise









Wangled a tour. Another APU with a 50bhp Saphir



Some Pegusi turbofans



Rolls Royce Gem 900-1200 BHP (Depending on the Version)



Where dead turbines become art





A really expensive coffee table



My 10 minutes (an hour minimum) were up and it wouldn't fit in the car so we arranged for a drop-off darn souf later. Two days holiday and then back to the Volcano Lair but as I told my my sweet Babaloolaa we only had to make a small detour near Bristol to pick up a gash 2CV gearbox for sizing purposes. Simon Sobey's Barn of Doom and 2CV graveyard is down a most interesting farm track

Gash box, flywheel and clutch on top of Mk1 MX-5 rear subframe which was the first idea for the rear drive/suspension setup but has now been dropped as I've ordered a 4WD chassis from Croatia . Anybody building a special?




Coming up : Of Roadtrips and Rabbit Holes Part 2 with extra helicopters just for vitesseefi

[crockpot]

Thornbridge's Jaipur is a particular favourite of mine.
Re the gas turbines, you're certifiable!!
Good work.

[flyingphil]

Nice and useful road-trip Ian!

[kevins]

Gas turbines run nicley on hydrogen (in fact there are few companies developing them as range extenders) could be a interesting alternative to a battery powered zero emissions vehicle.

[Frankenhealey]

Apr 11, 2022 11:43:11 GMT kevins said:

Gas turbines run nicley on hydrogen (in fact there are few companies developing them as range extenders) could be a interesting alternative to a battery powered zero emissions vehicle.

Unless they come up with 'solid' hydrogen quickly and cheaply neither of these two 'looks' really appeals

[75swb]

Apr 11, 2022 13:58:35 GMT Frankenhealey said:

Don't tell anyone but i quite like that.

[madmog]

Apr 11, 2022 13:58:35 GMT Frankenhealey said:

Unless they come up with 'solid' hydrogen quickly and cheaply neither of these two 'looks' really appeals

Just needs the cannisters enlarged, pushed up and back and it's a Starship Entrprise.

[madmog]

A few questions if I may?

How much muffling must the exhaust do to make it street legal? Ie does it need a massive exhaust or a small one? Does it emit flames like the '60s batmobile and must that be arrested somehow? If you're waiting in traffic and someone walks across the road behind you you don't want to roast their dog presumably.

How do you fill in the CC part of the V5?

Is there some place where you find suitably sized gas turbines for cars? Ie is there an obscure industry that goes through them like toilet paper and is glad if someone takes them off their hands? Or is the smallest one helicopter sized?

Is there a hybrid system already designed that could be adapted so for initial acceleration the turbine powers an electric motor up until it can give the oomph directly?

Thanks

[misteralz]

Love it. Used to really enjoy working on turbines, as they're actually really simple but seem complicated. The ones I worked on had Volvo Pentas to start them up, but previously had turbines. I'd love to think that the turbine starter turbines had little turbines to start them up as well, ad infinitum. But they didn't.

[Frankenhealey]

Apr 12, 2022 6:51:07 GMT madmog said:

A few questions if I may?
How much muffling must the exhaust do to make it street legal? Ie does it need a massive exhaust or a small one?

We don't know yet. JET 1 managed it and so did the Rover T3 so it must be possible. Plans for stainless steel wool packs in the works.

Does it emit flames like the '60s batmobile and must that be arrested somehow? If you're waiting in traffic and someone walks across the road behind you you don't want to roast their dog presumably.

Flames only if I want them. May cough and splutter at start up, so flame farts with lots of smoke. Turbine exhaust will be at roof level so will need to be a freakishly tall dog or maybe a small giraffe.

How do you fill in the CC part of the V5?

It will have the original 2CV engine & driveline up front so will be registered as that. "It is merely an auxiliary power assist Officer"

Is there some place where you find suitably sized gas turbines for cars? Ie is there an obscure industry that goes through them like toilet paper and is glad if someone takes them off their hands? Or is the smallest one helicopter sized?

No obscure industry therefore no automotive suitable turbines easily available without a load of faffing. Ex-military is the biggest source but turbines tend to be built for specific applications and none are automotive. My two APUs were used to generate high volumes of air to start the main turbines. As they have been built specifically for that low stress application the output shafts are woefully undersized for braking the free turbine with 300Nm torque at stall.

Is there a hybrid system already designed that could be adapted so for initial acceleration the turbine powers an electric motor up until it can give the oomph directly?

There may be but you'd need to buy it. My mate 'Uncle Rob M.C.' IEEE & Bar looked at such a theoretical system and reckoned we'd need a Bloodhound sized budget with lots of sponsorship. Think high speed generator, very high voltage controllers, sink batteries even super-capacitors.

Have a Rolls Royce GEM from a Lynx with unspecified hours but in 'serviceable' condition with absolutely no guarantee. Serviceable means it may work or was working when stored. It's got 1000-1200shp and a reduction box with output of 6k rpm. Yours for a bargain £20-25k



You'd need to build a driveline, fuel and oil systems and most importantly a control system. I'd definitely need a mate or mates with RAF or Fleet Air Arm maintenance experience to put that all together.

[Frankenhealey]

Of Roadtrips and Rabbit Holes Part 2

The turbine was dropped off at the secret location. I got a postcode, a phone number and a name of 'Bob'. Girding my loins I invited 'Uncle Rob M.C.' IEEE & Bar to be shotgun and hitched the small trailer to the works hybrid. 214 miles there and back at 44mpg with a trailer . Love hybrids!

Rob brought 6 hours of AC/DC with him so time passed quickly but my tinnitus did not approve. Got to the postcode, featureless industrial estate. Rang Bob and told look for a pair of mummified Lynxes. Very Howard Carter and Egyptology. Then all became clear(ish)



Met Bob and wangled a tour. They break military and some civilian military kit.

Navy and Air Ambulance Lynxes



Back of the Air Ambulance.



Cargo pods, Saab nacelles and there's a electrical power turbine APU lurking at the back



Bits as far as the eyes can see. It's like the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. I told Bob that he needed to stencil an empty crate with 'Ark of the Covenant - DO NOT OPEN' for any other visitors



Remember 'serviceable' from the last post? This RR Gem has had a problem at sometime



Got any use for Hawk T1 wings?



Someone mentioned helo gearboxes. There's a Sea King one in here somewhere



How to fold a helicopter tail



These may be Lynx HMA.8s - maritime attack versions based on Super Lynx 100. Fitted with FLIR in turret above nose, with radar moved to radome below nose



Wren's uniforms have come on since I considered joining the Senior Service many decades ago



I may have found the dashboard for the car. Lots of negotiating to do.

[blackpopracing]

My Dad used to work for Rolls Royce aero at Leavesden. I got to play there on some saturdays and look at the engines. Always thought a Rolls Royce Gnome engine would work well in a car as they are so small.

[flyingphil]

What a fascinating industrial unit!

[vitesseefi]

What a fascinating industrial unit indeed!

"Someone mentioned helicopter gearboxes" Yeah... that was me. Lynx will be a bit big though.

"Turbine exhaust will be at roof level so will need to be a freakishly tall dog or maybe a small giraffe." Frizzy hair for passers by then!

You do visit interesting places!

Nick

[Frankenhealey]

Apr 12, 2022 20:49:44 GMT blackpopracing said:

My Dad used to work for Rolls Royce aero at Leavesden. I got to play there on some saturdays and look at the engines. Always thought a Rolls Royce Gnome engine would work well in a car as they are so small.

Now I'd say a bit big. Also very powerful. Also a bit thirsty, around 140 gallons per hour

General characteristics
Type: Turboshaft
Length: 54.8 in (1,390 mm)
Diameter: 22.7 in (580 mm)
Dry weight: 334 lb (151 kg)
Turbine: Dual-stage compressor turbine, one-stage free power turbine
Performance
Maximum power output: 1,500 shp (1,119 kW)

If anyone is looking for a half finished project with lots of flames

[blackpopracing]

Apr 12, 2022 21:34:31 GMT Frankenhealey said:

Apr 12, 2022 20:49:44 GMT blackpopracing said:

My Dad used to work for Rolls Royce aero at Leavesden. I got to play there on some saturdays and look at the engines. Always thought a Rolls Royce Gnome engine would work well in a car as they are so small.

Now I'd say a bit big. Also very powerful. Also a bit thirsty, around 140 gallons per hour

General characteristics
Type: Turboshaft
Length: 54.8 in (1,390 mm)
Diameter: 22.7 in (580 mm)
Dry weight: 334 lb (151 kg)
Turbine: Dual-stage compressor turbine, one-stage free power turbine
Performance
Maximum power output: 1,500 shp (1,119 kW)

That would fit quite a few cars 140 Gph a bit steep, but should be a lot of fun