# How fast would be a tank engine put on a car? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909 "2017-12-08T15:12:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/21 "2017-12-09T13:57:15Z")
Several cars have been converted to use WW2 Merlin Fighter Plane engines. The results proved difficult to control on the highway, & hard to maintain. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/22 "2017-12-09T16:43:00Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > why? > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Non-reinforced parts like the tranny, rearend, etc to deal with the massive torque? This, now if you were to modify the car (beyond what’s needed to mount the engine) to be able to successfully accept and utilize all that power, you might have a pretty neat dragster. Also, it is possible, and has been done in fact, to build a car powered by a scaled down turbine engine. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/23 "2017-12-09T19:46:43Z")
This reminds me of how before WW2 they initially tried to make “super-fighters” by putting the larger bomber engines into existing fighter aircraft without any regard to modifying the aircraft to better handle them. The end result was aircraft that were incredibly fast going in a straight line but were incredibly hard to maneuver or land. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/24 "2017-12-09T23:13:40Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > This reminds me of how before WW2 they initially tried to make “super-fighters” by putting the larger bomber engines into existing fighter aircraft without any regard to modifying the aircraft to better handle them. The end result was aircraft that were incredibly fast going in a straight line but were incredibly hard to maneuver or land. Huh, never heard about that. I guess your best option in a dog fight would be to run away. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/25 "2017-12-09T23:19:41Z")
But if you’ve got a fighter that runs away from dogfights, then why do you have a fighter? It’s sort of like how, when the B2 was introduced, we didn’t actually use them, because they were too expensive, and we didn’t want to risk one getting shot down. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/26 "2017-12-10T03:31:21Z")
The Ford GAA engine that went into Sherman tanks > **[Ford GAA engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GAA_engine)** > > The Ford GAA engine is an American all-aluminum 32-valve DOHC 60-degree liquid-cooled V8 internal combustion engine with a flat-plane crank designed and produced by the Ford Motor Company before and during World War II. It features twin Stromberg NA-Y5-G carburetors, dual magnetos and twin spark plugs making up a full dual ignition system, and crossflow induction. It displaces 1,100 cu in (18 L) and puts out well over 1,000 pound-feet (1,400 N⋅m) of torque from idle to 2,200 rpm. The fac The GAA ... can make you Mustang look like a Hot Wheels car. [https://www.google.com/search?q=ford+gaa+mustang&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1](https://www.google.com/search?q=ford+gaa+mustang&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/27 "2017-12-10T03:46:11Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > they didn’t demonstrate anything. they showed a rendering and claimed that’s how quick it will be. Wait, so [this was a rendering?](https://youtu.be/qlLdvEtygzY?t=184) Looks pretty real… ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2017, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/28 "2017-12-10T06:51:44Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > The Ford GAA engine that went into Sherman tanks > [Ford GAA engine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GAA_engine) > can make you Mustang look like a Hot Wheels car. > [ford gaa mustang - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=ford+gaa+mustang&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1) I’ve always fantasized about using the [engine](https://www.google.com/search?q=continental+v12+air+cooled+engine&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiP1OnI6v7XAhUY7mMKHS6IBZcQ_AUICygC&biw=1280&bih=609#imgrc=dF1TI4SK2_J5BM:&spf=1512887890107) from a [M88A1](https://www.google.com/search?q=M88A1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi5rZ-z6_7XAhVCxGMKHULGArYQ_AUICigB&biw=1280&bih=609#imgrc=NhOsRDejnD8wyM:&spf=1512888114256) to power a[car](https://www.google.com/search?q=blastolene+special&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjh2LvP7P7XAhUW6mMKHf7bAuUQ_AUICigB&biw=1280&bih=609) of my own construction (or at least my specs anyway). I’d want it to look more like your mustang though. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/29 "2017-12-11T15:42:42Z")
> [@guestchaz](#): > > This, now if you were to modify the car (beyond what’s needed to mount the engine) to be able to successfully accept and utilize all that power, you might have a pretty neat dragster. > > Also, it is possible, and has been done in fact, to build a car powered by a scaled down turbine engine. Turbine engines have been used in tractor pulling for years. Have a look at the beast at the bottom of [this article](https://jalopnik.com/the-ten-greatest-non-aircraft-things-powered-by-turbine-1698389327) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_M.Washington](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_m.washington/32/152_2.png) [@Gary\_M.Washington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_M.Washington)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/30 "2017-12-11T19:30:05Z")
This is not a good idea because tank engine gives more power but not speed. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/31 "2017-12-11T20:49:44Z")
> [@Gary\_M.Washington](#): > > This is not a good idea because tank engine gives more power but not speed. A more powerful engine (such as a tank engine) gives you more power; it’s up to the engineer to use appropriate gearing to provide the desired vehicle performance. The [M1 Abrams is only good for 45 MPH,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams#Specifications) but you don’t have to use the same transmission; get some taller gearing, and 1500HP will indeed make you get on down the road, considerably faster than 45MPH. ---
**Author:** ![pdhenry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pdhenry/32/5561_2.png) [@pdhenry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pdhenry)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2017, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/32 "2017-12-11T23:02:04Z")
Bear in mind that the AGT-1500 [weighs](http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product2832.html) some 1100 kg and the XM-1100 [transmission](http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product3978.html) adds some 2000 kg to that. So any automotive integration is starting at a power to weight ratio that’s not all that unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/33 "2017-12-12T15:11:04Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Wait, so [this was a rendering?](https://youtu.be/qlLdvEtygzY?t=184) Looks pretty real… It’s a test mule, with no actual performance figures. You don’t build a prototype four years before the start of production. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/34 "2017-12-12T16:22:42Z")
> [@pdhenry](#): > > Bear in mind that the AGT-1500 [weighs](http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product2832.html) some 1100 kg and the XM-1100 [transmission](http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product3978.html) adds some 2000 kg to that. So any automotive integration is starting at a power to weight ratio that’s not all that unusual. The transmission would be gone; it’s designed for massive torque and low RPM at its output shaft, totally unsuitable for a high-speed car. A transmission designed for high RPM and much lower output torque is going to weigh a lot less than 2000kg. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/35 "2017-12-12T20:30:15Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > A more powerful engine (such as a tank engine) gives you more power; it’s up to the engineer to use appropriate gearing to provide the desired vehicle performance. The [M1 Abrams is only good for 45 MPH,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1_Abrams#Specifications) but you don’t have to use the same transmission; get some taller gearing, and 1500HP will indeed make you get on down the road, considerably faster than 45MPH. The “45 mph” is top _governed_ speed. Even with the governor, we’ve exceeded that. Not by a whole lot, mind you, but yeah, we left it in the rear vision block. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/36 "2017-12-12T20:52:01Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Non-reinforced parts like the tranny, rearend, etc to deal with the massive torque? well, OP’s subject and post are rather open ended, but I’m pretty sure he wasn’t thinking of hooking up a 1,500 horsepower engine to a Dodge Neon 3-speed transmission 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/37 "2017-12-12T20:58:39Z")
And I imagine you’re probably not allowed to say what you can get it up to with the governor disabled. And yes, I know that that’s not safe, and I’d also bet a pretty penny that there’s at least one guy you know who’s done it anyway just to see what he could do at full throttle. I’ve a cousin who has never used any mode of transportation at less than its maximum possible speed, and he’s told us some stories of his time in tanks. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/38 "2017-12-12T21:40:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But if you’ve got a fighter that runs away from dogfights, then why do you have a fighter? [Interceptor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interceptor_aircraft). Don’t get into dogfights at all. Zoom in, shoot the bomber formation with your nuclear-warhead guided (or unguided) missile, and zoom away. In the 50s and 60s, dogfighting was passé to warplanners and weapons designers. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/39 "2017-12-12T22:28:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And I imagine you’re probably not allowed to say what you can get it up to with the governor disabled. And yes, I know that that’s not safe, and I’d also bet a pretty penny that there’s at least one guy you know who’s done it anyway just to see what he could do at full throttle. I’ve a cousin who has never used any mode of transportation at less than its maximum possible speed, and he’s told us some stories of his time in tanks. Never done it myself, but conventional wisdom pretty much says that track and/or drive train will crap out before (or, at least, not too long after) you hit Vmax. The old Rumor Mill (got some salt handy? partake before continued reading) says that during trials, M1s hit 90+ mph. [Then the track came apart.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJxCdh1Ps48) My personal best was 57 mph (at least according to the MP that pulled us over, though we didn’t actually see the radar gun he clocked us with; it’s not like we were going to contest a ticket\* anyway, as it was on Motor Pool Rd.\*\*, which was a 25 mph zone end-to-end, and we blew right by that as soon as we left the motor pool); but we were going downhill (at full throttle, according to my Driver), so it probably doesn’t count. \*I don’t think that Army MPs issue actual “tickets” to soldiers caught speeding in military vehicles; I think the “ticket” somehow gets magically converted into an Official Raft of Shit, gets carried to the top of a Hill, thereby to Roll Down at an ever-increasing rate of speed until it achieves some kind of military “escape velocity/bureaucratic critical momentum,” and lands at the bottom of the Hill (and directly on some unfortunate soul) in a veritable Poop Typhoon. **Yes, the base road that runs behind all of the major unit motor pools is actually called Motor Pool Rd.; the U.S. Army conserves its creative naming energies for things like Strykers and Javelins, and doesn’t waste it on mundane stuff like roads** \*. \*\*\*Which, come to think of it, doesn’t adequately explain the T.O.W. Missile; that must’ve been named on a “Fuck-It-Friday” afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909/40 "2017-12-12T22:37:26Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > \*\*\*Which, come to think of it, doesn’t adequately explain the T.O.W. Missile; that must’ve been named on a “Fuck-It-Friday” afternoon. I bet you let the contractor name that. And charge you plenty for it. And by “you” I mean the program office, not the line beasts shooting the thing after all the money was spent. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-would-be-a-tank-engine-put-on-a-car/803909.md?page=3)