They Beat GM, Ford, Chrysler & Duesenberg: 1925 Sterling DOHC, 4 Spark Plugs/Cylinder 1427ci Engine!

[@ctg6734]

Wow imagine that! A company taking pride in creating a quality product and was interested in providing a positive customer experience, unlike so many companies today.

[@maxpayne2574]

Also caring about there working conditions and pride of workers in the product.

[@hendo337]

Yeah, they had to stopped, what a menace. 😂🤦

[@loyalUSguy]

Incredible engine. Designed on paper on a drawing board. Slide rules... No CNC. Some smart and dedicated people.

[@Joshualbm]

The first DOHC motors came from Peugeot in 1913, landing in the US with elite, race-winning cars in 1914. The Peugeot L45 Grand Prix cars had a traditional inline 4, cast iron block, aluminum cylinder head with 4 valves per cylinder, gear-driven dual overhead cams plus hemispherical combustion chambers. Miller ended up with one of these engines that evolved into the Offenhauser.

[@maxpayne2574]

France was surprisingly in the lead with many car features.

[@BiffTannen1983]

​@@maxpayne2574 Definitely surprising. It was a different world, back then. The French Antebellum Company, also invented the first V8 engine. Also, the Gnome Rotary airplane engine, where the whole engine assembly rotated! Talk about "air cooled"!

[@seigelno7]

In 1915, the Blood Brothers car company entered a car called the Cornelian in the Indy 500. It was super lightweight, 1,000lbs, monocoque, and powered by a small 4 cylinder Sterling. Not sure if its the same Sterling. Not overhead cam though.

[@Joshualbm]

@@maxpayne2574 That should read, Not surprisingly. France and Germany fairly invented almost all of the foundational concepts and technologies which would become the modern automobile and resulting industry. European engineering was the most advanced in the world, generally speaking, because of long-standing infrastructure of societies, industry, educational systems and interconnectedness. America certainly took the lead later on but the principles were almost entirely borrowed from European innovations, manufacturing modalities and technologies.

[@marcolucchini8173]

I think Fiat also had DOHC 4 valve per cylinder race engines that year too.

[@Jmatt455]

What? No inferior materials? No planned obsolescence? How Dare they?

[@michaelmurphy6869]

Some of the reasons their management was so streamlined was that they didn't have a HR, DEI or legal departments.

[@ostrich67]

You're just burping up the words that were ejaculated down your throat by the right wing propaganda mills.

[@mistersniffer6838]

Dont forget diversity hiring!

[@jonnda]

​@@mistersniffer6838 That's what DEI is.

[@mistersniffer6838]

@@jonnda - Hmmm, great!! Im unfamiliar with the acronyms, since I stay away from that stew 'pid stuff.

[@jonnda]

@@mistersniffer6838 I only know because it was in the news a while back that a lot of businesses and organizations were cutting or downsizing their DEI departments for some reason. Funding ran out? Governmental financial incentives going away? Something like that.

[@Parents_of_Twins]

In reading the brochure it says dual valves overhead camshaft. That doesn't necessarily mean it is dual overhead cams. I have a 1963 Willy Jeep Wagoneer which has the Tornado 230 engine in it which is single overhead cam which operates both the intake and exhaust valves in a crossflow style head.

[@Clyde-2055]

Not only a crossflow head, but a HEMI !!

[@jthampshire]

Agree. SOHC.

[@davidmitchell7183]

5:55 The displacement of a 6 cylinder engine with 6.25" x 7.75" bore and stroke is 1,426.61 cubic inches, so you were off by 1.

[@notme7357]

when he said 300hp at 1500rpm, i knew he was off. you would have 1050ftlbs and no normally aspirated engine of 456cu inches would ever make that amount.

[@ligerbearrc-no6jp]

He's off by 3.125. He didn't square the radius of the bore.

[@hendo337]

Yeah, I saw that bore and stroke, 450ci or whatever he said sounded a little small. Makes more sense that it made 300hp at essentially a high idle these days of 1500rpms. I bet those engines were reliable. They had to be bought out and destroyed immediately. Can't have a sensible company, selling reliable, re-buildable, products with minimal corporate waste and planned obsolescence. Of course that would be considered unacceptable and had to be stopped...🤦

[@hendo337]

​@@notme7357exactly even modern race stuff naturally aspirated on lower octane gasoline, you're really somebody if you can make over 1.5 lb/ft per ci.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

My 1955 Murphy Diesel engine in my Northwest Crane is 1103 Cubic Inches has a Double Overhead Cam with 4 valve heads it tunes 1,200 RPM's wide open makes 110 HP lots of Touque burns 3 gallons of fuel per hour when working it hard. Murphey's were used in Generators Rock Crushers and Tug Boats too. They even made a V-8 Diesel with a Turbo charger for tug boats..

[@thefinalkayakboss]

This is a military engine through and through. Doesnt care about fuel economy, doesnt care about emissions, not trying to sell ear spliitting performance figures. It just runs, it runs reasonably hard, and its built like a brick shithouse. Its primary directive is 'get you home'. Love it.

[@timmcooper294]

Awesome ! Reminds me a lot of a much more well known engine, Hall Scott, based in Berkeley, Ca. I discovered Hall- Scott when I was looking at an abandoned Caterpillar bulldozer that had an overhead cam hemi head engine that looked really out of place and way too advanced for any industrial engine, even a modern one. The head was off, laying on it's side, and was just crazy cool. I learned that Hall- Scott actually provided some engines to Caterpillar during the mid 1920's, that were basically 4 cylinder versions of their popular truck and bus inline sixes. Detroit pragmatism killed off so many advanced designs that were around from the twenties thru the fourties, and most modern enthusiasts tend to think that advanced engineering began showing up in the 1950'-1960's..... Thanks for sharing !!

[@martinsuter3531]

I hope Adam will do a video on the Hall-Scott engines. Besides truck. industrial and high-end, high speed yacht engines, during WWII Hudson also produced Hall-Scot marine engines under licence for use in U.S Army-Air Force and Navy high speed crash rescue boats and landing craft labelled as the "Hudson Avengers"

[@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we]

Do you remember if that Hall-Scott 1091 6 cylinder that was in tractor-trailers was SOHC or DOHC. Ive read about them in the past. Pretty advanced engine for its time. Saw pics online of a V12 version of that(2182 cid) in an old Kenworth or something 😊

[@timmcooper294]

Gear driven SOHC, with rocker arms to actuate the two angled valves per cylinder, hemi style combustion chamber with twin spark plugs. This 1091 engine belongs to a platform that started out in the 1920's, continuously produced all the way thru most of the 1950's virtually unchanged, besides displacements varied. It was advanced enough in the 1920's that it was still advanced in the 1950's, as Diesels took over for fuel economy reasons. This whole series of engines was a work of art, both in looks and the sound !! @@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we

[@hendo337]

They used Halls Scott in fire trucks, heavy military trucks, I believe the Navy used their engines in some sort of boat or submarine. Hall Scott was common for power generation and irrigation pumps too I believe.

[@hendo337]

​​@@timmcooper294I have read that Fire trucks kept Hall Scott longer because turbo diesels weren't a thing yet so the trucks weren't as quick as gasoline and diesels weren't considered as reliable yet, diesels were harder to start and required a warm up period the gas engines didn't either. The gasoline Hall Scott, LeFrance V12 and GMC V12 filled those roles.

[@gsengineering284]

During WWII when you were in service or went to defense industry, my grandfather, a draftsman, went to work for Sterling Engine. Their largest effort back then was a V-12 of 1000hp called the Admiral. It was mainly built for British MTB's. I also heard the built components for Allison. I have seen, heard, AND FELT the engine shown in the quick color picture run. Standing near it, the sound pounds you.

[@VegetaRabbit]

An engine that suprised me by it's complexity is the Kharkiv model V-2. It's a 1939, DOHC per bank, 4v per cylinder, direct injection, watercooled, aluminum, diesel, 60 degree V12. It's famous for powering the T34 tank in WWII.

[@keine_ahnung_wie_der_heisst]

And then the sowjets decided to only make 8valve carburated 4cyls for the next 50 years

[@288gto7]

Whats more is it has master and slave setup connecting rods to make crankshaft shorter and also the cams are driven via bevel gears.

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

The designer had Greek ancestry & eventually Stalin’s purge reached the ethnic Greeks of the Donbass & the designer was purged with a bullet too.

[@MrGlenferd]

Quite the engine. When you said they were used in landing craft and I've seen many in WW2 documentaries you showed something that looked like a pt boat. Landing crafts are big and open and the front is a ramp that opens for the soldiers to run to the beach.

[@Pamudder]

There’s a KZbin channel by “Mr. Hewes” who is rebuilding a T 34 engine.

[@scottshearer7022]

Great video , Sterling did offer a V engine in later years , it was named "The Admiral" it was used by the Navy.

[@Parents_of_Twins]

I think it is pretty awesome that they lapped the surfaces. That's quality machining.

[@jetsons101]

Adam, this was a fresh, out of the box, enjoyable video. My dad's side of the family was Navy and my mom's side was Cost Guard. Again, a great historical watch, thanks........

[@Cfchild1]

My grandfather served on an LST at the end of WWII. Much respect and gratitude to all who have served, and currently serve in the United States Navy and Coast Guard!

[@sandasturner9529]

Ur dad and mom seem to be a match made in heaven. As evidenced by the fact that u need the navy and coast guard to keep winning the war! And keep people safe.

[@jetsons101]

Thanks.... When they got older, they both joined the Coast Guard Reserve....@@sandasturner9529

[@randyfitz8310]

Thank you for expanding the engine videos!

[@anthonyjackson280]

At 2:31 the profile photograph shows what certainly appears to be a PCV line. Part of the 'totally sealed' construction. Definitely do not want blow by getting into the enclosed engine rooms of a small(ish) launch.

[@hendo337]

That's very early to have that technology, I think was the first of the big three that instituted PCV was Chrysler in 1965 before emissions laws were in effect. Before they just had a road tube.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Which is why all the concrete expressways int he 1950's to 1965 had that black streak straight down the middle of each lane ...dripping condensed vapour oil fumes out of the draft tubes of millions of cars..... @@hendo337

[@Next_Cruise_Please]

Great story of one of many manufacturers of the early 1900s that either disappeared or were absorbed by other companies!

[@Jmatt455]

Great content. Always interesting and informative. I've been a mechanic for 50 yrs, and I'm always learning something new from your videos. Thank you.

[@mnbalfour1985]

4:57 "All spiral bevel gears for quietness." I think this is an understandable design feature that Sterling chose and spruiked to their customers, because listening to a deafening engine noise all day is a real head @#$%.

[@michaelsullivan2361]

Love these studies on obscure, advanced engines. Most I knew about, but this one is new to me!

[@TheDecguy]

Former Buffalo native here and very familiar with Sterling. Living in Fla now but I have a six cylinder Sterling in my garage here. Crankcase assembly very similar to the Coast Guard engine but top end very different. Waiting for boat project to power.

[@RareClassicCars]

Awesome!

"Awesome" in the true meaning of the term/word. Thank you for sharing, Adam. As a lifelong boater and sailor, and auto mechanic when I was young, I long ago came to appreciate marine engines.

[@mgbrv8]

I think Peugeot was some of the earliest dual overhead cam engines back in 1913ish

[@roberthoffhines5419]

Yeah, there is surprising engine technology from the freakin' TEENS.

[@grahambell4298]

Correct. 1912 actually. 4 valve per cylinderDOHC engine was brainchild of a Swiss engineer called Ernest Henry when he was designing a new racing engine for Peugeot.

[@mrspandel5737]

That Peugeot Inline 4 would inspire the engines built by Miller, later Offenhauser and in a roundabout way Bugatti. Although Ettore Bugatti briefly worked for or at least with Peugeot around 1910. Hmm...

[@MrDegrandsaignes]

The DOHC concept was used intensively by a few now forgotten companies in the 20s, in racecars that were quite advanced for their time. There are a few DOHC engines produced in 24/25 by Delahaye and by Sunbeam, and from 26 onwards by Amilcar and Salmson in France. Having worked on the Amilcar one, seing a 1.1L DOHC I6 with a hemi head, supercharger and dry sump is quite something. With methanol fuel, it could produce more that 110hp in 1927, and a redline near 7000rpm. Wonderful little engine, I doubt it will ever be featured on this channel as it is not American but I thought it is interesting to see how far the development of this technology went in such a short period of time.

[@robertwest3093]

It's wild how they had dohc four valve technology back then but mostly abandoned it until the 1980's.

[@sebdupree1]

Only in the United States

[@lyedavide]

Great video about an engine manufacturer that I've never even heard of.

[@marko7843]

This was very cool! As time went by, there were many unique marine engines based on big three car engines. In another thread I mentioned the Chrysler Marine 6 with the sodium filled exhaust valves, and our early '70s Glastron speed boat had a "Crusader" Chevy 4-bbl 307 with 4-bolt mains...

[@hendo337]

My Uncle had a 1972 Chrysler boat and 85hp Chrysler Outboard. It was a 2 stroke inline 3 I believe. It sat for 15 years in upstate NY weather and we started with a fresh battery and gas in a 55 gallon drum full of water to cool it on the second turn of the key it popped right off and ran great, we lubed the driveshaft to the prop and took it out on the river with a couple tiny trees growing in the carpet if rotten leaves in the hull and it went 43 mph.😂This was around 2008 and it was a heavily used 36 year old engine. It absolutely amazed me that it was still good.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

I do hope you changed the water pump impellor before it disintegrated and filled the head passages with rubber particles and cooked your motor??? @@hendo337

[@DSP1968]

What a monster! With many interesting and unique features, to boot. But of course, needed to power a Coast Guard cutter.

[@jeffreyfwagner]

As usual, all of the good features and leading technology, no company in the mass market car industry paid attention. Thanks for a really good video.

[@mrspandel5737]

I think most mass market manufacturers at that time were more concerned with making their cars reliable and affordable to build which already required some pretty sketchy compromises given the state of manufacturing techniques of the time.

[@hendo337]

They weren't sleeze pushing planned obsolescence.

[@marksandstrom4248]

check that math - I get 3.125 in cylinder radius squared x pi x 7.75 in stroke x 6 = 1427 cubic inches

[@RareClassicCars]

You’re right.

[@GeelongVic7140]

Adam, thank you for another informative video of obscure, but very interesting internal combustion engine history. You are becoming an amazing historian. Thanks.

[@mnbalfour1985]

That Duesenberg engine at 1:21 is the SJ model's engine, basically a J model's engine with a centrifugal supercharger actuated by a shaft coming from somewhere out of the crankcase. I presume that the shaft is actuated by a bevel gear on the crankshaft. That particular SJ engine has the original, or recreation of the original, exhaust manifold. That original exhaust manifold had a tendency to crack, so it was replaced with the more common four large pipes coming off the engine. The carburetor and supercharger are on the exhaust side, and the compressed fuel air mixture is conveyed to the other side/intake manifold side to go into the cylinders. It has a crossflow head. Most car engines back then were flatheads, which conceptually can only have reverse flow head systems. That exhaust side is pretty busy, it would be even busier if the Duesenberg model SJ were in right hand drive. Indeed a couple of Duesenberg model J's and SJ's were sold in the British and Indian markets. In 1935 Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar of Indore ordered a Duesenberg model SJ in right hand drive boat tail speedster/roadster through R.S.M. Automobiles of London with coachwork by J. Gurney Nutting & Co, chassis number 2614, engine number J-585.

[@methanial73]

It's sad that almost all the high quality niche market engines aren't made anymore. Except for the modern diesels which aren't all that exotic. I like the modern diesel boat engines in large vessels. You can remove the cylinder and piston and rebuild them while in the vessel, essentially having an almost new engine.

[@Ed_Stuckey]

My 1994 Olds Cutlass Supreme Convertible has the X option engine. 3.4L DOHC. I had to change the timing belt some years ago. It was quite daunting due to the instructions being difficult to understand (for me). It's supposed to require special tools too but other than a thick, flat plate to hold the cams in place while rotating the belt (and drive sprockets) to the correct position I was able to do it with common shop tools.

[@mistersniffer6838]

You manly man, you!

[@A2Wx8]

I love the WWII era Sterling TCG-8 Viking II. It's an absolute monster of an engine, 4 carbs, IIRC 32 spark plugs, and it is probably one of the best sounding engines I've ever heard.

[@edmundserafin7463]

That were also used by the Pennsylvania rail road as emergency engines on vertices lift bridges when there were electrical outages. They were still in use till the mid 1970s

[@KO-pk7df]

Interesting subject of the factory. I bought some books at a country yard sale in middle of nowhere Kansas. The books were from the 1920s and about how to build and organize a factory much like you described in this video. Plenty of illustrations for examples on many components of a "modern factory". All kinds of charts and graphs concerning efficiency and employee workstations matters. The books were fascinating to read and maybe the Stirling factory was setup in the manner of those books.

[@tedlym.3390]

I have been enjoying your engine series. Thank you,

[@franzkoviakalak6981]

look into Twin City tractors, they were building twin cam 16-valve units (though perhaps different from what you may imagine) 115 years ago!

[@jimnanos1624]

Is it true that for dual applications the engines were counter rotating? Love your videos.

[@hendo337]

Franklin Engine Company/Air Cooled Motors out of Syracuse, NY would be a good one to do. 😊

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

First run 1910s, the Hall-Scott A-7 was an early liquid-cooled aircraft engine manufactured by the Hall-Scott company of Berkeley, California. Using a straight-4 configuration, the engine developed 90 horsepower (67 kW) as the A-7 and 100 horsepower (75 kW) as the A-7a. In service these engines suffered from reliability problems and were prone to catch fire while in operation. Also these Hall Scott aero engines (water cooled) were nicknamed by aviators as the "Scalding Hot" when the hoses to the radiators burst and the coolant came back at the pilots....

[@mistersniffer6838]

They actually put those in planes??? WTF????

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

A7 Hall and Scott...aviation engine much lighter..@@mistersniffer6838

[@allareasindex7984]

Check out the Tatra from Czechoslovakia prior to WW2. Hemi V8, aluminum, air cooled!

[@hendo337]

That's definitely where Tucker got his ideas, Porsche too.

[@Parents_of_Twins]

It's sad really that we went from a country that produced so many high quality, innovative products and paid workers a fair wage to one that pays CEO's exorbitant wages and has shipped much of its manufacturing overseas. Greed is good my ass.

[@hendo337]

We're in the bad old days for sure. Hopefully bad times make strong men who make the world a better place again soon.

[@mbaqcytvav]

In 1906 the French company Antoinette produced an 8 cylinder in V configuration. It was used in early aircraft.

[@Mike62501]

Don’t forget Hall-Scott huge gas truck n marine OHC twin spark plugs one on each side of the chambers there is a nice history story on them in a book

[@hendo337]

They made good stuff, I believe they were common in irrigation pumps and power generation too.

[@mayordjq]

You should contact the Northampton, Massachusetts DPW. They had a Sterling engine in their flood control building powering a pump. I haven't been in that building in years, so it may still be in service. I never had phone with a camera at the time so I have no photos of it, but I'm pretty sure it was a V configuration.

[@nightstorm9128]

Alfa also had a twin spark DOHC flat plane crank 90 degree v8 in 1914,,

[@jefweb5043]

Great feature!! I'm sure this was a threat to the major actors in Detroit...in the world of low-bid, government contracts, the Big Three couldn't let this company survive. They had to make it go away. Really interesting...great video!

[@timothykeith1367]

The Hart-Part 30-60 was a two cylinder overhead cam engine with hemispherical combustion chambers. 3,800 were built. The bore and stroke was 10 x 15 inches. It used water injection to prevent pre-ignition when using kerosene. It was oil cooled and was first built in 1907 in Charles City Iowa.

[@bobcoats2708]

Holy cow! That's a thumper

[@greggc8088]

It has a maximum speed of 300 rpm@@bobcoats2708

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

0:20 - Might want to edit that statement - '87 would have been when GM of the US was designing the Quad 4 for release to the market in '88, but by then GM Australia and Europe was Selling the DOHC version of the GM Family 2 engine, which would later evolve in to the Ecotec four cylinder. The Family 2 engine launched at the start of the '80's.

[@bizznackywhirle5437]

Four ignition systems and four plugs per cylinder... I bet this is designed to run on petroleum distillate, rather than what we think of as normal gasoline. Distillate was a heavier fuel (somewhere between kerosene and diesel) and it took a LOT of energy to get it to ignite. Mid-late 1920s is the right timeframe: gasoline had become comparatively expensive, and lightweight diesel engines were still a few years in the future.

[@keithstudly6071]

Ignition systems were not very good at that time. They took the measure of adding more plugs to do the job reliably. If the multiple plugs were properly timed they would give some advantage in avoiding detonation and that was likely the main advantage. Large cylinders always have more problems with detonation and having the ignition point on more than one place does lead to more controlled flame travel in the cylinder. Ignition systems have improved greatly since the 1960's and fuel is so much better than it was in the 1920's that multiple plug systems have all but disappeared except in aircraft engines.

[@jimhewettjr3730]

I found this video very interesting. As a lifelong resident of the Buffalo area, even more so. I know the building very well having passed it hundreds of times ( most likely thousands)

[@plhebel1]

I'm surprised they didn't have water cooled jacketed exhaust manifolds. If so they could have taken that HP rate up to at least a third more. I love these old engines and they were built to last and be run hard,, no penalties for weight so the size equaled durability and toughness. Back when I was getting into mechanics and saw auto sales commercials I would state "Show me the under carriage, show me frame and front end components, show me what's really built on this vehicle". Chrysler had a stainless steel exhaust system for a while, Problem free for the life time, I have seen cars and trucks 10 yrs old and the frame rails are rusted thru, Brand new engines, rear end, transmission housing broken, cracked, JUNK. Everything is designed and built Cheap like toys to be thrown away after a handful of years. Shameful, and I think this is just exactly what some wanted to happen and it started with steel industry and others leaving the US.

[@loyalUSguy]

You are right. Look at the amount of turbocharged 3 and 4 cylinders out there now. Turbo 4 cyl in full size trucks? Not going to last. More stress on every part.

[@geraldhall2740]

Love your videos, but I think you've miscalculated the displacement. I calculated 1426.6 cu. in./23.4L for the six cylinder featured.

[@RareClassicCars]

Yes. I revised the title. You’re correct.

[@nilsthemis]

They specify dual valves in cylinder head , as in those days valves in block or one in block and one in head were more common. So they don't actually claim DOHC, and it looks unlikely that two cams fits inside that valve cover.

[@RareClassicCars]

They’re actually DOHC with 24 valves. I found a rebuilder who has gone through them.

[@keithstudly6071]

I saw that too. I assumed that the reference was two valves for intake, and two for exhaust.

[@k4106dt]

There are two cams. From the operator's instruction book published May 1934: "The two camshafts are used operating roller push rods located directly over valve."

[@mrdanforth3744]

In those days "dual valves" commonly meant 4 valves per cylinder, in other words, dual intake and dual exhaust. Pierce Arrow offered a "dual valve six" in their most expensive luxury model. Stutz had a high performance, dual valve four cylinder. The dual valve design was offered by several high priced cars.

[@mpetersen6]

The Curtiss D-12 1145CI/18.76L V-12 aero engine from 1922 Derived from the K-12 design that was originally drawn up in 1916. Aluminum crankcase with aluminum cylinder blocks in the D-12. The K-12 attempted to use a single piece aluminum block. DOHC with 4 valves per cylinder

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Looks like some one made a stainless steel header for the Duesenberg engine. There was a Sterling Truck mfg too .,.

[@myronfrobisher]

Adam, a fascinating video . My wife is from Buffalo and I am from Oklahoma - I can only guess that the Philips people were interested in possible aviation applications of the Sterling technology . I will poke around the next time I am in Bartlesville and see what I can dig up , as an historian and a car guy this will be very intriguing.

[@flyovercounty1427]

Compare their management philosophy to today where the goal seems to be getting paid 10million$ a year to run a company properly and 15million$ if you wreck it. What a great video. Thank you

[@markjohnston2675]

Too bad they didn't have diversity hires I'm sure the quality and production would of went up big time.😂

[@damianbowyer2018]

This is AMAZING, Adam....Yep, so far ahead of their time, as U said. Cheers fm Damo😮👏

[@robertluther8057]

Given the actual displacement is 1426cu in plus change , 300hp is not out of line for the intended applications. Generally marine engine ratings can be higher than for a nearly identical off-road or on-road versions due operating under constant load due to propeller slip vs variable l Ioads imposed by going up and down grades for example.

[@Channelscruf]

One exception: cosworth Vega. Great video!

[@RareClassicCars]

Good one!

[@RareClassicCars]

I suppose one could say it wasn't GM engineered since the head was done by Cosworth.

[@Channelscruf]

@@RareClassicCars Fair point.

[@jamesengland7461]

Also a very limited production run, sadly

[@jamesbulldogmiller]

@@jamesengland7461 the well running well engineered Cosworth engine fell on the ground when the Vega rusted out. .

[@billhendon1017]

So cool ! Thanks for sharing!

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Crazy I found a math Formula online that was wrong .. This actual online calculator came up with . 1,426.6 Cubic Inches.

[@Conn88]

There were pretty cramped quarters below decks, a quiet engine undoubtedly was important when you might have half the crew trying to sleep

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Little vibration would be a plus for engines solidly bolted to a wooden hull that would act like the sound box of a guitar???

[@BiffTannen1983]

She's a TORQUE MONSTER!!! especially with that under square bore/stroke! It almost sounds like a diesel!!! 🤯❤🎉

[@WydGlydJim]

Wow an 11 minute video focusing on DOHC, and not even a mention of the LT-5 arguably one of the best engines ever placed into a production car, the C4 Corvette. I realize the main focus was on the Sterling engine, but to omit any mention of the LT-5, could almost be construed as a rub. An engine that at 350 C.I., a joint venture between GM, Lotus, and Mercury Marine, went on to shatter endurance and speed records previously held the Morman Meteor that boasted a 1300 C.I. Curtiss aircraft engine. The C4 still holds those records for a production car; 24 hours straight averaging north of 175 mph is a staggering accomplishment. I think I just gave you another idea for a video. 😋 Read up on the record breaking run, it is a terrific story. “The Heart Of The Beast” is a must read for any engine enthusiast. 👍🏻

[@hendo337]

The point is early engines, with surprisingly modern technology, hence Dusenberg is one of his comparisons. I think this highlights a major problem we have had with planned obsolescence in this country post WWII as well.

[@loyalUSguy]

Corvette guys.😎

[@rdallas81]

​@@loyalUSguyWe love vettes. But Ford is terrific as well.

[@elantric]

Chevrolet whose founder William C. Durant was also the founding president of Sterling Motor Company. At one time , Sterling Motors was owned by Scripps-Booth Motorcars , which eas eventually spun off when General Motors purchased Scripps-Booth

[@elantric]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripps-Booth

[@BorisZech]

The Horch 8 had a DOHC in 1926.

[@jean-charlesweyland129]

Peugeot had in 1912 a twin cam 4 valves per cylinder race car that won multiple times at Indianapolis. Salmson offered in 1921 a twin cam straight 4, very successful design that was produced till 1957. Ballot did the same in 1923 (they later had 8 cylinder DOHC) Alfa had a twin cam race car with dual ignition in 1914 and DOHC production cars from 1927 on. Lagonda had twin cam production car it in 1925 (supercharger available in 1930). Sunbeam also offered a twin cam production car from 1925 to 1930 with an optional supercharger from 1929 on.

[@mrspandel5737]

​@@jean-charlesweyland129Pretty much everyone, especially the europeans, had Overhead Cam engines at some point prior to WW2 in at least some application.

[@jean-charlesweyland129]

@@mrspandel5737 Yes, for exemple the Fiat 509 (Italian equivalent to the Ford A) had a SOHC in 1925.

[@terrypikaart4394]

I would say, sohc and two valves. You can run 4 valves pr cyl with a sohc.

[@robertmehnert1267]

Buffalo used to have so much going for it.

[@mrdanforth3744]

Buffalo was an industrial powerhouse thanks to the Niagara Falls hydroelectric power supply starting in 1895. The Century Magazine edited by Mark Twain, Pierce Arrow and Franklin automobiles and many other important companies.

[@johntierno546]

It's actually over 1,400 cubic inch engine. I'd like to know how much torque it developed

[@jamesbulldogmiller]

Yes! I would like to know, too. 300 HP @ 1500 RPM is like Diesel numbers.

[@williamsullivan479]

Great info , love learning stuff like this.!

[@flubberlane8437]

My grandpa was excited about the Northstar until he heard about the head bolt problem.

[@joshuagibson2520]

It's easily reconciled.

[@Clyde-2055]

@@joshuagibson2520 - Easy for you, perhaps, but maybe not for grandpa …

[@pakruojezieds]

Great video as always. Would love to hear your thoughts on the Continental Mark II some day.

[@oops1952]

Thank you for a great video. 300 hp @ 1500 rpm?....the torque spec. must have been unreal !!!

[@Cfchild1]

Using the simple inter-webs calculator, 1050 ft-lbs of torque was produced!

[@oops1952]

Thanks. It would have have been nice to get a published spec.though as the torque peek was likely a bit lower than 1500 rpm@@Cfchild1

[@Cfchild1]

Yes, 1050 ft-lb rating provided by the calculator is only approximate of course. Regardless, that 7.75" stroke must have made it a torque monster which would be what is needed to move watercraft with load carrying capability at speed. @@oops1952

[@oops1952]

You're right....thanks again@@Cfchild1

[@jackhreha4907]

The tacoma fire department ran in the 1930"S fire boat sterling engines well into the 1980 'S . The engines came out of the charles N curtis. retired coast guard patrol boat. They were monsters for a gas engine. The fireboat had straight exuast . You could hear it for miles. The boat is now on the beach in a park in tacoma. Just too Quite. Best Regards

[@nunyabidniz2868]

I remember reading somewhere that by 1916 virtually every aspect of modern engines had been attempted, it was just materials science had to catch up with ambition before they could be put into practice...

[@davidstranz438]

Sonar was somewhat refined during WWI, that might explain the reason quiet operation was desired.

[@reubenmosman9466]

Love this channel . . . nice

[@stevenrobinson2381]

Look into Hall-Scott engines. OHC in 1910. Big 'ol gassers. EXCELLENT heavy duty engines noted for their build quality .

[@adventureswithducky4088]

With all the detail Sterling purports to pay attention to in their engines you might imagine that they would have paid as much attention to the details in the painting of their factory. The smoke from the various smoke stacks seem to be blowing in different, or varying directions or velocities .......

[@Captionmarvelous]

WOW, never heard of them. Very impressive engines indeed. They were just the right speed for power generators of the day. I wonder what happened to them? Did they sell out or faded away for some reason?

[@fobbitoperator3620]

There was a time when we Americans simply built everything our glorious Nation needed. Our R&D, was world renouned back then, as we out-sourced nothing. This is why everything is now "made in Chy'nah," because the powers that be had to huy out, & shut down amazingly innovative companies like Sterling. This is the saddest epiphany I have ever had, as an adult. We allowed this to happen to our USA. Great video, & thank you for sharing this memory of greatness. God Bless America, & MAGA!

[@cobraspottedwolf8791]

I love that it brags about less management

[@North700]

great Video,and interesting history .

[@dennissheridan1550]

Me thinks you are incorrect about the Sterling coast Guard, the spec sheet says it has dual valves as opposed to one valve and a port, and an overhead camshaft, not camshafts. Also the picture of a well used engine shows a narrow valve cover, not indicative of dual cams. Even a single overhead cam in a time when most engines were valve in block, flathead, engines is a significant improvement.

[@RareClassicCars]

No, it is definitely DOHC. I've seen one with the cover off.

[@davidwatt7663]

Adam , if you have a moment check out the British Napier Deltic Engine it’s a unique design 👍🇬🇧🇺🇸🇺🇦 Used on the Motor torpedo boats,Railway locos in tandem !! And NY city’s most powerful water pump for fighting fires in skyscrapers. Worth a look 👍

[@Nudnik1]

Bizarre engine indeed.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

Peugeot made double overhead cam four cylinder race cars with four valves per cylinder and bucket (Ballot) tappets starting in 1913.

[@chrislochner4038]

How did they pack multiple valves and 4 plugs in the head?? Casting must’ve been a nightmare.

[@pjcornell9691]

Actually my Father bought a brand new 1976 Cosworth Vega sold by General Motors/Chevrolet.. The car actually was sold in 1975 also....

[@hendo337]

I bet he regretted that later, that was an expensive car, I believe you could get a Camaro with a 350 4bbl, Pontiac Firebird Formula with a 400 or 455 for that kind of money, nearly enough to buy a base Corvette. It's a shame they screwed up the Vega so badly, it really could have been a great car and it's like they couldn't help themselves and just had to ruin it so they could push people into larger more expensive cars.

[@sgnt9337]

4 plugs per cylinder!!! Wow..... I bet this feature was to help the engine run efficiently at low RPMs.

[@jamesbulldogmiller]

I’m sure you are correct. Probably for redundancy, also. They’re likely independent, and can be cut in and out separately. Like a Seagrave fire truck engine, (two separate independent ignitions)

[@SHAGG13]

If you think about it.... That brochure is actually just a website in paper pamphlet form... That's way ahead of its time if you think about it....

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Dual valves They must have meant two intake valves and two exhaust valves.. It's not a two stroke 4 stokes need both an intake and an exhaust valves.. Detroit Diesel 2 stokes have 4 intake valves on many models .

[@crazymower4343]

Don’t forget the Minneapolis moline twin city road king engine that has 4 valves per cylinder and twin cams but in pushrod configuration

[@JamesKhudoo]

great research

[@MrMorrisonAF]

When money doesn’t matter and it’s all about reliability and rebuild ability you get this

[@richardgee2786]

The paper work states dual valves, not dual overhead cam shafts. I am not even sure it has a overhead cam.

[@geraldo7325]

Your math is wrong, it is actually 1425.87 cubic INCH displacement.

[@RareClassicCars]

Yes. See the title.