Testarossa Turbine Project, Happening NOW!

Make sure you maintain overspeed protection for the free or power turbine in case of a sudden loss of load like a broken drive shaft or similiar. Without it, disk burst would be an ugly possibility.

Overtemp control is also critical.

Will you use the existing fuel and electronic control? Modified for auto use? Derated?

Will you run JP5?

How will you get it spinning to fire it? Existing start system? Is it electric or hydraulic?

The exhaust gas coulld be as high as 1000F. Watch out.

Also watch out for sucking in small birds and animals

 

Take solace in the likelihood that the purists' howl will be drowned out by the screaming turbine! Sign me up as APA founding member #3! Of course, keeping in mind that mods should only be applied to our post- boxer cars in my humble opinion.

 

FERRARICHAT NOMINATION

2007 - Best custom Ferrari

 

+1

 

A.P.A.?

 

Interesting project. I have to wonder about the practicality (amusing, I know), however, as you're planning on running AC and such. If it's just a demonstration car, that's one thing, but something to be driven on the road is very much another.

Have you given any thought to modifying the engine with a regenerator setup similar to that which Chrysler used to reduce exhaust temperature and increase range?

And, emissions requirements not withstanding, I will be amazed if you're able to drive this thing more than a few miles without every donut shark within a 20 mile radius showing up to have a little chat with you.

In my mind, the only way to practically use a turbine engine in a road car is with extensive modifications along the lines of a regenerator setup and some kind of variable stator pitch control to allow for engine braking and low turbine speed acceleration. Just plunking in a surplus aircraft engine, al la MTT, is cool for demonstration purposes, but not so much for something you actually intend to use.

I also believe that at the absolute minimum, you will need a two-speed gearbox (plus reverse) to get any kind of acceptable performance out of it. You're either going to be stuck with a 60-70 mph top speed, or take half an hour to pull away from a traffic light.

By the way, where are you planning on storing the huge amount of fuel this thing will need?

 

I was sitting at a stoplight in my 56 Chev BelAir hot-rod (about 20yrs ago) when beside me rolls-up a T bucket with jet engine. Exhaust was so HOT I backed up out of it for fear of melted candy paint (and left arm.) Met up with the guy later and apparently his car had been on the cover of Hot Rod mag at one point as an early (first?) jet powered road car. It's fun to watch this Fspool project!

 

Any updates on the project???

 

Turbinarossa

Kewl, very kewl.

 

Clever!

 

How about Testatoaster

 

Was it white with yellow flames? It was probably the one now in the LeMay collection. Cool car!!

 

or TestaRoaster

 

HA! I haven't seen that car in 25years, and I didn't know it was part of the Lemay collection. The guy in the picture was the one driving it too, with his wife I believe, near the Puyallup fairgrounds for some yearly car event we had our cars in. Ironically, I now live only a handful of miles away from where this car will be housed when the new Lemay Museum is built. Life is stranger than fiction!

Thanks for the memory Jdubbya... ya made mah day!

 

The RocketRossa

 

Craig,
I can not wait to see her in action, that is just amazing !!! Let me know if you need any help. I am just around the corner.

 

Oops, I just soiled myself.