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by Pete Law
Merlin-Powered Red Baron in 1974
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Reno 1974
Unknown worker (L) and George Roberts |
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Reno 1974
Foreground: Merv, Frankie and Ed Browning |
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Reno 1974
Dave Zeuschel Built Red Baron's Merlin |
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Reno 1974
Dave Zeuschel, Randy Scoville |
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Reno 1974
Dave Zeuschel, Mac McClain |
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Conversion to Griffon Power
Unable to reliably get winning power levels from modified Merlins, Red
Baron owner Ed Browning assembled a crack team of engineers and tradesmen to
shoe-horn a 2,600 hp Rolls-Royce Griffon into the airplane. The
contra-rotating propeller produced less torque reaction and allowed a smaller
propeller diameter.
Griffons normally employ updraft induction and fuel injection, but the
rearward-sloping firewall of the P-51 combined with a scarcity of parts and
expertise on the stock Griffon fuel injection resulted in the substitution of a
Bendix PR-58 downdraft carburetor from a "C"-series R-2800. This required a
modified
supercharger inlet elbow and rotating the supercharger housing 180°. Dave
Zeuschel built Red Baron's Griffon using a -57 crankcase, a -74 crankshaft and a
-65 supercharger.
The new PR (pressure-rectangular) type carburetor required conversion of the
wider three-port supercharger inlet elbow to a narrower two-port configuration.
This was accomplished by an adapter plate with fences screwed and welded to each
side, thus narrowing the passage.
Red Baron was assembled in the Chino, California hangar of California Aero-Sport,
Inc., owned by "Supe" Hoisington, Jerry Morrison and Dick Hairston,
without whom the Griffon conversion would never have been accomplished. The engine
and nacelle were done at Dave Zeuschel's shop.
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Firewall Rework to Accommodate the New Pressure Carburetor
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Flaps Removed to Allow Easier Access
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Canopy Rework to Provide a Sleeker Profile
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Vertical Fin Chord Was Increased
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Supercharger Intake Elbow
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Supercharger Intake Elbow
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Supercharger Intake Elbow. Note Pressure Carb Adapter Plate Details.
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Supercharger Intake Elbow. Note Pressure Carb Adapter Plate Details.
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Supercharger Intake Elbow
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Oil Cooler and Radiator Spray Bars
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Oil Cooler Spray Bar (Looking Forward into Cooling Air Inlet)
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Radiator Spray Bars
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Cockpit Rework Included More Structure that Probably Saved a Pilot's Life
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Cockpit Rework: Hydraulic Plumbing
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New Instrument Panel
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New Instrument Panel
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Carburetor is Recessed into Firewall
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Engine Mounts Viewed from Below. No Vibration Isolators.
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Coolant Pump from Below
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ADI Regulator and Fuel Strainer on Lower Firewall, Gear Wells, Front Wing Spar
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Installation Nears Completion
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Installation Nears Completion
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Installation Nears Completion
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Installation Nears Completion
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Installation Nears Completion
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Carburetor Air Inlet Mates with Duct from Ram Air Scoop on Top Cowl
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Completed Instrument Panel
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Randy Scoville : Instrument Work
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Randy Scoville: Engine Work
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Randy Scoville: Engine Work
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- More -
  
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