Daimler V8 engines

Daimler V8
1963 Daimler SP250 V8 Engine
Overview
Manufacturer	The Daimler Company Limited
Production	4½ litre: 1959-1968 2,044 cars 864 Daimler limousines 1,180 Majestic Major saloons 2½ litre: 1959-1969 20,268 or more 2648 SP250 sports cars 17,620 2.5 V8 & V8-250 saloon cars marine engines produced from 1961
Combustion chamber
Configuration	90 degree V eight-cylinder
Displacement	4½ litre: 4.561 litres (278 cu in) 2½ litre: 2.548 litres (155 cu in)
Cylinder bore	4½ litre: 95.25 mm (3.8 in) 2½ litre: 76.2 mm (3.0 in)
Piston stroke	4½ litre: 80.01 mm (3.2 in) 2½ litre: 69.85 mm (2.8 in)
Cylinder block alloy	Cast iron
Cylinder head alloy	Aluminium alloy
Valvetrain	OHV by pushrods and rockers from a single camshaft, two valves per cylinder, hemispherical head
Compression ratio	4½ litre: 8.0:1 2½ litre: 8.2:1
Combustion
Fuel system	4½ litre: Carburettors—twin S.U. HD8; fuel pump—SU electric Aua 61 2½ litre: Carburettors—twin S.U. HD6
Fuel type	Petrol
Oil system	Filter—Full flow replaceable element
Cooling system	Water
Output
Power output	4½ litre: 220 bhp (160 kW; 220 PS) @ 5,500 rpm >2½ litre: 140 bhp (100 kW; 140 PS) @ 5,800 rpm
Torque output	4½ litre: 383.7 N·m (283.0 lbf·ft) @ 3,200 rpm 2½ litre: 155 N·m (114 lbf·ft) @ 3,600 rpm
Dimensions
Length	4½ litre: 31.25 in (793.8 mm) 2½ litre: 30 in (762.0 mm)
Width	4½ litre: 25.5 in (647.7 mm) 2½ litre: 24 in (609.6 mm)
Height	4½ litre: 31 in (787.4 mm) 2½ litre: 27 in (685.8 mm)
Dry weight	4½ litre: 498 lb (226 kg) 2½ litre: 419 lb (190 kg) exc. flywheel
Chronology
Predecessor	4½ litre: DE36 Straight-Eight DK400 Straight-Six 2½ litre: 2½-litre Straight-Six Daimler Conquest

Daimler V-8 engines were designed for the Daimler Company by Edward Turner and produced from 1959 to 1969. Initially used in the SP250 sports car and the Majestic Major saloon, the engine was mostly used in the Daimler 2.5 V8 (later named V8-250) saloon made with Jaguar Mark 2 unit bodies from 1962 to 1969. Approximately 20,000 of the 2.5-litre version of the engine were made for use in the SP250 and the 250 saloon, while approximately 2,000 of the 4.5-litre version were made for use in the Majestic Major saloon and its limousine variant which remained in production until 1968.

Shortly after being appointed Managing Director (Chief Executive) of BSA's Automotive Division in 1956, Edward Turner was asked to design a saloon car powered by a V8 engine. Turner and his design engineer Jack Wickes began considering the initial concept of their new engine by examining the manual and spare parts list of a Cadillac V8 engine. Using a pushrod overhead valve system kept down design, development and production costs and allowed Turner to base the design of the cylinder head on those he developed for Triumph motorcycles including the use of hemispherical combustion chambers. Adapting the Triumph head design for use in a saloon car engine required much work in reducing friction and improving timing. Much of the development of the prototype engine was carried out by Dr. J. N. H. Tait. Tait had been involved with Donald Healey in the early post war years, working successfully on modified Riley 2½-litre Big Four engines, the final incarnation of which was used in 1953 Zethrin Rennsport prototype, delivering close to 200 bhp with surprising tractability.