Looking for a Ford V12

[James Michael Dickinson]

As some as you know,  I am a Volunteer with the Vehicle Research Institute of Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, on their large V12 design project. Their official design goal is for an engine for large Trucks and Generators, running on natural gas. However, the other uses that may come up are not lost to their thoughts,  design is for an aluminum engine with 5.75" bore with a 4.5 inch stroke.  
 
In the early 1940s Ford designed a very advanced V12, 1650 cubic inch, Enbloc, Aluminum, Dual Overhead Cam, Aircraft Engine with the same bore and stroke of a Merlin. Development was never completed, however, the engine was shortened to a V8 and 28, 000, GAA, GAF, GAN, were produced for WWII Tanks.  Later, two small production runs of GAC V12’s were built for huge prototype Tanks, total Ford V-12 production, Aircraft, Marine and Tank was about 50.

The Ford engines were extremely reliable, both V8s and V12s were later used on oil and water pumps in the Southwest. Two V12’s are in prototype tanks in an Army Museum, another was sold to a California Engine Collector about 15 years ago and seems to have vanished. The University is using this magnificent design as an inspiration, and will be using my GAF Pershing Tank V8 for a test bed for induction and ignition prototyping.

If you know where any of these Ford V12s, are, either Aircraft, Marine or Tank, any parts thereof, no mater what condition, or anyone who might know where one might be, please let me know. While it would be great to acquire one, it is likely the best that can be done is to view it and take pictures for the project.  360-296-3940, Jim