Mad Scientist Building Quad-Turbo V12 from Two Supra Motors
Toyota currently makes a V12, but it’s only utilized in the Century and tuned to be quiet and smooth, not for skull-crushing power. But that didn’t stop one retired mechanical engineer–whose nephew posted his progress on /r/cars–from building a mighty 1JZ-based, quad-turbo, 12-pot monster.
How gorgeous are those headers? They made me think of Medusa, and it’s not difficult to imagine some gearheads turning to stone, so to speak, after gazing at this gorgeous mill.
Here’s a breakdown of his progress from the thread:
- Cut the bottoms from two Toyota Supra inline 6 cylinder motors
- Machined, welded, stress relieved and align bored a crankcase for 120 degree V angle.
- Purchased a custom crankshaft from Scat with SB Chevy main bearings, Honda rod bearings. Honda H-beam rods too 4. Bolted cylinder blocs to crankcase using Toyota oil drain back holes modified.
- Reversed one head so there are common ports to the center of the motor.
- Put the exhaust ports to the center just for giggles.
- Fabricated an oil pan from 3/4″ aluminum plate and mounted a dry sump pump.
- Built two cam drives and a serpentine drive for alternator and twin water pumps.
- Started exhaust headers…no intake yet.
- This is a 5 Liter/300 CI Turbocharged to a target of 800 HP
Where the engine will live is still unclear at this point, with the original poster saying that his uncle is currently weighing either a ’55 Chevy truck or a custom tube-frame project. It goes without saying that the man behind this is a mechanical genius of the first order. His last build, a 1931 Buick Cabriolet Victoria looks beautiful, and according to the thread, he once fabricated a crank-operated Gatling gun in trade for paint work. So it’s clear that this fire-breathing work of art will find a suitable frame.
Keep your fingers crossed we eventually get a video of this baby firing up, and check out the pictures below.