1/25th Scale Novi Engine?

[Deleted]

since I'm just getting back into the modelling craze, can anyone tell me if someone has or had made a Novi engine from the early 60's in 1/24th or 25th scale? I have a very wild project in mind and find myself in need of one.

have many pics so I could make one if I had to, but.......

any thoughts or suggestions?

[kurzheck]

None that I'm aware of but I suppose using a pair of AMT Offy's would be a good start.

[Deleted]

If you think to this V8 Indy Novi engine,I'm 100% with you:



To realize this great Novi Special:


OR

Best greetings.

[racerbrown]

i'd love to see a wip on that one!
duane

[Deleted]

Aug 22, 2012 6:17:05 GMT -5 racerbrown said:

i'd love to see a wip on that one!
duane

for my 'project', I don't know that I could do a WIP. but I could take pics and post them AFTER I've posted the completed project.

I just don't want to spoil the surprise.......LOL

[eagle36]

Aug 21, 2012 15:18:35 GMT -5 kurzheck said:

None that I'm aware of but I suppose using a pair of AMT Offy's would be a good start.

You are really close with that idea. About 2-3 years ago, this guy was building a Novi from 2 Offy 91's with a custom made crank case. I don't understand why, but he has two websites:

macmillersgarage.webs.com/

indyroadsters.webs.com/

You will have to dig to find his blog on the build up, but I recall him saying that the Novi essentiaily was just that, 2 Offy 9s1, with some minor changes. I saw the project at Milwaukee back in 2010, but he may have dropped it after that stash of Novi engines turned up.

Found a link to a picture of the Novi engine replica at Milwaukee:

indyroadsters.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=44098829

[pje]

See the Bob Clidinst plans under miscellaneous.

mb2501.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gt&action=display&thread=2714

Paul Erlendson

[Deleted]

On the indyroadster.webs.com you have more great pictures from this Novi V8 recreation!....
-And to all recreation of Indy roadsters,see:
macmillersgarage.webs.com/apps/photos/

Greetings.

[alwaysindy]

I'll throw this out...how about (2) Offy midget heads on a small block V8 base (like the AMT Lotus)? Put on a different gear box and add the blower...
Tim

[Deleted]

Hope this works. The photos show a Novi engine that I scratch built by combining two AMT Offies with additional bits and from my scrap box.



***just cleaned up the duplicate image posts -Jordan***

[racerbrown]

nicely done! ;D
thanks for sharing.
duane

[Deleted]

the pic of the bare block and heads shows the supercharger at the opposite end of the cam gears, whereas the pic of the 50's Novi and the model have the supercharger on the same end as the cam gears. I'm confused.......which way does it go, which way does it go? LOL

[Deleted]

and thanks for all the links. I've been on mac millers garage and indy roadsters. great pics of a lot of awesome roadsters....old and new.

[SWT500]

The challenge of modeling the NOVI engine is that its configurations changed and evolved dramatically annually. No two were alike from beginning to end. That said, to be accurate, it must be specific to the year/car being modeled.

The gentleman who is/was constructing one of the two 1958 NOVIs is named Steve Farkaly. He is a former Chief Mechanic and long time crewman. Farkaly, who hails from the Chicagoland area, took this on because it is the only NOVI car unaccounted for. Naturally, like everyone, he saw $$ signs. Interestingly enough, Steve is doing it without plans or drawings other than photos and such just like modelers use. Steve has a photographic memory and is something of an eccentric genius. Can you just imagine machining and building it WITHOUT drawings or blueprints?!?!?

Because of some eye problems, the project has stalled and has been dormant for about a year. I last saw him during May so my information is several months old. His shop is on Gasoline Alley in Speedway. I'll try to find out more.

[Deleted]

I found a really great pic of the NOVI engine, but being computer-challenged as I am, can't figure out how to post a pic on this forum. its an assembled one on a stand, complete with headers. this configuation shows the supercharger in the front, the cam gears at the rear. maybe a later model perhaps?

[Deleted]

WOW.....ok, I just realized the pic I found was NOT the real thing, but I believe a 1/4 scale model. check out this link. towards the bottom, there's also an Offy before you find the pics of the NOVI:

www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Colonna.htm

[indydog]

You have to remember that the Novi was initally designed for a front drive car. So the blower was on the back and the cam drive was on the front. The blower was driven by a shaft located where a V8 camshaft would normally be. With it's use in rear drive cars the engine was turned around so that the blower is at the front, but it's always opposite the cam drives.

Here's some pics of a Novi model set up for a rear drive car:





Roger Huntingtons book "Design and Development of the Indy Car" has a great cutaway diagram of the Novi.

[Deleted]

Aug 25, 2012 22:22:03 GMT -5 indydog said:

Here's some pics of a Novi model set up for a rear drive car:





Roger Huntingtons book "Design and Development of the Indy Car" has a great cutaway diagram of the Novi.

thanks for posting those pics of the model. his craftsmanship is outstanding. looks like the real thing and actually RUNS TOO!

makes sense what you said about the FWD vs the AWD and RWD cars. from everything I've read, due to the horsepower and drive configuation, these cars were a real bear to drive. only REAL men would even attempt to get behind the wheel of a Novi.

in fact, again from what I've read, their own power was many times their downfall, as the engine just made too much HP for it to hold up. the handling of the Novis probably led to many of the accidents, although Russo's famous fireball accident was attributed to, I believe, a blown tire. but again, maybe excessive tire wear was due to the power and handling.

still an awesome car and I can't wait to get started on my '57 Novi and my 'special project car'!


see more pics of the model above at:

www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Colonna.htm

[SWT500]

Regarding the NOVI, the late Ralph Hepburn said, "There is an inch of that throttle I want no part of."

[jamesharvey]

I was sitting in Turn 1 in 1956 when Russo's tire blew. I sounded like a cannon shot. I have heard a number of explanations over the years as to what happened. Take your pick from excessive tire wear (he was hauling it and leading at the time) to wheel spinning inside the tire cutting the value stem from the tremendous horsepower. Part of the aura of the Novi was its power. The four-wheel drive of the Ferguson in 1964 probably saved Bobby Unser's life since he said he floored it and literally drove through the fireball wreck Turn 4 caused by the Sachs-McDonald crash. Both Hepburn's and Chet Miller's crashes were very similar. Part of the mystery of these cars.
Jim

[Deleted]

Many other photos from a Good Novi V8 engine in 1:1 sacale:
indyroadsters.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11506984

Greetings.

[raceparke]

It occurred to me that two motors from Indy powered Revell midgets could be combined to make a plausible Novi block.

[pbh51]

Nov 16, 2012 15:19:17 GMT -5 raceparke said:

It occurred to me that two motors from Indy powered Revell midgets could be combined to make a plausible Novi block.

A Novi engine resembles a "motor" in no way whatsoever.

pbh