[TR] Water Injection Info --GM had in 62!

[Doug Mathews]

I thought this topic jogged  a spot in my memory..GM had water 
injection in 1962.  Below is a description I found on the web.

All '62 Cutlasses offered a 185-bhp "Power-Pack" V-8, but greater 
interest surrounded another new derivation. This was the turbocharged 
Jetfire hardtop coupe, which shared honors with Chevy's 1962 Corvair 
Monza Spyder as America's first high-volume turbocar. With blower, 
the Jetfire V-8 churned out a healthy 215 bhp -- the long-hallowed "1 
hp per cu. in." ideal -- but carbon buildup with certain grades of 
fuel necessitated an unusual water-injection system (actually, a 
water/alcohol mix).

While the Jetfire was remarkably fast (0-60 mph in about 8.5 seconds, 
top speed around 107 mph), the water-injection proved unreliable. As 
a result, Olds abandoned turbos for 1964 in favor of a conventional 
330-cid V-8 of 230-290 bhp; at the same time, Buick's new 155-bhp 
225-cid V-6 became base power for the F-85 line.


My 65 Corvair Corsair Turbo had 180HP for 164cu and would squeal the 
tires up through 3rd. Good car except no one could work on it.  I 
took it in for a problem under warranty and when I picked it up, they 
said the vacuum advance had to be replaced. I said it had none, 
rather a pressure retard. They said they were sure they had replaced 
it correctly and after a spin around the block, I went back in and 
asked them to check to part they used versus the  part the manual 
called for. I  also said I doubted they had a pressure retard in 
stock.  I was right on both counts.

Doug

At 04:01 PM 5/6/2008, triumph at 2simpleusa.com wrote:


> >  -------Original Message-------
> >  From: Peter  Ryner <pryner at verizon.net>
> >  Subject: Re: [TR] [6pack] Carbon on top of pistons - engine 
> experts please help!
> >  Sent: May 06 '08 14:26
> >
> >  I used to be a jet engine mechanic in the AF.  We had water injection
> >  systems on both the KC-135 tanker and B-52 bomber.  Both engines had spray
> >  bars in the inlet to provide the water.  It worked by making the air more
> >  dense, giving better performance.  The trick is that it has to 
> be sprayed in
> >  small dropletts, not poured in.  Also had to use distilled water 
> to prevent
> >  build up of deposits which eventually reduce flow.  Worked very 
> well in most
> >  cases, especially on those very hot days on Guam with a full load.
> >  Pete