33 engine
The paternity of 33 2 liters engine:
“…However, what he really wanted was a radical change, and his lightweight alloy V8 was secret weapon to prove. With two chain driven overhead camshafts per cylinder bank, two/four ignition coils, Lucas fuel injection, 16 spark plugs (two per cylinder, though the early version was equipped with single plug, “Periscopica” 001, 002, and 003), compression 11:1, and capacity of just under two liters (1995cc), engine easily developed 270 bhp in race trim. The engine coupled to a six-speed direct Colotti gearbox. Recently someone stated that the project of that engine was of Busso, but this is not true. The fact is that Busso and Satta have proposed V12 as definite engine, and only the necessity to reduce the bulk and the weight of power unit, and eventual use in future production of that motor, conducted to the V8 solution. However, the project of the engine was not quite new. Chiti just reviewed existing plans of his 1500 engine, based on experience gained at Ferrari. He has designed similar engine few years before for ATS F1, and it was 90°, V8, single plug, with 45° inclined OHC valves, aluminum block with wet liners, dry sump flat alloy crank, with five main bearings. Increasing it to 2 liter and adding twin spark ignition and fuel injection, was not a problem, and the truth is that initially many used parts were of ATS provenience. The final result was nice and clean construction and to assure enough air, on the racing car, a huge pipe was mounted over the engine bay…”
“The Fléron chassis”
“Il motore è stato “revisionato” nel corso del 1966. Il V8 non nacque in casa Alfa, ma fu portato "in dote” dall'ingegner Carlo Chiti dopo la sua avventura all'ATS…”
“Alfa Romeo 33/2 Stradale”
“El motor, un desarrollo de Carlo Chiti heredado de su fallido intento en ATS, era un V8 a 90° de aluminio con doble arbol de levas en cabeza de 1995 cc, culata de doble encendido e inyeccion de combustible mecanica SPICA, que entrega entre 230 y 243 CV a 8800 rpm, con un par de 200 Nm a 7000 rpm., aunque hay quien le ha hecho pasar la barrera de los 250 CV y 9000 rpm.”
“T33 Stradale”
Ignition coils and number of plugs:
On 33 engine, two or four coils were used indistinctly. (Four for major reliability) and the number of plugs was 8 on early, “Periscopica” models (two coils) as clearly visible on the photo of 750.33.003 (now in Nastase collection, USA). All “Stradale” cars were equipped with 16 plugs (twin spark), some with two, and some with four ignition coils, (irrespective of Marelli or Bosh distribution), and SPICA injection.
In the late ’50, V8 engines were tested in Servizio Esperienze (elaboration of previously existing projects made by Busso), but that was another engine not related to 33 project, and abandoned before 105.33
Carrozzeria Marazzi held all the documents pertinent to 33 Stradale (the chassis were delivered to Marazzi completed with drivetrain) and you can ask for details, though I do not know if their database is open to public. (Adress to Mario or Serafino Marazzi at
info@marazzicar.com)
