Chrysler IV-2220
world War II–Era experimental aircraft engine
The Chrysler XIV-2220 (XI-2220 from 1944) was an experimental 2,500 hp, 2,220 cubic inch (36.4 liter) liquid-cooled inverted-V16 World War II aircraft engine. Although several aircraft designs had considered using it, by the time it was ready for use in 1945 the war was already over. Only a few engines were built by Chrysler during a program that started in 1940, and it retained its 'X' designation the entire time as the XIV-2220, later XI-2220. The IV-2220 is historically important as it was Chrysler's first hemi, a design that would re-appear in 1950s Chrysler performance automobiles, make drag racing headlines in the 1960s, and continue into the 2000s.
Design and development
Original design
Chrysler had apparently been carrying out paper studies of a very large engine for a brief period starting in May 1940, and decided to present their work to the United States Army Air Corps. They proposed a large engine to provide 2,500 hp initially, with room for upward growth. Instead of using advanced features such as sleeve valves for improved RPM, they opted for a larger number of normal sized cylinders in a V16 arrangement. The Army was interested, and sent them a development contract tender on June 22, 1940, to which Chrysler responded on July 2.
The extremely long profile of the new design meant that the crankshaft would be highly loaded if power was taken off at the propeller end. Chrysler's solution to this problem was unique; power was instead taken from the middle of the engine, placing the propeller reduction gear in a gap between two V8 cylinder banks and sending power to the front of the engine via an extension shaft running below the crankshaft.
“Chrysler IV-2220” enters the record as world War II–Era experimental aircraft engine. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Chrysler, IV-2220 and world can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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