Continental AV1790

Restored Continental AV1790-5B tank engine at the American Armored Foundation Tank Museum in Danville, Virginia

The Continental AV1790 is an American V12 engine used in armored vehicles. Produced by Continental Motors, the AV1790 was used in a variety of limited production and pilot heavy tanks, including the M53 and M55 howitzers, and the T30 and M103 tanks.

There were also diesel versions (AVDS,[1] Air Cooled, V-engine configuration, Diesel, Superturbocharged) for the M47, M48, and M60 Patton tanks, and the Swedish Stridsvagn 104 (British-built Centurions, re-engined with diesel engines in the 1980s).

Engines prefixes

The engine prefixes are:

• A-Air cooled
• V-Vee cylinder arrangement
• D-Diesel
• S-Supercharged
• 1790-Displacement in Cubic Inches

Specifications

General characteristics

Type:	90 degree four-stroke V12
Bore:	5.75 in (146.05 mm)
Stroke:	5.75 in (146.05 mm)
Displacement:	1791.7 cu in (29 361 ccm)
Cooling:	forced air cooling

Gasoline versions

	AV-1790-3	AV-1790-5C	AV-1790-7C
Power output (gross)	810 hp at 2800 rpm	810 hp at 2800 rpm	810 hp at 2800 rpm
Power output (net)	704 hp (525 kW) at 2800 rpm	650 hp (485 kW) at 2400 rpm	690 hp (515 kW) at 2800 rpm
Torque (net):	1,440 pound-feet (1,950 N⋅m) at 2200 rpm	1,250 pound-feet (1,690 N⋅m) at 2100 rpm	1,410 pound-feet (1,910 N⋅m) at 2200 rpm
BSFC
Power-to-weight ratio
Supercharger	no
Fuel system	carburetor
Fuel type	80 octane gasoline (petrol)	80 octane gasoline	80 octane gasoline
Ignition	magneto
Compression ratio	6.5:1
Dry weight	2332 lb (1058 kg)	2554 lb (1158 kg)	2647 lb (1200 kg)

Diesel versions

Designation	Weight, dry	Horsepower, gross	Horsepower, net	Torque, gross	Torque, net	Compression ratio	Induction turbocharged airflow	Fuel type	Fuel consumption (at 2400 RPM)	Use	Note
AVDS-1790-2A	4,700 pounds (2,100 kg)	750 horsepower (560 kW) at 2,400 rpm	643 horsepower (479 kW) at 2,400 rpm	1,750 lb⋅ft (2,370 N⋅m) at 1,900 rpm	1,575 lb⋅ft (2,135 N⋅m) at 1,750 rpm	16:1	2075 cfm	DF-A, DF-1, DF-2	296 lbs / hour	M60, M60A1, M728, M60 AVLB, retrofitted to M47 & M48	original series
AVDS-1790-2AC										for Centurion
AVDS-1790-2AR										M88
AVDS-1790-2C[2]	4,900 pounds (2,200 kg)									M60A1, M60A3, M60 AVLB
AVDS-1790-2D[3]	4,880 pounds (2,210 kg)									M60, M60A1, retrofitted to M48A3 & M48A5
AVDS-1790-2DR[4]										M88A1
AVDS-1790-2CC										for Centurion
AVDS-1790-2DC	4,876 pounds (2,212 kg)									for Centurion
AVDS-1790-5A	4,900 pounds (2,200 kg)	908 horsepower (677 kW) at 2,400 rpm	775 horsepower (578 kW) at 2,400 rpm	2,150 lb⋅ft (2,920 N⋅m) at 2000 rpm		14.5:1	2,200 cfm		380 lbs / hour	Merkava Mk. I, Magach 7
AVDS-1790-6A										Merkava Mk. II, Nakpadon
AVDS-1790-7A		950 horsepower (710 kW)								Merkava Mk. II
AVDS-1790-8A	5,100 pounds (2,300 kg)	1,050 horsepower (780 kW) at 2,400 rpm	892 horsepower (665 kW) at 2,400 rpm	2,500 lb⋅ft (3,400 N⋅m) at 1,900 rpm			2,450 cfm		430 lbs / hour
AVDS-1790-8CR										M88A2
AVDS-1790-9A	5,100 pounds (2,300 kg)	1,200 horsepower (890 kW) at 2,400 rpm	1,000 horsepower (750 kW) at 2,400 rpm	2,820 lb⋅ft (3,820 N⋅m) at 1,900 rpm			2,800 cfm		480 lbs / hour
AVDS-1790-9AR										Merkava Mk. III
AVDS-1790 1500	5,000 pounds (2,300 kg)	1,500 horsepower (1,100 kW) at 2,600 rpm		3,635 lb⋅ft (4,928 N⋅m) at 1,800 rpm				JP-8, DF-A, DF-1, DF-2	570 lbs / hour

References

1. "AVDS-1790 Family Technical Data". NSN Lookup. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
2. "AVDS-1790-2C Technical Data". NSN Lookup. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
3. "AVDS-1790-2D Technical Data". NSN Lookup. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
4. "AVDS-1790-2DR Technical Data". NSN Lookup. Retrieved 28 April 2015.

Sources

• Hunnicutt, R. P. Firepower: A History of the American Heavy Tank. Novato, California: Presidio Press, 1988. ISBN 0-89141-304-9

External links

• Air Cooled Diesel Tank Engines by Teledyne Continental Motors