Brief Description - Study by HinoSamurai.org (In Process)
The birth of Hino TOHC Engine at Alpine in Dieppe, France (1964)
Docking Hino's GR100 - Contessa 1300 lower deck and some ideas and parts from Alfa Romeo 1300cc in those days for inventing new TOHC engine was engineer's idea in quick way and low budget (Estd. - mid. ~ late 1964). This Alpine's invention was a layout to locate Hino's water pump in side of block and to exhaust hot water from left side of block and to intake cooled water from right side of cylinder head. Cam cover may be one off parts with simple mold for this experimental TOHC. This basic layout was influenced to all of later series of Hino's TOHC without changes. Bore & Stroke by Alpine was 72mm x 79mm. The following pictures are the initial model by Alpine that was sent to Hino for studying engineering issues on the high performance engine.
Hino Sprint GT 1300 and Power Unit by Alpine in Dieppe, France (1964~)
Joint project to develop High Performance Light Wight European taste sports car and studying constructing plastic body was prepared for Hino by Alpine in 1964. TOHC engine based on GR100 block was completed in late 1964 and one was in Hino Sprint 1300GT and other was shipped to Japan for engineering study. Chassis design was completed through 1964 that has completely same architecture with Alpine's 1xx series and body skin was plastic as well as all Alpine cars. Hino Sprint 1300 GT was in 1966 Paris Auto Salon with other Hino Contessa, then car was shipped to a part of Hino Plant in Japan (bottom) after benchmarking in driving throughout European motor ways including mountain road. The following picture in the top is the more matured TOHC based on GR100 that was on Hino Sprint GT 1300 and the layout of distributor is now directly driven by CAM shaft. The picture in the bottom was captured in Japan, but the issue is it was not Hino Plant in recent investigation. We are still working to identify exact place with some other pictures.
Initial experimental TOHC with Hino 1965 GT Proto
The project to develop TOHC started in the end of 1964 with GT Proto program. Hino has been discussed to develop it from the scratch. But, they eventually started development with Alpine's TOHC as referencing design and engineering. Earlier model of GTP based on the chassis technology and components by Cooper FIII (UK) was with the initial phase TOHC and it seems the idea came from Alpine's one even sculpturing Hino's prototype code on cam cover. A car was in running condition in the summer of 1965 and diaplyed in 65's Tolyo Motor Show
Evolution of Hino's TOHC in experimental phases (1965-1966)
The following pictures are the process of evolution about Hino's TOHC. Upper left is initial model, then upper right is secondary model. It is very clear that Hino has been extended the basic idea, layout, and schema by Alpine including the pattern. Even matured and late model of middle 1966 in lower right called YE28a is still the same even they made new pattern for some portions such as oill sump for instance. This demonstrates the engineering may be manured by improvement but the basic schema or architecture is sometimes difficult to change by constraints on the egnieering. Middle left is 2nd model on DEL Formula by Hino's dedicated contract racing team including developing Formula and GTP cars. Lower left is YE28a on GTP called code name J494. Hino was very conservative to prove and mature their TOHC in competition fields while contract racing team has been expected to win with high performance engine.
More Evolution - Towarding 1967 racing season
YE28b as an evolution version of original YE28a and last TOHC at Hino is fantastic with engineer's eccentric actions such as direct gear drive of water pump and electric alternator including the use of magnesium material. The engineer who did those great works especially for earlier racing GP engines and 1st/2nd TOHC engines have been moved to Honda as well as other chassis engineers before Hino's termination of Contessa program that means to discontinue developing gasoline engine and GTP cars without completing 1967 GTP model (bottom). They have contributed to develop and improve Honda's F1 engines and to become or transform to truly conventional designs after S800 at Honda.
Validation with ..., not a rumore! (Today)
A series of Hino's TOHC that originates to the engineering by Aline was very short lifecycyle without prominent success in the market including competition fields by terminating Contessa program in the late of 1966. We feel Honda's late 70 and after models seem that basic engineering has had some influences by Hino technologies based on Hino Contessa and TOHC development even for later several models. Also we see engine parts from Alfa's 1300 may use to Hino's YE28b TOHC 74mm piston and to Hino's special OHV 74mm piston today. OHV 74mm special engine that is different concept about the configuration of piston rings with regular OHV GR100 including special Sport Kits. It is the "same" with Alfa 1300 rather than "usable". It may be back to running condition with Alfa's piston rings now!
Knowledge Transformation - Inheriting and Innovating it by Engineers
Reference Publications
- Motor Fan - August, 1965
- Auto Sport - Oct., 1966
- Automobile Year Book #14 1966-7
- Le fanatique de L'AUTOMOBILE Mai 1980
- Alfa Romeo by Emmeti Grafica
- Alpine des hommes des voitures - tome 1
(SE, 2008.1.13, Original)
(Renewed 2017.8.12)
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