Waukesha Engine

[rwaidelich]

I found A Waukesha engine in a salvage yard that was going to the crusher
for recycling. I bought it to part out. I think it was out of a truck.
It has two plugs per cylinder,a mag, and a distributor. A tag on the
engine says Model 6MZ16F 4 1/4x4 3/4 NO 355271 6-1934.
Does any one know what it would be out of ?

[John Schwiebert]

Most likely at least with my experience a Waukesha with dual ignition was used in fire fighting equipment, Idea was if you were fighting a fire and one ignition system failed it would run on the other one.

[Bud Tierney]

My limited experience matches John's as to fire equipment. altho I wouldn't be surprised to also see it in other emergency equipment where lives could be at stake in an ignition failure.
A quick eyeballing of some Wauk users (Available and Sterling) shows several models with 6MZ's in the late 30's to 40 or so, nothing as early as 6-34, BUT my sources omit a lot of specialty models, like very low prod fire etc units. If you have access to a Motor Truck manual they have a truck model-engine used index (libraries almost always have copies).
I'd originally thought the twin-ign was limited to larger (600ci+) engines, but they keep turning up on smaller engines; yours is only 404. Some cars, of course, had it on much smaller engines, supposedly for smoother running, better utilization of fuel, etc..
There's an interesting little discussion of twin ign systems and their use in the "Waukesha Engine Ignition System" thread on aths; forgot to put down the date , but this morning it's at the top of page 11 of their general forum.
On yours, how are the plugs mounted: opposite sides? same side, tandem or one above the other?
I'll eyeball some of my other stuff this eve for 6MZ's and post what I find.

[Bud Tierney]

Forgot to mention that just because you have twin ignition you're probably not limited to twin ign buyers. I have a Wauk manual on a larger twin ign engine that says "...on those engines using twin ignition...), which I interpret as meaning the engines were furnished in both single ign types (I would assume distributor) as well as the twins.

[rwaidelich]

After I found this engine I wanted to save it incase someone would need some parts for a restoration, but I wanted to know what it was used for
before I advertised it. I bought it by the pound and it weighted 1300 lbs.
Thanks for the replies.

[Bud Tierney]

1300 lbs?? Chihuahua!! That's a lotta cast iron; is that all engine, or has it been mounted on some kind of frame as a power unit?
Didn't have time to check for installlations but did note there seemed to be two main variations: 6MZA and 6MZR; my 50 Motor Truck manual shows them all the same b/s, but, oddly enough, the R is between the MZ and the MZA in comp and HP. Will try to dig around some during the week.
In some models the progression seems to be from MZ to MZR to MZA, which at least would follow the HP output
If you have access to Motor Truck manuals you'll have to check at least two: my 50 issue covers 36-49 (36 is as far back as any I've found go) and has some listings that go to 49, which means 50+ models may also use this engine, so you'll also have to check another that covers 1950 and later.
A bearing catalog splits all three (MZ,MZA,MZR) into "early" and "late" models; I'll see if I can figure out what the difference(s) is/are.
With sympathy, Bud

[rwaidelich]

This engine had a 4 speed transmission bolted to it but no other frame.
The engine is big, lot of cast iron. I should go back and ask if he took it out
of something, or if someone just brought the engine in. He might know the
name of who sold it to him. mabe his scales was wrong, but my loader
knew something was hanging on it when I onloaded it REX

[Bud Tierney]

Well, eyeballing my other stuff shows the same engine stuff as in my 50 Motor manual (I just picked up a 57 Motor Truck manual, but it's useless, only covers mainline trucks, doesn't even have FWD! Good thing I only paid $5 for it).
The stock engine pages in the 57 manual (no specs, just tune up info) doesn't list MZ,MZA or MZR, so they apparently superceded by then.
It looks like the "early" engines, per a manual on a different Wauk, were prior to "early 1950", and had poured bearings, while the "later" ones had inserts; my bearing catalog agrees, shows no CR bearing for the "early" models.
Wauk's designations can be confusing (these often referred to as 6MZ etc) but if other Wauk usage hold true the MZR would have a larger crankshaft and possibly harder bearing material than the MZ; the MZA, with higher comp and more HP, wound up a litle tighter (2800 vs 2500) is probably a more modern variation. This matches listings like the Sterling HC105: MZ 38-39, MZR 40-43, MZA 46-49+? (my listing ends 49). Whether these three would interchage in chassis, I don't know, but it seems quite possible. Good luck.

[edpruss]

Originally Posted by rwaidelich

I found A Waukesha engine in a salvage yard that was going to the crusher
for recycling. I bought it to part out. I think it was out of a truck.
It has two plugs per cylinder,a mag, and a distributor. A tag on the
engine says Model 6MZ16F 4 1/4x4 3/4 NO 355271 6-1934.
Does any one know what it would be out of ?

My friend and just started up a Wauk. 6MZA in a '52 FWD firetruck and it has a loud noise in the front of it, gears? We might need some parts someday. Where are you located? How can we contact you if we need anything?

Thanks.

[Bud Tierney]

On one of my posts above I mentioned I hadn't found any 6MZ etc listings as early as 34, but today I noted one (naturally, while looking for something else):
Stewart Truck, mod 58A,58B,59A and 59B, 1933-46, 6MZR, and doubtless more as well. My sources are mostly parts catalogs, and lots of models have no engine ID listed. Good luck.

[impala L78]

I have a 1947 model 6SRKR in my vol. FD's 1939 Ward LaFrance. Is there any chance that you still have any parts left?

John

[Bud Tierney]

Just noticed your post...
While I don't know these engines (they're all just lines on printed pages to me, except for pix in a few Wauk manuals I acquired years ago--no, none on SRKR or other S's) I note:
The MZ, MZA, MZR are all 41/4x43/4 per a 66 bearing catalog (my later bearing books, 83 and 94, no longer list them);
The SRK and SRKR are both 43/8x51/8 per said catalog, a bit larger, so it's doubtful interior parts would swap; exterior stuff I couldn't comment on.
The SRK and SRKR (I don't know what the additional "R" means) show up in about the same number of Motor Manual and parts catalog listing as the MZ's, but these don't show prod figures, so I can't tell from my stuff how many were built, just that they were used by a good number of truck makers.
Motor, at least, covered most of the "mainline" production of the various makers, but often omitted specialty models. Parts catalogs, like the bearing catalogs, are notoriously incomplete.
What kind of parts are you looking for??

[Lilbethy]

Hi , Did you ever get anything for your Antique Waukesha engine? I might be interested in it, do you stil have teh transmission too? where are you located ? thanks, Steve

[Lilbethy]

Hi, Did you ever sell your engine and trans? I have a complete Waukesha 6MZA-31 C with low miles out of 1939 Ward LaFrance Fire Truck, should run great.
NJAUctionsale on ya hoo IM 609-997-0033 Delran, NJ, USA