This Drake DT-160 is a turbocharged IndyCar V8 developed by Drake Engineering in the late 1970s as a successor to the Offenhauser. Offered disassembled, the package includes the crankcase, matching main bearing caps, a flat-plane crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods, cylinder heads, dual water pumps, and twin Hilborn injection assemblies. This DT-160 engine package is now offered at no reserve in Costa Mesa, California.
The DT-160 displaced approximately 2.6 liters using a 3.4″ bore and a 2.2″ stroke. Period literature rated the engine at 800 horsepower at 9,000 rpm, with the 32-valve valvetrain reportedly designed to operate beyond 13,000 rpm. The engine saw competition development in 1978 and 1979 in chassis from Wildcat, Lightning, and Watson before the Cosworth DFX ended the program. Drake reportedly manufactured components for a planned run of 20 complete engines.
Fuel delivery was handled by Hilborn mechanical injection, and the sale includes a pair of four-throttle assemblies with “HILBORN INJECTOR” lettering along with related linkages. The cylinder head and valvetrain components are arranged in a dual-overhead-camshaft layout with four valves per cylinder. Four Drake-branded cam covers are included, along with two camshafts and various cam-drive pulleys. Portions of the intake plenum system are missing.
The aluminum crankcase is stamped with “107” markings on the five main bearing caps, and the block is accompanied by eight piston-and-connecting-rod assemblies. Various bearings, covers, and fittings are included. The cooling system features a dual-pump design, with each cylinder bank receiving a centrifugal water pump. Both cast aluminum water-pump assemblies are included and bear “DRAKE ENG.” casting marks.
The bottom end features a 180-degree flat-plane crankshaft machined from billet 4340 chromoly. The five main bearing caps are constructed from 7075-T6 aluminum and cross-bolted into the crankcase. The engine utilized a dry-sump lubrication system that reportedly circulated 16 gallons of oil per minute using two pressure pumps and seven scavenging stages.
The sale includes an extra aluminum housing. One of these pieces carries an FSCM/CAGE manufacturer identification, while another is marked “101” in yellow marker and stamped with “S/N B001-00048 SACTM.” The seller notes there is no documentation for these extra housings; however, they were acquired with the motor.