Ferrari Dino engine

V6

The production Dino V6 began as a discussion between Vittorio Jano and Enzo and Dino Ferrari about the ideal 1.5 L engine for use in the 1958 Formula 2 auto racing series. Jano, formerly of Alfa Romeo and Lancia, pressed for a conventional 60° V6 but the Ferraris were open-minded.

60°

Jano's 60° design incorporated some of his ideas from the Lancia Aurelia, and were used in a number of Formula 1, Formula 2, and Grand Prix cars from 1959 through the early 1960s. Appearing in 1958, it used a 77x71 mm bore and stroke for 1984 cc and produced 200 hp (149 kW) in the 196 S. Two larger versions were also produced, the 245 hp (183 kW) 2497 cc 246 S and 296 hp (221 kW) 2962 cc 296 S. These engines continued in the 1962 196 SP and 286 SP. The latter had a 90 mm bore and 75 mm stroke for 2863 cc and 260 hp (194 kW).

This engine was so small that very little room was available for smooth intake tracts. The Ferraris were convinced that a freer-flowing intake could result in more power, so a new design was called for.

65°

The result of the trios creativity was the world's only 65° V6 engine. The extra 5° between cylinder banks gave Ferrari the straight intakes he wanted, but resulted in an odd 185°/55° crankshaft for even firing. Although the Dino V6 was discontinued with the introduction of the V8, the 65° design continues to this day: It reappeared on Ferrari's 1992 456 V12.

The 85x71 mm 2417 cc engine used in the 246 S/I produced 280 hp (209 kW) with dual overhead camshafts pushing two valves per cylinder. The mid-engined 1961 246 SP used this same engine, as did the 156 F1.

The 65° Dino V6 quickly replaced the 60° unit in racing, and made its way to the street as well. Ferrari needed to have the engine in 500 production vehicles to homologate it for racing use. The company worked with Fiat to develop a sports car to house it, and the front-engined Fiat Dino project was born.

In competition, the 1965 166 P used a tiny 1.6 L (1593 cc) version of the 65° unit. Both bore and stroke were different from the earlier engine at 77x57 mm and output was impressive at 175 hp (130 kW). Bore was up to 86 mm for the 218 hp (163 kW) 1987 cc version found that same year in the 206 SP as well as the 1966 206 S.

In 1968, Ferrari debuted its own Dino 206, the company's first mid-engined road car. It used the 2.0 L engine from the 206 SP mounted transversely between the rear wheels. After producing just 157 cars, Ferrari bumped the bore and stroke up from 86x57 mm to 92.5x60 mm for 2419 cc. This increased power to 195 hp (145 kW), but the engine block was now made of cast iron rather than aluminium.

The same V6 engine was handed off to Lancia for use in its WRC-champ Stratos in the early 1970s, but Ferrari's Dino had moved on to 8 cylinders.

Applications:

• 2.0 L
  • 1966-1969 Fiat Dino
  • 1967-1969 Dino 206
• 2.4 L
  • 1969-1973 Fiat Dino
  • 1969-1974 Dino 246 GTB/GTS
  • 1973-1975 Lancia Stratos