It ignites for the first time since 28 years.
Master Milo has been quiet for a while. We are used to seeing some bizarre content on Master Milo’s YouTube channel. This includes a trail-bombing of a Ford Focus with no struts or fitting a car that has two steering wheels, one for each front wheel. The action this time is both serious and endearing, which we dare to say is a good thing for petrolheads.
The channel is restoring an Iraqi Type 69 II tank. Its 38.8-liter V12 diesel engine was recently started up for the first-time in 28 years. This video captures the action. Don’t think that this is a cutting-edge project. The video opens with footage showing the tank after it was captured from Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. It is hard to describe how it looked. The engine should have been scrapped. Although the video shows extensive corrosion, the main point is to save the engine and not throw it away.
The Type 69-II, which was essentially a Chinese version of the Soviet T-54, was one of the most mass-produced tanks worldwide. The Kharkiv V12 diesel engine was also Soviet designed. Parts were readily available, and Master Milo made great use of them. Despite its poor condition, the engine roars to life with enormous smoke and visible fire from the exhaust ports. The engine was filled with smoke and is now being moved outside for further tuning. Fuel adjustments were needed and one of the cylinders wouldn’t fire. The big mill still ran, in fact you can see the massive steel engine shaking from the torque.
It is very refreshing to see a restoration like this. Motoring passion – whether it’s a Honda four-cylinder or a huge decommissioned tank – is a never-ending pursuit that rarely ends in logic. This is what makes projects such as this so special, and we cannot wait to see the next steps in this gallant endeavor.