Renault Billancourt engine

The Renault Billancourt engine was produced from 1947 to 1985. It is a small cc in-line four-cylinder petrol engine.

History 

This Billancourt engine was produced from 1947 to 1985, Designed by the engineer Fernand Picard, made with different displacements. They all have a stroke of 80 mm, the differences in displacement being obtained by the bore of the cylinders. Fernand Picard returned to Renault in 1935. In June 1940, he became assistant technical director in the automotive engines department. During the Second World War, he participated in the study of a small car: the future 4CV. Its engine was ready designed by 1942.

The engine will be used for the first time with the 4CV, later on the Renault 4 and Renault 5 and was finally abandoned with the arrival of the Supercinq. It was then replaced by the small engine Cléon-Cast with 956 cc on the low range of R4 (R4 TL Savannah). The direction of rotation of the "Billancourt engine" is anti-clockwise (distribution side).

The Billancourt engine also known under the code "motor B" or "block B" (B Billancourt) is an internal combustion automobile engine gasoline four-stroke, four cylinders in line jacketed, cast-iron block, cooled water, with a three-stage crankshaft, with side camshaft (with rocker arms and rocker rods), driven by sprocket timing, then by timing chain on the latest versions, with an aluminium cylinder head, eight valves leading, developed and produced by Renault. The “sportier” version is called " Ventoux engine "named after the Mont Ventoux hill climb. From 747cc to 845cc.This was also fitted to the Dauphine Gordini. See Ventoux Engine for more information.

In 1962, the "Sierra engine" later renamed “Cléon-Fonte engine “appears on Renault Florida S and Renault 8. This now innovates with five-step crankshaft. It is a medium displacement engine whose vocation is to equip vehicles of higher ranges, and not to replace the "Billancourt engine" which remains for lower range models. With the years, cars become heavier and more powerful, forcing Renault to abandon the "Billancourt engine" and suddenly the “engine Cléon-Fonte “, which was a medium-displacement engine, will be considered a small engine in the 1980s, the disappearance of the "Billancourt engine".

The "Cléon-Fonte engine" is not an evolution of the "Billancourt engine", but an entirely new engine designed by engineer René Vuaillat. At that time, all the engines have a camshaft and a chain or pinion distribution, resulting in a distant resemblance between these two engines.

Billancourt engine Displacements 

760 cc 

After the war the engine was first commercialized for use in 1947 with the Renault 4CV, the first version of the "Billancourt engine" is a 760 cc with only 17 hp SAE. In 1950, a 21 hp SAE version was fitted to Renault 4CV Grand Luxe produced only in the year 1950.

747 cc

In October 1950, the now a smaller 747 cc replaces the original larger 760 cc engine. The slightly lower displacement is obtained by slightly reducing the size of the bore from 55 to 54.5 mm, while the rest remains unchanged. This small change has been decided by the leaders of Renault to be able to engage the engine in race competitions where it is necessary to stay below 750 cc to homologate the car in its category. This new engine offers six levels of power, from 24 to 35 hp SAE, all 4-tax hp. The four-in-line engine has a capacity of 45.58 cu in (747 cu cm) anddevelops 30 horse power SAE at 4,700 rpm. Structurally it presents all the characteristics necessary to ensure a long life even under the toughest condi-
tions. Particular emphasis is given to its utilitarian nature by the very low fuel consumption for, even in the worst conditions, it never does less than
40.3 m/imp gal, 33.6 m/US gal (7 litres for 100 kilometres). This fact, combined with remarkable engine flexibility at low revs.

782 cc

In 1971, the now large 782 cc appears with the increase of the bore which passes from 54,5 to 55,8 mm. This engine has been used in both variants developing 27 and 36 hp. The less powerful was mounted under the hood of the Renault 4L produced between 1971 and 1980, while the variant developing 36 hp was mounted on the Renault 5 produced between 1972 and 1976.

845 cc 

The highest displacement of the "Billancourt engine" appeared in 1956 at the launch of the larger Renault Dauphine, one of the main models equipped with this engine of now 845 cc over the original 760 cc. It was then equipped to the Renault 4 from 1964 and the Renault 6 base version. The bore is raised to 58 mm. The power varies between 30 and more power full 55 hp SAE.

In 1977, a version develops 38 hp of maximum power and 57 Nm of torque at 2500 rpm appears. This is made possible by machining the cylinder head, with new valves and valve seats, as well as improvements in engine cooling. It will be mounted on the Renault 5L from 1977 to 1984.

603 cc 

The most Basic "Billancourt engine" was the cheapest to produce. The bore is reduced to 49 mm for a total displacement of 603 cc. The maximum power reaches 23 hp SAE (20 hp DIN) at 4,800 rpm, while the maximum torque is 42 Nm. This engine was only mounted on the Renault 3 (1961-1962), an ultra-spartan basic version of the Renault 4. 

Renault Models equipped with this engine

• Renault 4CV
• Renault Juvaquatre
• Renault Dauphine / Renault Ondine
• Renault Florida / Renault Caravelle
• Renault Estafette
• Renault 3
• Renault 4
• Renault 5
• Renault 6
• Alpine A106
• Alpine A108