We Found WHY the M60 Engine Melted Its Pistons… Then Made It Run Again!

In today’s video we continue the restoration of this American M60 Main Battle Tank — and this episode takes a huge step forward. We fit the gearbox from the tank’s original powerpack onto the spare engine we revived in the last video, lower the complete assembly back into the hull, and attempt the first proper start-up.

It wasn’t easy…
Fuel pump problems, air locks and stubborn injectors kept us fighting for every turn of the engine — but eventually the big Continental came to life and the M60 actually drove back into the workshop under its own power for the first time in years.

We also finally discovered the real reason the original engine failed so catastrophically. The tank had been run on neat kerosene, which contains almost no lubrication. That seized the injector pump, damaged several injector tips and caused them to drip instead of atomise fuel. The result? A dangerously hot burn pattern, excess oxygen, and pistons literally melted through the domes. A proper kerosene-induced disaster.

And as if that wasn’t enough drama, we then tested the turret electrics — and despite heavy gas-axe damage to the wiring loom, the entire turret system miraculously powered up and worked under electric control!

This project continues to surprise us, and today was a massive leap forward.
Thanks for following the journey — there’s more M60 progress coming soon!