History Why is the flathead V8 so popular but the straight 8's not?

Come over to the Studebaker Driver's Club site.


https://forum.studebakerdriversclub...ebaker-pictures/1953127-indy-car-25-recreated

jack vines

 

Yeah that's awesome! I had a '27 chrysler tube axle I was going to do transverse spring w T wishbones as hairpins, '28 Packard rear axle (w 4:73 stock gears!), and a running '32 Buick straight eight, was planning an open drive conversion and 20's Es*** (or similar) frame rails...However in mid covid the old fella selling all the parts that were stripped off the engine decided it wasn't worth his time anymore and bluntly told me I'd have buy his entire inventory or nothing...so I sold the engine and junked the rear... just no room for those huge parts to lie around...might revisit the plan later on w a slightly more modest T frame and 4 banger.
The point is that not a lot of guys here got my vision and even less had any constructive thoughts on the old straight eight....I thought that this being a "niche" board there would be more conversation about "unusual" (but not exotic) American powerhouses than reg. hot rod forums.
In the '40's-'50's you fixed up whatever you had and made it run as fast as you could! You didn't sit down and say "I'll wait til 1955 when they've invented a "good" engine" ROFL that's why a flathead ford simply because they were there... you fixed up what was there... period

 

What's wrong with old men having cars?

I still consider the 1930 Packard model 734 to be one of the first, if not THE first, muscle car.

Jon.

 

I heard it somewhere that the intake pulses were too hard to even out when you run longer linear intake manifolds resulting in uneven fuel mixtures and quan***y at the respective cylinders. Multiple carbs help but you are still giving up performance over a condensed v8 manifold.

 

The burgundy-colored speedster in the picture below runs a Buick straight-8. This picture was taken a week ago at the start of a Northwest Vintage Speedsters club event. Note the long hood. An incredibly smooth machine.


Technically, club rules dictate a pre-1935 4 cylinder. But at age 93 (and I'm talking about the driver here), his car is more than welcome. (The blue car in the background is mine.)

 

Friends have just done some work to theirs in the ‘53 Buick. Sounds awesome and goes a bit better they have said, although it cost an arm and leg to do

 

So much good work...and those aircleaners! I hope they tried it without them.

 

@carbking put it well. You go Jon.
I guess I am doubly old....

 

I PM'ed