Years ago, my dad gave me a 1941 Buick, Coupe, 3 speed, stick. That car was a dream to drive. It was my first car, (at 15). That Buick would run all day at high speed. However, it would take it a long time to get there. Just put the pedal to the metal and leave it there. I never could get it wide open. (Long stroke engine) I put 3 carb's on it and it would just keep picking up speed. I loved that Buick. Could there be an 8 cyl diesel out there, just looking for a Dodge??

 

inline 8 diesel in a high speed diesel application isn't the best design.. the inline 6 for a high speed diesel is only bested by a v12 for balance..
[high speed diesel is anything over ~1,000rpm, med speed 100rpm~1,000rpm, low speed >100rpm]

 

Wanna bet whether an inline 6 or V12 is cheaper to make or more reliable (due to complexity)?

I'll take the 6, thanks.

 

As inline engines get longer and longer, the torsional stiffness and torsional resonant frequencies of the crankshaft (and even the camshaft) become problematical.

Generally my employer would build inline 4-cycle power engines up to 8 cylinders and then go to the V configuration for 12, 16 and 20 cylinder engines. We did build some V-8 locomotive diesels, however.

Rusty

 

The I8 would be very long. You could rest your coffee cup on #8 valve cover.

Now, if we make them opposing cylinders and lay them 90 degree on the side we could shrink the lenght back to a managable size, but now we have the heads sticking out the fenders!

 

well now, torsional load could be more easily spread if yu take the drive power off the center of the crank, between the front four and the back four cylinders, a gear drive low slung output. this gear would be part of the crankshaft, and double as the harmonic balancer. also driven off the center off this same gear cut on the crank, would be the cam, thus reducing torsional forces in this item. "cmon roll with that idea a while.......

 

Just like the inline 6 diesels in the early 70's Dodge highway tractors. The short hood ones had 3 cyls in the passenger compartment. Kept your lunch warm.