While out riding around on the quad at my grandparent's farm last weekend I made an interesting discovery. I found a block for an inline 8 motor. Yes you read that right, inline 8. I'd never thought I'd see such a thing but I guess they do exist. Either they are that rare or I need to broaden my gearhead knowledge . I asked my dad about it and he said that Buick(?) had an I-8 motor back in the day. Did any of the auto manufacturers offer a I-8 in their vehicles or could this be a tractor block? I'm pretty sure its from a car or truck since it was next to a pile of some old small block V8's and and trannys that belong to another relative.

I took pics of it with my phone but I don't know how to get them on my computer. I'm probably going to go back out this weekend and I'll take my camera with me to snap some more pics.

Any ideas?

 

It very likely is a Buick. I know they were used untill 48 and possibly untill 52 when the "nail valve" v8 came into use.

I think Packard also had one up untill the early 50's.

 

Back in the 20's and the 30's several car manufactures made inline 8 cyclinder motors. Of course I believe they were of the high end cars, not your average Ford. Of course Ford was the first to put a V-8 into an affordable car for the average Tom, Dick or Harry........or should I say Henry..............

 

My uncle had an old buick with an straight8, I think it was a 37, but I may be wrong on the year.

 

I knew of the Packards, but I didn't know Buick made em till the 50's.

 

Figures, my uncle is into the old cars, particularly the older sedans. Its probably his but its still cool to see a straight 8 (rolls off the tongue haha).

 

Pontiac had one as well...and yeah, straight-8 just has that ring to it. I believe my neighbor used to have a 50s Buick with one (where I first heard of them).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Straight-8_engine

 

I thought Chevy had a I-8 in thier older trucks, in the 70's I believe.

 

I think Buick made their last straight 8 in '54.The '55 was a V8.Nobody made a straight 8 after the mid fifties as the trend was to get away from the long hood that those long engines required.Ron G

 

My first car was a 1939 buick and it had a straight 8 engine and a very long hood. It was a very good car for it's day. I owned it in the early 50s.

Daniel

 

CAREFUL THERE JR!

The '70's was not that long ago....for some of us.

I had a new '69 (350), '72 (400) and '75 (454), but don't remember them having an I8 availiable in pickups. Maybe for the bigger trucks.......?

 

I don't believe there were any straight 8s in the 70s. My dad had a 52 Buick with a straight 8, and my older brother had me begging him to slow down many times. That thing would fly! The main thing I remember about that car was the radio. It made about 3 or 4 different humming sounds before it actually started playing, but then it sounded like a juke box.

 

Chrysler put I-8's in cars in the 30's and for many years made a marine engine
called the Royal.
http://www.vintagemarine.com/playtime_04.jpg

 

Chrysler had them as late as about '49, I believe. You could get them in the original Town and Country cars. I always wanted to put a new, quieter CTD in one, and really have a go! Everything I read about them (straight 8's) was the really smooth running. The first Chrysler V8 was the original 331 Hemi in '51. If it weren't such a space robbing design, they might still be around! But lets face it -- put a V* or V^ in with same/more hp, lighter weight, and much less volume, and you get a smaller car.

 

Not sure whether to or .

I suppose we should cut you a break as you weren't even alive back then.

I am not sure that Chevy ever had a straight 8 in their trucks, and for sure not in anything newer than the 50s. In the 70s you could get a Chevy with an inline 6 or a V8. The king of diesels, the Oldsmobile 350, may have found it's way into a few of them at the factory as well.