Posted by chriscase on Thursday, July 07, 2005 at 3:23PM :
In Reply to: Flathead V6 posted by Cheyenne on Thursday, July 07, 2005 at 12:00PM :
v6's have an inherent balance problem that does not exist for V8s. Start thinking of what angle you would need between the cylinder banks to fire 3 times per revolution, and evenly spaced. It isn't done. The arly Buick V6 just fires 3 cyls 90 deg apart, skips one, then fires three more, skips one. "odd fire", Very shakey idea. Later ones use offset ground crank journals- where the two rods go one one journal, they are ground offset about 1/2 inch, weakening the crank. (even fire) Technology of the 50's wasn't up to that. And style of trucks didn't require the low hood which neccessitated the V or slant six configuration.
But I was wrong (once?) before...