Posted by Don in Missouri on Friday, July 08, 2005 at 12:16PM :
In Reply to: Re: Flathead V6 posted by Brett in AK on Thursday, July 07, 2005 at 8:31PM :
All I got were pictures of catfish.
I have never heard of a flathead V-6. I be interested in learning if one ever existed.
I'm guessing the question is about overhead valve V-6s. The GMC V-6 was definitely a truck engine, displacing 351 cubic inches. It is distinct from the smaller Buick and Jeep V-6s.
I have heard non-motorheads use the term V-6 to refer to any six cylinder motor regardless of whether it was a V-6, an in-line engine, or even an opposed cylinder configuration. The typical offender may describe, for example, the 4.0L V-6 in her Jeep Cherokee or Wrangler. When you correct them, they either didn't know the V meant the engine is acutally shaped like a V or they never knew there was such a thing as a straight six. They only know what they hear in car commercials.
Here's something I don't know. I see Volkswagens that say W8 on them. Does that mean it has three banks of four cylinders?
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