1948 buick straight 8

[mastersduhgree]

THe straight 8 took tooo much hood space to accomodate the engine.I think thats why they discontinued it.They do sound like a smooth engine tho.Ill bet they had some very controlable power too.

[OverlyExcitedNewJack]

the I8 engine configuration needs to come back!

[EdVidz]

Wonder why Buick had an OHV Straight 8 for several years while Pontiac still had the Flathead Straight 8 (which was a jewel to be sure).

[TerminatorFRA]

@M335 I just can't, though I know it would be better than a I6 which has an ice sound too.

[TerminatorFRA]

@M335 200% with you.

[TerminatorFRA]

@M335 But I don't said I don't like it though. ^^

[TerminatorFRA]

@M335 You just missunderstood me. ;)

I said that the V8 vibrates more than the I8, the I8 is better to drive.

A 3 cylinder isn't balanced, so is a V6 and that's why I don't like them, I like more the I6. A V8 is like two I4, a I4 has a correct balance, but not as perfect as a I6 though. Now the I8 is the pinacle in balancing but unafortunately lacks the sturdiness of the V8.

[Dav123xyz]

very nice

[OzzInter]

Great old engine, great to see one runnng!

[mastersduhgree]

Those old straight 8,s were sure a smooth running engine

[pontiac1951]

I found one of these "compound carburation" 2*2bbl on long manifold, here from finland and i will put it to my 53´buick special.I got few project 97´s but i think i get pair of demon carburators on it.

your engine sound´s great.....

[gripjohnny]

*nordic- you can get some custom linkage parts thru Jegs auto, or Moroso or Napa auto parts. they don't really make ones for the buicks, but you can buy the correct swivels and ball sockets and such from them, the rods you can probably find at a local hardware store. it most likely will tae some custom cutting but that the fun of an old car :)

its just a matter of find the right length rod, the connectors and hooking it into the original linkage, or you can go Lokar with a cable throttle

[gripjohnny]

my linkage was hand built using a double end threaded rod with 2 carb connectors in the ends, had an adjustable sliding center point which hooked up to the original linkage.the original throttle linkage at the firewall had to be resupported, if I remember correctly the original throttle at the firewall came up from the gas pedal and the would rotate couterclockwise,I just took a piece of squarestock and welded that to the firewall and mounted the original linkage to it,

[NordicPrince]

Gripjohnny - I just picked up an Edmunds dual carb intake for my '49 Roadmaster with the 320 motor. I did not get any throttle linkage for the Holley 94's - gat any sources or ideas, diagrams etc? Also, how much difference did the two carbs make in the performance? She looks and sounds grand.

[jengadill]

Sounds good! Enjoy that old timer.

[gripjohnny]

nothing before 1973 (i think). these cars are way before all that smog bulls%$t

[seapeddler]

Isn't it law in California that vehicles meet strict emission tests?

It was just a simple question, that's all.

[seapeddler]

Do these engine pass CARB requirements?

Can they be made to if not?

[Aelleor]

@seapeddler Why would you want to?

[bicyclewreck]

@seapeddler These cars are "grandfathered" in, they existed prior to the law being passed and are exempt from it.

[Simca1991]

Wonderfull engine sound and i love the motor!

[volker185]

Volker185

You can get a beautiful sound if you split the manifold 6 and 2. Only problem is those pot metal manifolds that have difficulty holding a weld.

[charlie8575]

Buick straight 8s and Hudson 6s...two of my favorite sounds, especially when running well.

[cotmullion]

That engine runs so smoothly.

[bucko60]

do these motors have balance issues with the crankshaft?

[earlnut]

I had a '41 Buick with the single carb set-up. And when it was tuned up, you could stand a nickel on it's end on top of the tappet cover while it was idling! An old Buick guy tuned it up for me. He said that the compound carburetor set-up would never idle that nice. I don't know if that's true or not. People would think the engine died when I pushed the clutch in though!

[bucko60]

thanks for the info!

[3Deity]

My old bass took one of these apart in Denmark in the 70s. Only when it was in pieces did they realise they forgot what order the pistons went in. They rebuilt it several dozen times and got it down to about three hours a go. Eventually someone told them where the piston numbers where scored on them. By that time, 18 months later, they where completely sick of the car and sold it! :o)

[gripjohnny]

I've found most inline motors are very well balanced compared to V motors because they balance straight up and down rather than both sides. I've seen most straight *'s running like a top even with high mileage or age

[rhrhllc]

@gripjohnny We have a 91 Volvo we use as beater/extra car with a 2.9 inline 6. Obviosly its far from cool but my mom got it new and now it has 360,000+ miles on it. It still runs like a top, motor has never been apart. Only fluids filters and a couple a timing belts (not cuz they broke just cuz they can). It burns very little oil maybe a quart between changes. At this point its becoming a novelty just to see how long the butt ugly pos will last.

[daMoleKing]

How much does it weigh?

[gripjohnny]

The carbs are just 97's. I got the intake from a friend. They come up on eBay every now and again. They only fit 248 and 263 motors. They have dual exhaust ports so you can run actual dual exhaust instead of split pipes. They are a bit rare to find cause they only came on 1940 & 1941. Any 3 bolt carb will work. You will have to build a progressive linkage cause stock the rear carb is vaccum activated

[NMM1971]

where did you get the manifold and carb setup?

have a 53 buick but cant locate anything like what you have.

[gripjohnny]

you can hardly see it but the fan belts on this motor and on other was almost twice as wide as regular belts, so it did have a tendency to squeek a lot more that other cars I've owned, I just kept a can of belt conditioner in the trunk!! usually wasn't a big deal.

[alexpfaff]

Gotta love it! Buick Power!!!! That engine has so much torque, it has no idea that fan is there, Afterall, it was born with it and left Flint Michigan with it...

Oh! and the fan is all you're supposed to hear on a Buick straight 8!!!

Compound Carburation was optional in 1941 and 1942 ONLY, but as you see here, it will fit other years

[xWARBRINGER]

straight eight just sounds so nice, just saying it. lol. never seen one in real life, but hope to...

[laurensadriaanse]

you need to drive one before you die

[yamahonkawazuki]

i have, and wholeheartedly agree

[dexter2433]

yes get a clutch fan and save a few ponies and they just work better to

o ye very nice set up there looks like allot hard work ,

came to life

[heatherandpaul2]

Wow, all you hear is that fan bro.

[Moparskunk]

Get rid of that nasty sounding fan, it's chokin that poor motor!

[DRNEGOLICIS]

i wonder how long it is and if it will fit in a 1990s or 80s chevy truck

[superzaff]

Beautiful sound!

[mickeymoose76]

doesnt sound as nice as a v8 though...

[TerminatorFRA]

Yes but it hasn't the vibration of a V8, it's much better to drive. ;)

[gripjohnny]

dual carbs came stock on 1940 and 1941 buicks. they fit any 248 and 263 straight 8 motors. and the rear carbs is vaccum stock. stock HP was about 115, maybe made it about 130-ish, not much for these ol' tractor motors.

[carguysn]

compound carburation!!

[oldcarnut1980]

I like the dual carbs. Did you modify or was that original? How much HP now? Nice job!! OLDCARNUT1980

[Brycealmighty112]

Sounds awsome!!!

[MadYarMadYar]

Runs smoooth :) - straight 8.