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Straight From the Grave: An Iconic Engine Design Makes a Comeback [Inline 6!]
www.popularmechanics.com ^ | Aug 21, 2018 867 | By Matthew Jancer

Posted on 09/06/2018 1:25:26 PM PDT by Red Badger

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To: Nakota

I had a 62 Lancer push button slant 6 for several years. Ran as smooth as a sewing machine.


61 posted on 09/06/2018 3:44:14 PM PDT by citizen (President Trump: HeÂ’s combined The Art of the Deal with AlinskyÂ’s Rules For Radicals. Game over.)
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To: Yo-Yo
"Sorry, but in spite of Mercedes niche market use, the I6 is still dead, Jim."

Yep. Besides the issues with space for the engine, straight sixes need longer shafts (flex, rigidity, weight) and a higher center of gravity (handling, roll).


62 posted on 09/06/2018 3:52:49 PM PDT by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." - -Costco greeter in the movie, "Idiocracy")
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To: Red Badger

My wife and I owned a 1972 Dodge Demon with the 225 Slant 6 and Holley one barrel.

Bought it new in October of 1971, drove it every day as a family car and sold it to a collector in 2006. My wife then got the second car of her life at age 53.

Original engine with 186k miles. Trannie was rebuilt a couple of times (funny story about the second rebuild).

Hell of a durable engine. Body leaked something fierce - horrible body integrity. Luckily from 1979 on we were able to keep it garaged.


63 posted on 09/06/2018 4:00:41 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60's....You weren't really there)
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To: Fido969
Although Chrysler stopped making the slant six engine (The leaning tower of power) in 1987, there is still interest in them. A company called Torqstorm recently started selling supercharger kits for them:


64 posted on 09/06/2018 4:05:50 PM PDT by BansheeBill
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To: Red Badger

My 1986 BMW with a 3.5L M30 in-line-6 engine, still runs smooth....after nearly 400,000 miles.....


65 posted on 09/06/2018 4:13:33 PM PDT by AnalogReigns (Real life is ANALOG...)
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To: Red Badger

I had a 2006 GMC Canyon 4x4 that was powered by an I-5. I was taken aback, because I didn’t realize they made I-5 engines. I swore up and down it must be a V4, or an I-6.

Nope, it was inline 5 cylinder, 3.5L, 220 HP at 5600 RPM engine. The crazy thing is, around 70,000 miles, the engine got better - I gained 5 MPG after crossing the 70,000 mile mark. Never did understand that.


66 posted on 09/06/2018 4:24:42 PM PDT by ro_dreaming (Chesterton, 'Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It's been found hard and not tried')
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To: Tucker39

>That animation has the inline cylinders firing in pairs, as though it were a V. Did the old inline sixes fire like that? <

The firing order of all my chev 6s was: 1-5-3-6-2-4.

I never worked on a V6 and have no idea of their firing order.


67 posted on 09/06/2018 4:29:51 PM PDT by sciencewriter86
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To: enduserindy

I had a 72 amc yellow hornet x I bought in 84 from the salvation army for $100. Sold it three years later for $600. Wish I still had it. No problems at all. Cant say that about the 7i grand prix I “ upgraded” to.


68 posted on 09/06/2018 4:36:03 PM PDT by CJ Wolf (Free)
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To: sciencewriter86

Thanks for the reply. I posted my original reply question before thinking it through.


69 posted on 09/06/2018 4:46:57 PM PDT by Tucker39 ("It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." George Washington)
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To: Red Badger

I believe they killed the design for more compact hoods in modern cars with safety regulations.

The BMW pulled it off expertly, but that took a lot of effort.


70 posted on 09/06/2018 4:54:13 PM PDT by Celerity
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To: Bonemaker

My’51 Chevy pickup had a 216 inline six.

Then had a couple Toyota Supras and old BMWs with I6 engines.

It’s a nice format that makes for a great looking engine bay. Long and narrow with long valve covers.


71 posted on 09/06/2018 4:56:07 PM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Yardstick

And you could actually work on them.


72 posted on 09/06/2018 4:58:11 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: IncPen

ping


73 posted on 09/06/2018 4:59:59 PM PDT by Nailbiter
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To: nickedknack
Datsun 280Z!

I had a 240 Z. Engine damn near bulletproof.

74 posted on 09/06/2018 5:04:19 PM PDT by stboz
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To: ro_dreaming

I think maybe those 2002-2010 or so GM straight engines used the same parts, in an inline they just cut a cylinder off? I think they made a straight 4 too. They were called atlas engines I think?

Freegards


75 posted on 09/06/2018 8:32:26 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: ro_dreaming

Something like that anyway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Atlas_engine

Freegards


76 posted on 09/06/2018 8:33:46 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: CJ Wolf

That is a rare gem these days.


77 posted on 09/06/2018 8:41:38 PM PDT by enduserindy (IÂ’m done explaining basic math and the definition of freedom.)
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To: Ransomed

https://www.topspeed.com/trucks/truck-news/the-forgotten-inline-engine-gm-s-42-liter-atlas-i-6-ar174949.html

Not a bad powerplant at all, pretty cool actually.

Freegards


78 posted on 09/06/2018 9:56:47 PM PDT by Ransomed
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To: Red Badger
As a kid motors fanatic, I helped restore a ~1936 Pierce Arrow probably termed as a convertible coupe. That straight eight was about my mid-chest to my fingertips, 36 inches, or possibly a bit more. I don't recall whether it was a flathead like the Pontiac 6 or 8, or maybe L-head (?). A really big car. IIRC huge truck-size tires. The flat slats in the radiator grille opened and closed thermostatically. Made not far away in Buffalo.

Ah! Here it is:

Photo Courtesy: JIM DONNELLY Pierce-Arrow's Straight-Eight

79 posted on 09/06/2018 10:24:41 PM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: Red Badger

I remember the old Dodge and Plymouth 225 Slant 6 engines. They were incredibly reliable, and really did lend themselves to high performance modifications. They were very easy to work on, even in smaller cars, though changing the oil filter could be messy.

As I recall, they came from the factory with a forged steel crankshaft and solid lifters. A number of after-market companies made high performance parts. I had a friend with one that was very powerful for a car with an engine around half the displacement of typical “muscle cars.” He had set up the car with an Offy intake manifold, Holly 4 barrel carb, a very “lopey” Crane cam, and Hooker headers. It was loud and extremely fast, though stopping was very exciting with standard drum brakes!

My mother had an early 1960s Plymouth Valiant with a 225 Slant Six, and we had it until the late 1980s. It was a great little car.


80 posted on 09/06/2018 10:30:21 PM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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