Buick straight-8 engine: Difference between revisions
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|name=Buick straight 8 | |name=Buick straight 8 | ||
|image=1947 Buick Roadmaster with Fireball 8.JPG | |image=1947 Buick Roadmaster with Fireball 8.JPG | ||
|aka={{ubl | ''Fireball Eight'' | ''Dynaflash'' }} | |aka={{ubl | ||
|''Fireball Eight'' | |||
|''Dynaflash'' | |||
}} | |||
|manufacturer=[[Buick]] ([[General Motors]]) | |manufacturer=[[Buick]] ([[General Motors]]) | ||
|production= | |production=[[Buick City]]: 1931–1953 | ||
|predecessor=[[Buick straight-6 engine]] | |predecessor=[[Buick straight-6 engine]] | ||
|successor=[[Buick V8 engine|Buick Nailhead V8]] | |successor=[[Buick V8 engine|Buick Nailhead V8]] | ||
|configuration=[[Straight-eight engine|Straight-8]] | |configuration=[[Straight-eight engine|Straight-8]] | ||
|valvetrain=[[Overhead valve engine|OHV]] | |valvetrain=[[Overhead valve engine|OHV]] | ||
|displacement={{ubl|{{cvt|220.7|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|230.4|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|233|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|235.4|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|248.1|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|263.3|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|272.6|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|278.1|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|320.2|CID|L|1}}|{{cvt|344.7|CID|L|1}}}} | |displacement={{ubl | ||
|bore={{ubl|{{cvt|2.875|in|mm}}|{{cvt|2.9688|in|mm}}|{{cvt|2.9375|in|mm}}|{{cvt|3.0625|in|mm}}|{{cvt|3.0938|in|mm}}|{{cvt|3.1875|in|mm}}|{{cvt|3.3125|in|mm}}|{{cvt|3.4375|in|mm}}}} | |{{cvt|220.7|CID|L|1}} |{{cvt|230.4|CID|L|1}} |{{cvt|233|CID|L|1}} |{{cvt|235.4|CID|L|1}} |{{cvt|248.1|CID|L|1}} | ||
|stroke={{ubl|{{cvt|3.875|in|mm}}|{{cvt|4.125|in|mm}}|{{cvt|4.25|in|mm}}|{{cvt|4.3125|in|mm}}|{{cvt|4.625|in|mm}}|{{cvt|5|in|mm|0}}}} | |{{cvt|263.3|CID|L|1}} |{{cvt|272.6|CID|L|1}} |{{cvt|278.1|CID|L|1}} |{{cvt|320.2|CID|L|1}} |{{cvt|344.7|CID|L|1}} | ||
}} | |||
|bore={{ubl | |||
|{{cvt|2.875|in|mm}} |{{cvt|2.9688|in|mm}} |{{cvt|2.9375|in|mm}} |{{cvt|3.0625|in|mm}} | |||
|{{cvt|3.0938|in|mm}} |{{cvt|3.1875|in|mm}} |{{cvt|3.3125|in|mm}} |{{cvt|3.4375|in|mm}} | |||
}} | |||
|stroke={{ubl | |||
|{{cvt|3.875|in|mm}} |{{cvt|4.125|in|mm}} |{{cvt|4.25|in|mm}} | |||
|{{cvt|4.3125|in|mm}} |{{cvt|4.625|in|mm}} |{{cvt|5|in|mm|0}} | |||
}} | |||
|power={{cvt|120-168|hp|kW|0}} | |power={{cvt|120-168|hp|kW|0}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Buick straight-8 engine''' ('''Fireball 8''') was | The '''Buick straight-8 engine''' ('''Fireball 8''') was a [[straight-eight engine|straight-eight cylinder]] automobile engine produced from 1931 to 1953 by the [[Buick]] division of [[General Motors]]. It replaced the [[Buick Straight-6 engine]] across the board in all models on its debut. | ||
==Design== | ==Design== | ||
Unlike most other car makers at the time, Buick had been using a valve-in-head/OHV [[overhead valve]] [[reverse-flow cylinder head]] design or [[Overhead valve engine|I-head]] since their inception and continued this practice in their straight-eight designs. The engine was sold in different [[engine displacement|displacements]] depending on the model of car and the year and was constructed upon two distinct (possibly more) block castings. The engine block in the smaller displacement versions internally resembled the 1937-53 inline Chevrolet 216, 235 & 261" straight six (the combustion chamber design was quite different), albeit with additional cylinders. The large block version (320 cid and 345 cid; used in large-chassis models such as the [[Buick Roadmaster|Roadmaster]]) was considerably heavier and this weight adversely affected vehicle performance and handling. In earlier years the engines used cast-in-place bearings that were then machined, which made engine rebuilding an expensive procedure, but after 1937 they began using drop-in bearings. | Unlike most other car makers at the time, Buick had been using a valve-in-head/OHV [[overhead valve]] [[reverse-flow cylinder head]] design or [[Overhead valve engine|I-head]] since their inception and continued this practice in their straight-eight designs. The engine was sold in different [[engine displacement|displacements]] depending on the model of car and the year and was constructed upon two distinct (possibly more) block castings. The engine block in the smaller displacement versions internally resembled the 1937-53 inline Chevrolet 216, 235 & 261" straight six (the combustion chamber design was quite different), albeit with additional cylinders. The large block version (320 cid and 345 cid; used in large-chassis models such as the [[Buick Roadmaster|Roadmaster]]) was considerably heavier and this weight adversely affected vehicle performance and handling. In earlier years the engines used cast-in-place bearings that were then machined, which made engine rebuilding an expensive procedure, but after 1937 they began using drop-in bearings. | ||
Initial compression ratio varied between 4.5:1 and 4.75:1 in different engines, with {{cvt|77|bhp}}, {{cvt|90|bhp}} and {{cvt|104|bhp}} for 221, 273 and 345 engines respectively; when the 320 engine was introduced, it produced {{cvt|120|bhp}}, increasing to {{cvt|170|bhp}} later.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.buickheritagealliance.org/index.php/restoration/engines/straight_8 | title=Straight 8 Engines }}</ref> | Initial compression ratio varied between 4.5:1 and 4.75:1 in different engines, with {{cvt|77|bhp}}, {{cvt|90|bhp}} and {{cvt|104|bhp}} for 221, 273 and 345 engines respectively; when the 320 engine was introduced, it produced {{cvt|120|bhp}}, increasing to {{cvt|170|bhp}} later.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.buickheritagealliance.org/index.php/restoration/engines/straight_8 |title=Straight 8 Engines |website=Buick Heritage Alliance |first=Willian C. |last=Anderson |access-date=2025-06-27}}</ref> | ||
The last year for Buick's straight-eight was 1953, but only in the lower-cost [[Buick Special]]. All other lines using the same basic chassis received the new [[Buick V8 engine#322|V8 {{cvt|322|CID|L|1}} Fireball]]. Starting in 1954, the Special received the V8 as well. | The last year for Buick's straight-eight was 1953, but only in the lower-cost [[Buick Special]]. All other lines using the same basic chassis received the new [[Buick V8 engine#322|V8 {{cvt|322|CID|L|1}} Fireball]]. Starting in 1954, the Special received the V8 as well. | ||
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|1950–1953||263||{{cvt|263.3|CID|L|1}}||{{cvt|3.1875x4.125|in|mm}} | |1950–1953||263||{{cvt|263.3|CID|L|1}}||{{cvt|3.1875x4.125|in|mm}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
|colspan="4" | | |colspan="4" |Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carnut.com/specs/specs.html |title=Car Specs |website=Carnut.com |access-date=2011-12-31}}</ref>{{vn|date=June 2025}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
[[File:1939 Buick Dynaflash inline-eight in a Series 40 Special.jpg|thumb|1939 iteration ("Dynaflash") in a Series 40 [[Buick Special|Special]], {{cvt|248|cid|L|1}}]] | [[File:1939 Buick Dynaflash inline-eight in a Series 40 Special.jpg|thumb|1939 iteration ("Dynaflash") in a Series 40 [[Buick Special|Special]], {{cvt|248|cid|L|1}}]] | ||
{| class=wikitable | {| class=wikitable | ||
|+1952 Production Engines and Ratings | |||
|- | |- | ||
!Series | !Series | ||
| Line 70: | Line 82: | ||
|70||320||{{cvt|320.2|CID|L|1}}||{{cvt|3+7/16|x|4+5/16|in|mm|1}}|| {{cvt|168|hp|kW|0}} at 3800 rpm | |70||320||{{cvt|320.2|CID|L|1}}||{{cvt|3+7/16|x|4+5/16|in|mm|1}}|| {{cvt|168|hp|kW|0}} at 3800 rpm | ||
|- | |- | ||
|colspan="5" |Note: The 320 has a head length of 34 <small>{{frac|1|2}}</small>" while the smaller engines are 31 <small>{{frac|1|4}}</small>" long. | |colspan="5" |Note: The 320 has a head length of 34<small>{{frac|1|2}}</small>" while the smaller engines are 31<small>{{frac|1|4}}</small>" long. | ||
|- | |- | ||
|colspan="5" | | |colspan="5" |Source:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.teambuick.com/reference/buick_8_engine_specs.html |title=Buick Straight Eight Specifications |website=Team Buick |access-date=2011-12-31}}</ref> | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 87: | Line 99: | ||
[[Category:Gasoline engines by model]] | [[Category:Gasoline engines by model]] | ||
[[Category:Straight-eight engines]] | [[Category:Straight-eight engines]] | ||
{{automotive-part-stub}} | {{automotive-part-stub}} | ||
Latest revision as of 21:25, 27 June 2025
Template:Infobox automobile engine
The Buick straight-8 engine (Fireball 8) was a straight-eight cylinder automobile engine produced from 1931 to 1953 by the Buick division of General Motors. It replaced the Buick Straight-6 engine across the board in all models on its debut.
Design
Unlike most other car makers at the time, Buick had been using a valve-in-head/OHV overhead valve reverse-flow cylinder head design or I-head since their inception and continued this practice in their straight-eight designs. The engine was sold in different displacements depending on the model of car and the year and was constructed upon two distinct (possibly more) block castings. The engine block in the smaller displacement versions internally resembled the 1937-53 inline Chevrolet 216, 235 & 261" straight six (the combustion chamber design was quite different), albeit with additional cylinders. The large block version (320 cid and 345 cid; used in large-chassis models such as the Roadmaster) was considerably heavier and this weight adversely affected vehicle performance and handling. In earlier years the engines used cast-in-place bearings that were then machined, which made engine rebuilding an expensive procedure, but after 1937 they began using drop-in bearings.
Initial compression ratio varied between 4.5:1 and 4.75:1 in different engines, with Template:Cvt, Template:Cvt and Template:Cvt for 221, 273 and 345 engines respectively; when the 320 engine was introduced, it produced Template:Cvt, increasing to Template:Cvt later.[1]
The last year for Buick's straight-eight was 1953, but only in the lower-cost Buick Special. All other lines using the same basic chassis received the new [[Buick V8 engine#322|V8 Template:Cvt Fireball]]. Starting in 1954, the Special received the V8 as well.
| Production | Engine | Displacement | Bore x Stroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 221 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1931–1933 | 273 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1931–1935 | 345 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1932–1933 | 230 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1934–1935 | 235 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1934–1935 | 278 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1934–1936 | 233 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1936–1952 | 320 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1937–1950 | 248 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| 1950–1953 | 263 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt |
| Source:[2]Template:Vn | |||
| Series | Engine | Displacement | Bore x Stroke | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 263 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt at 3600 rpm |
| 50 | Template:Cvt at 3600 rpm | |||
| 70 | 320 | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt | Template:Cvt at 3800 rpm |
| Note: The 320 has a head length of 34<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄2" while the smaller engines are 31<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄4" long. | ||||
| Source:[3] | ||||