another hateful retoration chore

[Mike M.]

thank god there were only about 650 V8 55 vettes built. i just finished getting all the distributor, coil, condensor, capacitor, ignition shielding and plug wires installed. and it took a good 8 hours to accomplish. without the help of Dave Ferguson(on the current cover of the RESTORER), it'd probably take another week and a couple case of the beast to get thru with this cluster-deal. mike

[Kevin G.]

Re: another hateful retoration chore

From what I understand they would have been the first V 8's Chevrolet built since 1919.

[Mike M.]

Re: another hateful retoration chore

From what I understand they would have been the first V 8's Chevrolet built since 1919.

late in the year 1917, chevy introduced its first V-8 and continued thru the 1918 model year. it was a 90 degree v-8 with overhead valves and its displacement was 288 ci. it never amounted to much, unlike its 1955 265 ci younger bro. mike

[John H.]

Re: another hateful retoration chore

late in the year 1917, chevy introduced its first V-8 and continued thru the 1918 model year. it was a 90 degree v-8 with overhead valves and its displacement was 288 ci. it never amounted to much, unlike its 1955 265 ci younger bro. mike

Yup - interesting engine for the time; had a 2-piece iron block, split vertically and bolted together, with the Kettering starter top-mounted in the valley like the recent Cadillac Northstar V-8's.

See my "Vintage Tech Bench" column in next month's (June) issue of "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine for a complete description and history of the engine and its use in the "Model D" Chevrolet.

[Kevin G.]

Re: another hateful retoration chore

Mike/John,

I would be curious to know why didn't Chevrolet continue to build this motor? What were it's weaknesses or failures?

[John H.]

Re: another hateful retoration chore

Mike/John,

I would be curious to know why didn't Chevrolet continue to build this motor? What were it's weaknesses or failures?

Kevin -

It didn't have any inherent mechanical weaknesses; the issue was cost - it was very expensive to produce, and pushed the price of the car out of its 4-cylinder competitive category; only 3500 were sold in 1917-18.

[Kevin G.]

Re: another hateful retoration chore

Kevin -

It didn't have any inherent mechanical weaknesses; the issue was cost - it was very expensive to produce, and pushed the price of the car out of its 4-cylinder competitive category; only 3500 were sold in 1917-18.

Thanks John,

I'm sure your article will be very interesting I'll be sure to read it!

It does seem like a very long time (from 1919 to 1955) or 36 years before another V 8 was produced?

[Wayne W.]

Re: another hateful retoration chore

Cadillac continued with V8 production throughout, and worked out the problems which mainly had to do with balancing a V8.