V6 vs Inline 6

[Vic]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
V6... more balance... most likely smoother.

although the I6 is capable of more power IIRC.

note: I only voted V6 cause I LOVE the VQ30DE engine

You have that backwards. The V6 suffers from both 1st and 2nd order forces of vibration and imbalance while the I6 is the smallest engine configuration that suffers from no such forces.

And the L28 in the 280Z was an exceptional engine in its time for a production car.

 

[bernse]

Yeah.. That whole series from the 1969 L24 up to the 1983 L28ET were fantastic. I think the diesel (only put in the Maxima IIRC) was not ony decent, it was quite good.

Just goes to show how strong those bloody things were. Loved to rev, too. (Not the diesel, of course! )

 

[bernse]

I'd still like a 1983 280ZX Turbo.

 

For smoothness and power: I6 > H6 > VR6 > V6

For space constraints: VR6 > V6 > H6 > I6

End of thread.

 

[Brutuskend]

Originally posted by: Roger
As aircooled stated, flat six baby !

When are you bringing me my Corvair engine there buddy?!?!

And why is SLANT 6 not a option?

Those were some badass 6's!

 

[SuperTool]

Radial 6 cylinder
http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/collections/engines/engine_info.cfm?engine_id=3

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: Brutuskend

Originally posted by: Roger
As aircooled stated, flat six baby !

When are you bringing me my Corvair engine there buddy?!?!

And why is SLANT 6 not a option?

Those were some badass 6's!

slant=inline

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Ameesh
depends on if i cared at all

If you don't care why did you even click on the thread?

 

When are you bringing me my Corvair engine there buddy?!?!

Brut, send me some $$$ for packaging and shipping and I will send you one for free, christ, I have nine of them sitting here collecting dust.

 

[Quixfire]

Inline Six, the Ford 4.9L engine is one the best built six cylinders ever.

 

[Ryan]

Inline 6's are nice, but many V6 engines are just as good.

 

Quote

Originally posted by: Ameesh
depends on if i cared at all


If you don't care why did you even click on the thread?

Because he is a typical elitest wanker?

 

[J Heartless Slick]

Originally posted by: geno
Inline - smoother, torquier, generally can handle more HP

 

[Jeff7181]

I'll take a twin turbo V6 please. But of course I'd rather have the Malibu SS across the street

 

[FlashG]

Any BSME's here willing to explain power pulse cancellations to these folks. My brain hurts too much today.

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: FlashG
Any BSME's here willing to explain power pulse cancellations to these folks. My brain hurts too much today.

I wanted to resurrect this thread to add a couple of good articles that discuss harmonics and smoothness..

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

Slant 6 for me. Those things were indestructible.

 

[geno]

V6... more balance... most likely smoother

Not trying to step on toes here, but a V6 is less balanced than an I6, and less likely to be smoother. An I6 needs no balance shafts because it's perfectly balanced as it is. V6's will always need balance shafts to even hold a candle to an I6's natural silkiness.

 

[jemcam]

Anyone ever sat in an old Buick straight 8? Those things were so quiet and smooth you really coudn't tell if it was running unless there was no ambient noise. I once looked at buying a 1950 Buick Special, and when I got to the lot, it was already running and didn't know it until the car salesman told me it was already running. Those were damn smooth engines!

 

[ckk81]

I6 all the way, both of my cars are an Inline-6. The Power are really smooth compare to any V6 that i have driven before.

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: jemcam
Anyone ever sat in an old Buick straight 8? Those things were so quiet and smooth you really coudn't tell if it was running unless there was no ambient noise. I once looked at buying a 1950 Buick Special, and when I got to the lot, it was already running and didn't know it until the car salesman told me it was already running. Those were damn smooth engines!

My 1st car (dad gave me) a refurbishe 54 Pontiac straight 8. Smooth as well. Had a problem with crank whip when I raced a dual quad 56 265? V8 Chevy.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: aircooled
Flat 6

Ditto. And the beauty is that a flat six can be every bit as balanced as an inline six, plus a flat six just has that sound. I love the sound of Porsche's old 2.0 litre flat sixes, especially when they are just a bit cold still and make that popping noise.

ZV

 

Corvair flat sixes are inherently balanced as well as the Porsche flat sixes.
Any engine with opposing cylinders will run smoother than any inline or V type engine.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Roger
Corvair flat sixes are inherently balanced as well as the Porsche flat sixes.
Any engine with opposing cylinders will run smoother than any inline or V type engine.

Depends on the specific engine though. The flat four in my 914 feels decidedly less smooth than the inline 4 in my 924S. Of course, the 924S has engine mounts that aren't essentially solid, as well as two of the biggest balance shafts I have ever seen. Take off the balance shafts and the 924 will literally shake its engine into little tiny (and expensive) pieces. Still, the little 2.0 litre flat four in the 914 doesn't feel all that smooth. (Then again, the 914 needs some love. )

ZV

 

Zem, what you are feeling are not secondary shaking forces but the power pulses from the combustion events