Olds built inline eights through 1948; Chrysler through 1950; Buick through 1953; Packard and Pontiac through 1954. All but the Buicks are flatheads; all have a relatively small bore and long stroke. Several Inliners have built and raced Buicks; a supercharged Chrysler has run at Bonneville in the recent past. i have seen in one of Don Montgomery's books pictures of a lakes modified from the 1930s powered by an Olds inline eight.
These engines make plenty of torque at low rpm. If you're not in a hurry, you can leave it in high gear and move out smoothly and deliberately. If you want to modify an inline eight to make power, then count the number of main bearings--more will be better. The issues of torsional vibration encountered by inline sixes will be multiplied in eights.
In the early 1940s Buick made dual intake manifolds for the 320 cid eight, and there are probably more vintage "hot rod" parts available for the Buick than for all the others combined. For most of these engines, one must make one's own "speed equipment," just as one had to do in 1930s and 1940s.
One thing for sure: you won't see another one under every hood at a show. i am among those who are always glad to see a well-made modified inline, from the the fours to the eights.
God's Peace to you.
d
Inliner #1450
