Most reliable engine?

[tony m]

346 flathead V8

[Otto Skorzeny]

Back to the original question. What engine is most reliable?
 
OHV V8. This doesn't mean that the 346 flattie is unreliable, though.
 
If you took the average schmo who doesn't work on cars and knows nothing about antique autos or engines in particular, he would be best advised to choose a car with a post war OHV engine.   
 
Why? It has fewer idiosyncracies to deal with and will behave more like a modern vehicle to which most people are accustomed. It is less prone to overheating and less prone to vapor lock. It has a better electrical system.

All things being equal the OHV will, on average I think, give more dependable and reliable service. Does this mean I wouldn't jump in a car with a flathead V8 and drive it across the country? Heck no. I would just be paying a lot closer attention to it than I would in an OHV car.

[Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397]

hi mike:
what were the diferences between the 61 and the 62 - 49 club coupe?
thanks.
ciao,
mario
In addition to the items on Ken's list, there was one other very difference in the two series:  the 62 had two-toned upholstery while the 61's cloth was a solid color.


It was the trim package. The model 62 had the upgraded trim package:
* Stainless Stone Gaurd behind the front wheel
* Stainless strip covering the rocker panel
* Windshild trim moldings on interior were chrome
* Interior door glass trim was chrome (it is di-noc transfer in 61 (black/brown color))
* Rear seat has a center arm rest
All that for $184 more!
See pics

Ken

[Dan LeBlanc]

I'm going to play devil's advocate here for a moment.  I'm a strong believer in the philosophy in the reliability of an engine is only as good as the maintenance and tuning put into it.  A relatively un-maintained OHV will be less reliable than a meticulously maintained flahead.  Many flathead engines were pretty much bulletproof.  Look at the flathead Ford - still a poplular engine today with many parts and even performance parts being made today.

[Otto Skorzeny]

Yes,that goes for any engine. My business partner has a '93 F150 with 310,000 miles on it (never rebuilt). It's in better shape and more reliable than most any other truck with 1/3 the miles and half the age.

The point is, all things being equal, you will get more trouble free service from a ohv than a flattie in the same condition.

[tony m]

Dear Sirs and Ladies,

I feel that the 346 Flathead V-8 is the most reliable engine ever produced by Cadillac.

1. Must give it points for longevity, started production long before the other mentioned engines.
2. Must give it credit for the breakthrough hydraulic valve setup for operating smoothness.
3. Broke ground in the American car market and paved the way for the later models to be noticed.
4. Started the synchronized transmission shifting.
5. Was a good enough motor to make America forget about producing the V-12's and 16's.
6. The first really reliable performing Flathead V-8 of its time, not just a looker but a driver, the dirt track loved em in the 60's.
7. Good enough motor for WWII tank service.
8. Tough enough motor to not need an oil filter system as standard equipment.
9. This motor is in my car......

Tony M.

[Otto Skorzeny]

If they were an inherently more reliable engine design, I would think that all modern engines produced today would be flatties.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

No, no, no.  The reason for the OHV was not inherent reliablility but thermal efficieny.  Higher octane gas was coming due to advancements in making gasoline.  The higher octane gasoline allowed higher compression ratios without pinging.  Higher compression ratios mean more power and less heat from each pound of gasoline.  The flathead couldn't get to higher compression ratios without roughness and restrictions in breathing from the valves to the cylinder.  As is typical one advancement leads to another.  The Cadillac flathead was indeed a solid design but I think Cadillac knew even before the war that they would have to start with a clean sheet of paper for the next engine to take advantage of the coming improvements in the octane rating of gasoline.  They did not start studying OHV designs because the flathead was unreliable.  It was because the design had reached the limits of performance and efficiency.

[tony m]

A 346 cu in Flathead V-8 hands down.

[tony m]

Which engine is the most reliable, the flathead V-8 or the OHV V-8? Which is better for town driving and which is best for freeway driving?

The best motor ever produced by Cadillac was the 346 Flat head V-8.  Reasons:

1. Produced the best performing Cadillac of its era- 30's.
2. Introduced Synchronized down shifting.
3. The most reliable Flat head of its time, a true driver even today, not a Cord type looker only.
4. Opened the way for the rest of the V-8's of the future.
5. Performed so well and so popular Cadillac chose to eliminate the 12 and 16 cylinder motors.
6. Our country used them as tank motors for WWII.
7. One of the first solid pour cast iron blocks.
8. So good of a motor no oil filter was necessary.
9. Hydraulic valves used to eliminate as much noise as possible.
10.There just happens to be one of these in my coach.

Tony M.

[Owen Nacker]

1. Produced the best performing Cadillac of its era- 30's.

 The OHV V-8 soundly outperformed the flat head. Compare the '48 to '49 figures

2. Introduced Synchronized down shifting.

 That's a transmission, nothing to do with the engine. Syncho-Mesh was introduced for the 1928 model year

3. The most reliable Flat head of its time, a true driver even today, not a Cord type looker only.

 True enough, but you are comparing it to other flatheads, not any OHV engines

4. Opened the way for the rest of the V-8's of the future.

 Not true. The 1949 OHV V-8 revolutionised not only V-8 engines, but all other engines with it's advancements. The Cadillac flatheads were evolutionary. Dating from the first V-8 of 1915, which was revolutionary in itself.

5. Performed so well and so popular Cadillac chose to eliminate the 12 and 16 cylinder motors.

 The V-12 was eliminated after the 1936 model year, along with the V-16 which its' design was based on. A 431 cid flathead V-16 replaced it, but was built in such small numbers, and cost so much to build, that it was discontinued on those merits more than the relative performance of the V-8. The 431 V-16 produced 185 hp, made mountains of torque and was silk smooth. Attributes that were not matched by the V-8.

6. Our country used them as tank motors for WWII.

 Yes, they did. But only in light tanks.

7. One of the first solid pour cast iron blocks.

 Every Model T built has a mono-block. As was every Ford V-8. Cadillac was actually late to the party on this one.

8. So good of a motor no oil filter was necessary.

  That makes no sense.

9. Hydraulic valves used to eliminate as much noise as possible.

 The 1930 V-16 was the first to use hydraulic valve lash adjustors, and that actually eliminated one of the disadvantages of the OHV engine and paved the way for its' general acceptance.

10.There just happens to be one of these in my coach.

 That is the best reason you have so far. And I know this is all tongue in cheek. 

 Mike

[Sweede64]

OK folk´s i am sticking my neck out here, listen to this, Ford 300 inline six.
Cant brake it unless you shoot it with a 357 magnum.

[Otto Skorzeny]

OK folk´s i am sticking my neck out here, listen to this, Ford 300 inline six.
Cant brake it unless you shoot it with a 357 magnum.

That's true but it doesn't have anything to do with the original question which was very specific. See below:

Which engine is the most reliable, the flathead V-8 or the OHV V-8? Which is better for town driving and which is best for freeway driving?

It could be argued that the two would be roughly equal on the highway but the edge would go to the OHV. In town the OHV wins hands down if stop and go traffic and high summer temps are involved.

[tony m]

Mike Jones........you got me!  My reasons come from passion, not necessarily all fact, but I still vote for the Flathead......


Tony M.

[tony m]

To all,

Isn't this great being able to contract all this knowledge and passion from our members.  I am so happy I discovered this "Forum".

I have been stagnant with my Cadillac for 20 years, I feel like a kid again.

Tony M.

[Owen Nacker]

Mike Jones........you got me!  My reasons come from passion, not necessarily all fact, but I still vote for the Flathead......


Tony M.

 LOL! That's why I said what I said for reason #10.

 But I'm sure someone would have said what I said about the other reasons.

 Mike