DAY OF THE 8

NZ Truth, Issue 1185, 16 August 1928, Page 15

DAY OF THE 8

Many Problems Solved The day of the eight-cylinder car m America is at hand, according to a prophecy made by Thomas Litle, of the Marman Motor Com- •, pany, and formerly chief engineer of the Lincoln branch, of Ford ' motors. „'" .."';<.*'' TITLE declares ' that" the eight-- *-• cylinder engines produced m the [ last year or eighteen .'month's by American manufacturers have been so successful that their' -general adoption throughout the whole 'of the mediumpriced class is asisurSd. When the first eight-in-line engines were produced new. problems were encountered, whjch'. took some time to solvent:? '""■■'• ' : "•Vi-'vi'v ' '. One of these.was , the distribution of the mixture to .the cylinders. The great length' of the manifold resulted m an unequal distribution, but this problem 'has been successfully overcome. ;'. ■; •-'; • Another weakness of the straight eight was distortion owing to the length of the cylinder block, but this, again, no longer is a hindrance. .' . The advantages of, the "eight"; are higher speed for the same displacement as the "six,", less distortion m the smaller-sized cylinders and greatly increased acceleration. . ; Speaking of the trend of car design generally, Litle says that American makers are beginning to concentrate on a smaller and lighter machine this being made possible by the greater knowledge possessed about springing and the betterment of the roads. American machines are also being made lighter all round by the increased use of lighter ■ metals and higher quality steel.