Re: Convert '37 115C to straight eight?

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2010/2/6 19:54:36

It should be kept in mind that 115HP was a VERY powerful engine for a prewar car.

Very few cars had over 100HP. Fords and Chevs were 65-85HP. Medium priced 6 cylinder cars had around 100. The most powerful cars on the market were the big straight eight Packards and Chryslers and V8 Cadillacs at 135 to 180. But these were much bigger, 4000 to 5000 pound cars.

So a 115HP medium priced six was not a slow car. Even today you should have no trouble keeping up with traffic.

This comes back to the question of torque vs horsepower. The old high torque long stroke engines are better performers on the road, than you would think just by reading a spec sheet.

Provided of course that they are in good shape and giving their full power.