Re: Did Chevy consider Packard V8 BB Design?

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2008/9/30 20:20:26

Thanks for the mention of the 331 Caddy from 1949. It is one of my favorite trivia questions: Who built the original "small-block" GM V8? The Chevy "mouse" motor owed a lot to that design, and it was a technical marvel. One of the biggest differences that allowed the short-deck design was the nicely carved piston skirts that gave clearance for the crankshaft counterweights. A piston did not have to look like a coffee-can to work! Who'd a thunk?

At least that's one of the primary innovations of the 331 as I understand it.

I really, really hate to say this, but the '49 Caddy has some striking similarities to the same vintage Bentley. I can no longer locate the old Cars & Parts that did the comparison, or even who supposedly copied who. The article included diagrams, measurements, the works! It also included the info on how the notched piston contributed to the overall compactness of the 331.

Thanks for the picture of the Corvette straight six.

Remember what Chevy called it?