Why the /6

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Snake

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I just got to ask why the /6 over a much better and more powerfull sbv8 or bbv8 why do you keep that low power unit?:wack:
 
I will agree with more powerful but would argue the much better statement. The slant six is a very reliable engine at least on par with the V8's. I like stuff that is different too. When I open my hood a lot of the younger crowd doesn't even know what a slant six is. I have not always had a thing for the straight six engines. In my younger days I hated six cylinder cars, maybe I am just getting old. I now have a flat head six in my '41 Dodge too. My motto now is "Six in a row is a fine way to go". I don't think the fuel mileage is that much different from a small V8, but the sixes were generally cheaper to buy which made them more economical.
 
They sound like a sewing machine ya think.I had 2 years back if you soup it up it will go but why would you.
 
I keep my little 170 ci slant in my car because
1 this is the matching engine to my 66 Plymouth
2 believe it or not it NOW has all the power I need to enjoy driving
3 I believe it will be dependable for many years to come 77.000 miles on it
4 I enjoy the 23 mpg
5 I am updating my chassis as I drive just in case I do go V8
6 when I pop the hood at a car show or drag strip you should hear the stories that I watch men/ladies tell there kids :glasses7:
7 Granted it's not fast, but she can run a 12 second 1/8 mile and it can get out of it's own way and cruse 75 mph all day and night like a piece of farm equipment
8 The starter on this engine can be found most any V8 mopar/Jeep anywhere and bolt up and get me back on the road.
9 In my case :glasses7: some times less is more :D
10 I am still learning about these great little historical engines
 
Cause its different, its reliable and its original ( at least in my case )

Go the shows and see how many slant six cars are there, everyone follows the herd of building V-8s.
 

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They are a cool little engine that's different. (If you dare to be different)
They are very reliable too. I've never had a bad one, just not a great engine for a pickup if you load it up and want to go up hills.......
 
Excellent thread! I'm interested to hear all the reasons. For me:

Mom's '66 Valiant drove the distance to the moon and partway back before a careless driver hit the car.

Inline 6's have an even firing order so they are smooth.

They are simple to work on.

I still remember the first time my Dad opened up the new Valiant on the highway, me in the back seat, his words "this car's a bomb!"
 
I believe I got very lucky to have a 2.700 lb Sedan to rome around in, I had a /6 in a Ramcharger and it was a great HWY driver and parts grabber, but I must admit I wanted to put a V8 in it
 
I owned a 2.3L 4 cyl turbo mustang svo. It was so much fun eating 5.0 GT Cobra's and them opening the hood to show them they were just beat by a sewing machine. (please don't judge me, lol)

The slant six is an amazing engine, reliable, tough... I've been squirreling slant six parts away (Doug Dutra exhaust manifolds, Clifford and offy intakes, performance pistons, etc) so one day I can build a little slant six that will pull respectable times on the track. Something different with a bit of a challenge.

The latest Mopar action has a few cool little super charged sixes in it. It's worth a look.
 
:axe:I guess, see how much you can do with so little.Hell, I like Poly 318 engines too !
"Run what ya brung" Use what ya got"
I totally agree with you. I'm friends with the folks at Indy Cylinder Heads. They just look at me and shake their heads (the ones that are attached to their necks). Russ said "For what you got in that slant you could have had a Hemi".
Maybe that's why they call it "Slant Sickness"
I've always been told that my brain fires on different cylinders...
 
Reliability, extremely low maintenance cost, and reasonable fuel economy. I drive the 73 slant 75 miles a day. Stick the key in and go. Factory choke works great so even on a cold morning it fires right off.

The 225 has more than enough power to get your butt to work at 60 mph.

You know all those threads that are started about "this problem" or "that problem"..... You don't need to make those with a well tuned, slant, driver.
 
Reliability, extremely low maintenance cost, and reasonable fuel economy. I drive the 73 slant 75 miles a day. Stick the key in and go. Factory choke works great so even on a cold morning it fires right off.

The 225 has more than enough power to get your butt to work at 60 mph.

You know all those threads that are started about "this problem" or "that problem"..... You don't need to make those with a well tuned, slant, driver.

Well said.
 
Had one,wish I never sold it. The gas mileage was on par,with my late model drivers. You can fix it on the side of the road,no tow truck call needed. And it's different.
 
They sound like a sewing machine ya think.I had 2 years back if you soup it up it will go but why would you.

a slant with a few upgrades is a nice engine, if in a factory car; why not? why ruin a clean rust free original car with a small block

I love V8's too, I'd never own a slant truck but cars especially A body are decent
 
Im thinking that you guys that comment about slant trucks have not driven one, mine is an 86 4 wheel drive heavy truck and it gets up and goes. Its all in the gearing. No not a 70 MPH highway ride but still alot of fun.
 
I have a 72 dodge dart and I chose to keep the slant six instead of doing a V8 swap for two reasons.

one. the slant six is a unique item that is rarely seen these days and has some historical value as being a staple of Chrysler corp. through the 60s and 70s.

two. I have a ton of great memories in my dart and I would like to restore it to the state it was in in when I first bought it years ago. Part of the good memories is how it always sounded and had little quirks with the slant six. After going everywhere in that car for years I just want it back the way it was so I can try and re-live younger days. :supz: (without the women and wild parties in the car that is)
 
Because I like it!
Need more than that?
Good fuel economy, great low end torque, cheep, simple, different, original, and to simple to quit even when broken!

"not a great engine for a pickup if you load it up and want to go up hills.." (dartnut)
The one I had in my 3/4 ton crew cab pu didn't have any trouble pulling hills at 65-70 with ~6k in the bed and ~7k in a 16' tandem axle trailer in back. Went over 600 miles loaded that way.
 
Another reason, They just look mean ! With a little work....:burnout:
 

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...nah :)

. bad gas mileage
. sucky sound
. I guess if I were a lot older or a lot younger...
. yes, it can get you to 60 but a bugger to pass on a non double lane road....and you have to use a lot of your right foot...did I mention bad gas mileage ?
. V8, way more fun....

you only go through life once... but that is just our opinion..

My grandmother once said that if there was only one book in the library, life would be really dull...

Grassy
 
I don't see it as trying to be different as much as using a well designed engine. Breath on it and its a willing mill. It looks good also!
 
There is no real reason to build a /6 over a V8 and really there's no reason to build anything smaller than a 440 but people like to be different or challenges, I want to build a 400 hp 273 mainly for those reasons. The /6 was only ever put in cars cause there cheaper to build.
 
Here's a member's /6 that doesn't sound like a sewing machine and seems to have plenty of power.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI3Mg51sbAI"]66 Plymouth Valiant Signet 225 slant six - YouTube[/ame]
 
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