Im just courious over this. I always see the flathead v8 engines being built and never the I6 engines, and im talking about the 1948-53 style. Theres only a difference of about 20 cubic inches between the 2, the v8 obviously the bigger engine. It just seems to me that the I6 would get some attention. It has 1 more main cap than the v8 does giving it a stonger bottom end than the v8. Does anyone know why these are never hot rodded? Am I missing some obvious detail like the crankshaft being weak or something? I have a 1946 ford pickup which I plan to build a flathead motor for, and the thoughts of a supercharged I6 just seems like a different approach. I got a 239 v8 from a 1950 I could build but the I6 just seems to be a better motor. What do you guys think, the I6 just not worth it for some little reason i'm overlooking?

 

The reason may be as simple as the availibility of parts. Stock and hop-up V8 parts are available new, NOS and used from many dealers, hotrod shops and Ebay. The six is a great engine, or so I have been told, but parts are harder to come across. ...Terry