1938 Cadillac V16 - GM Heritage Center

lubrication is assured, regardless of the steepness of
the road or of rapidity of deceleration. The oil pump
inlet is always on the oil surface. When straight eight
engines operate on grades or decelerate from high
speeds the oil flows to one end of the crankcase which
may result in the engine being oil starved.
Because of its compactness the short V-type eight
requires fewer camshaft bearings. This further simplifies
the lubricating system, insures dependability, and
decreases operating costs.
V-Type Design Saves Space
Cadillac V-type design permits an engine of greater
size and power output than a straight eight to be placed
under much shorter hood length, leaving greater room
for interior body dimensions. A V-8 engine is six
inches shorter than a straight 8 engine of equal size.
A V-type engine is six inches shorter than a straight-8 of equal size
If it were attempted to produce a straight eight
engine with similar displacement in a short engine
space, the bore would have to be small and the stroke
long. This would result in very high piston speeds, as
is found in big straight eight engines of today, with
consequent increased wear and decreased engine life.
Should the bores be widened and the stroke shortened,
more engine space would be required. To accommodate
such an engine, hood length would have to be increased
and passenger space decreased even more than in the
present straight eights.
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