I have a 122 Cubic Inch I-4 rant

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
06/05/2015 at 12:19 • Filed to: None

Since when did ‘merica go to liters on their motors? I was raised and engrained with the 289, 302, 318, 327, 340, 350, 360, 383, 390, 396, 400, 427, 429, 430, 440, 454, 460 and so on and so on... (sure I missed a few in there) I know it is kinda ridiculous for small displacement motors to go with cubic inches because I’m not bragging about my 122 cubic inch (2.0 Liter) mazda. You would think the ‘merican’s would have stuck with the whole cubic inch thing.

Seems like final transition was in the mid 90’s with GM going to the 5.2L, 5.7L from the 327/350’s. Ford still does have the Boss 302 or 5.0 or is it 4.95, that wouldn’t look good on a badge.

DISCUSSION (36)

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:26

Metric makes more sense. CI seems like an odd measurement if you’re not used to it. A 350 is 12.1 pints, which is more relatable in terms of other liquids, but sounds funny

Cé hé sin > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:26

Did anyone but America ever use cubic inches? You’d expect places like the UK and Australia to do but I don’t think they ever did.

Oddly for a long time engines were designed in Britain with the bore and stroke in so many inches but they were described as being so many cc.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:27

Why does everyone forget the 305. Just because it’s the red-headed stepchild of the SBC family, doesn’t mean it never existed.

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:28

I’m going to start using gallons. My Toyota is a 1.19 gallon engine. US gallons that is.

crowmolly > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
06/05/2015 at 12:29

262, 292, 307 are worse.

deekster_caddy > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:32

I always called my 500 CID cad motor an “8.2 liter” just because it sounded cool when everybody was confusing the two. And my 455 is a “7.5”, not one of those wimpy “7.4” 454s...

But year, it was mid-90s when the 302 became a “5.0” and the camaro/firebirds got the “5.0” or “5.7”. Sad times.

deekster_caddy > Cé hé sin
06/05/2015 at 12:33

My ‘54 MG has a 1200CC motor. None of this liter talk please. Let’s all use CCs.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > crowmolly
06/05/2015 at 12:33

Agreed.

Birddog > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
06/05/2015 at 12:34

The 305 did it’s duty well and there are upgrades for it just like any other SBC (334 Stroker).

Now the 307 and 265? Those are boat anchors.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Cé hé sin
06/05/2015 at 12:34

2,000 cc’s now that’s HUGE!!!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/05/2015 at 12:36

I mentally grasp liters and pints much easier than cubic inches. I can go buy a 1-liter coke. They don’t sell drinks by the cubic inch.

Racescort666 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:37

They probably switched around the time the US auto industry as a whole switched over to metric for design. This would have been in the 80s/90s.

For the record, Harley Davidson designated their engines in cubic inches.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua
06/05/2015 at 12:38

It’s a very granular measurement that is easy to work out based on bore and stroke, while not being so very small (cc) as to be ridiculous in a car engine with any real displacement. There’s no reason for it to be in a liquid measurement at all - not when CFM and other non-liquid volume measurements in imperial are more relevant.

Kanaric > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:39

mid-late 70s. Since then every car was referred to by liters. I wouldn’t say 90s at all. Like the late 70s Trans Am for example was a 6.6. Plymouth Fire Arrow was 2.6. Mustang was 5.0 or 2.3

Birddog > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:39

Ford kicked it off in the 70s with the 5.0, 2.3, and 2.8. I think the Buick 3.8 was next and it was downhill from there. By the early to mid 80s everything was in Liters.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:39

Probably even before people started disrespecting the United States of America by saying “’merica”

RockThrillz89 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:41

Not sure about the other two, but Chevy crate engines are still listed in cubic inches. Hell, the selection filter on the website is “Size cu. in.”. But as far as badges on the car, not sure about the Stingray, but the last gen Corvette could be had with a 427 badge on it.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:41

Kinja'd!!!

I have a 262 V8 like this one. Since the top plenum has gone away, it will not have the hippie “4.2” on it anywhere.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Kanaric
06/05/2015 at 12:42

The TA was a 400 for as long as I can remember.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Birddog
06/05/2015 at 12:43

Yet all the nuts and bolts were standard sized.

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 12:43

see also the phone call (starring Mark Mclure of superman and back to the future fame)

Starts at 6:38 if it doesn’t jump, (you’ll know it when you see it)

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
06/05/2015 at 12:57

The 4.3L/265 CID V8 that was in the 1990s Chevy Caprice for a short time is the real read-headed stepchild of the SBC.

Michael > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/05/2015 at 12:58

I have the 262 V6 in my boat, and it has the audacity to call itself a 4.3L

Kanaric > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 13:01

Can’t upload images because kinja

http://assets.hemmings.com/story_image/45…

add a G to that picture

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch
06/05/2015 at 13:04

This was my life as a teenager. Can’t stop watching.

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 13:05

Have you seen this before? its a gem.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Michael
06/05/2015 at 13:07

Well, given that the Rover 261 (260.9) (not 262, sorry) is actually 4.275, abbreviating that to 4.2 is The Dumb. Your 262->4.3 is perfectly excusable.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HammerheadFistpunch
06/05/2015 at 13:08

Nope first time!

HammerheadFistpunch > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 13:09

oh, well your in for a treat!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Kanaric
06/05/2015 at 13:11

We called it a 400 and never admitted that Pontiac printed 6.6 on the intake, or wondered what was the meaning of 6.6, “does that mean it has 6 carburetors like a 6 pack?”

StoneCold > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 13:33

When I never had to touch an SAE wrench to change out a cylinder head on a Ford, I knew cars...cars have changed.

Kinja'd!!!

camaroboy68ss > crowmolly
06/05/2015 at 13:42

Those three are the true red headed step children of the SBC family.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
06/05/2015 at 13:53

And the 455...

BaconSandwich is tasty. > HammerheadFistpunch
06/05/2015 at 21:20

Oh man. That movie is a classic.

It’s like a balloon, but with esses.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
06/05/2015 at 21:21

We were discussing this at work today. Canada is one confusing place. We use Celsius for outside temperatures, but when using an oven, most of the time it’s in Fahrenheit.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Cé hé sin
06/05/2015 at 22:39

Australia use to , but we it changed in the ‘70s