Enterprising Engines

Chrysler’s intrepid V-8s featured hemispherical, poly-spherical, or wedge heads, and some were equipped with multiple carburetors on inline or ram-type intake manifolds, as well as having sweeping exhaust manifolds. Though several were powerhouses for their eras, other engines simply got the day-to-day jobs done, and a few were among the most enduring.

For instance, the L-head six-cylinder’s basic design remained from the Great Depression to nearly the end of the Eisenhower era, and the Slant Six introduced for 1960 wasn’t phased out until after 1983 in cars. B-and RB-series big-block wedge engines arrived in the late 1950s and were used through the twilight of the 1970s. The LA-series small-block debuted for 1964, and late 20th-century modernized V-8s still retained some of its DNA.

Adapting to changing markets and regulations ensured long lives for these engines. We’ll cover a few aspects that