Encyclopedia Hoonatica: DOHC Straight Sixes

2004 Vortec 3500 5-Cylinder Inline Engine
‘Round these parts, we love straight sixes. But they can sometimes be regarded in America as outdated, low-tech beasts (except for BMW fanbois, of course). But the inline-six engine has progressed over the years into something as advanced and sophisticated as any other internal combustion configuration, including the use of dual overhead camshafts. In fact, DOHC inline engines have the advantage over vee engines in weight, cost and complexity, since the cam drive apparatus does not need to be duplicated for two separate heads.
So let us celebrate the DOHC straight six by compiling a comprehensive list of all the different iterations of this configuration.
The Caveats (there are always caveats):

  • We are listing engine designs, not cars. The number or variety of different vehicles an engine ended up in doesn’t matter.
  • Conversely, different generations count separately. If it’s got a new block or new head casting, it’s a new entry.
  • We’re looking for mass-produced, road-going engines. No grand prix works specials.
  • Diesel and petrol are both allowable.

Difficulty: Medium Hot (as long as you don’t bite into the jalapeño seeds).
How This Works: Read the comments first and don’t post duplicates! Bonus points for adding photos.
Image Source: counterman.com and Wikipedia.

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  1. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    Older versions of the Cummins ISX15 had dual overhead cams – one to activate the valves, the other to activate the injectors.

  2. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    GM’s 4.2 Vortec engine.

  3. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    Extremely low-hanging fruit (and only two valves per cylinder):
    http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Jaguar/64-Jaguar-E-Type-S1-DV-12-RMM-e02.jpg

    1. Tanshanomi Avatar

      I’ve said this before, but I sooo want to have an XK-powered T-bucket.

      1. karonetwentyc Avatar
        karonetwentyc

        I know where there’s one in L.A. that is exactly that – and the owner decided to go with the V12.
        It’s quite an experience, and confuses the hell out of the Rod & Kustom crowd who haven’t seen it before.

  4. Simon Storey Avatar
    Simon Storey

    Alfa 2600 I6

  5. Simon Storey Avatar
    Simon Storey

    Aston Tadek Marek I6

    1. roguetoaster Avatar
      roguetoaster

      Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as there were a heck of a lot of SOHC engines post 1978. From the M30 to the M20 and even the diesels, starting with the M21. Those are just the ones I’ve had personally, so I’d imagine there are more too.
      Now, post 1992 I could go along with.

      1. engineerd Avatar
        engineerd

        M30 and M20 were released before the M88. I guess I should have been more clear as I was looking at what year the engine was released and not necessarily the year range they were used. And I said “virtually” since the M102 and M106 were SOHC since they were derived from the M30. Also, I was only looking at the gas engines.

        1. roguetoaster Avatar
          roguetoaster

          True enough, counting initial release date the majority and excluding evolutionary updates (the M102/6 as you mentioned and the M21 as it’s M20 based) all BMW sixes, excluding the M51, since 1978 were DOHC. Just funny to think of it that way!

          1. engineerd Avatar
            engineerd

            I know what you mean. I was thinking late ’80s or early ’90s would be where they were committed to DOHC.

  6. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Barra, mate…

    1. Tomsk Avatar
      Tomsk

      I covet one of those lumps like you would not believe. I’d probably put it in a Maverick…or a Fairlane…or an early Cougar…

  7. Simon Storey Avatar
    Simon Storey

    Jaguar AJ6/16

  8. Simon Storey Avatar
    Simon Storey

    Oh, Opel CIH in the Carlton

    1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

      Twin cam though?

      1. Simon BiTurbo Avatar
        Simon BiTurbo

        Yeah later ones were twincam 24v beasties. Even before you go into the likes of Irmscher and the Lotus version…

  9. JayP Avatar
    JayP

    Does the VR6 count?
    The 2 cams are in the same head…
    http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x427/Shawn_MichaelKochan/the%20build/Picture079.jpg

    1. engineerd Avatar
      engineerd

      Except the pistons were in a vee, making it a V6.

      1. Van_Sarockin Avatar
        Van_Sarockin

        A better case to be made for calling it an offset-I6. Only as much vee as was required for packaging purposes. Well, that and to make your camshaft supplier twice as happy.

    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      This looks like a twin cam but it is not, it is not even overhead cam! BMW 328 engine (later used in the Bristol 400-406) with cam-in-block and two shafts of rockers to drive the valves, you can see the tubes for the pushrods from the inlet to the exhaust rockers in between the intakes.

  10. Kiefmo Avatar
    Kiefmo

    Volvo’s B6* engine, which was available in 2.5, 2.8, and 2.9L iterations, with and without turbos, with manuals and automatics, and mounted transversely and longitudinally with RWD, FWD, and AWD.
    To boot, it was the largest-displacement part of a modular engine family that included 4-cyl and 5-cyl. I’m not sure if it was true for the fewer-cylinder-count engines, but the 6-cyl head was co-developed with Porsche.

    1. discontinuuity Avatar
      discontinuuity

      I’ve often wondered if I could fit one of the twin-turbo motors in my MR2.

      1. Kiefmo Avatar
        Kiefmo

        Anything can fit in anything with a torch, welder, and a given value of “fit”.

        1. karonetwentyc Avatar
          karonetwentyc

          Don’t forget beer.

          1. Van_Sarockin Avatar
            Van_Sarockin

            And hammers. The smallest, quietest big loud hammers.

        2. outback_ute Avatar
          outback_ute

          Or wheel arch flares

  11. oldcarjunkie Avatar
    oldcarjunkie

    The Toyota 2000GT engine is rather nice looking

    1. ninjabortion Avatar
      ninjabortion

      I love my newer M series engine in my 84 supra, and the turbo variants in the mk3’s can be quite potent.

  12. hwyengr Avatar
    hwyengr

    I’ll see your DOHC I-6 and raise you a transverse mounting.
    http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/12/S60-R-engine.jpg

    1. Kiefmo Avatar
      Kiefmo

      I suppose this counts as a separate engine from the Modular family…

  13. The Real Number_Six Avatar
    The Real Number_Six

    BMW, as is their obfuscatory way these days, hides their best current motor in a 700+lbs motorcycle. It’s the 160HP 1600cc DOHC I6 from the K1600XX models. By the beard of Brünnhilde, why can’t they do anything fun, like a CBX-alike standard bike with this motor?

      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        Always remember to wear proper gear when cycling.

      2. The Real Number_Six Avatar
        The Real Number_Six

        Oh dear, those bars…Does anyone actually *ride* their motorcycles these days?
        “I was inspired mostly by mail slots and the Center position in football…”

        1. dead_elvis Avatar
          dead_elvis

          When a monkey really, really loves a football…

  14. kogashiwa Avatar
    kogashiwa

    Toyota was all about this design for a long time.
    5M-GE (and 6M-GE):

    1. kogashiwa Avatar
      kogashiwa

      7M-GTE:

    2. kogashiwa Avatar
      kogashiwa

      1JZ-GTE:

    3. kogashiwa Avatar
      kogashiwa

      2JZ-GTE:

    4. kogashiwa Avatar
      kogashiwa

      and the sad little 1G-FE:

    5. Van_Sarockin Avatar
      Van_Sarockin

      Nice try, but the complete lack of misshapen plastic shrouding disqualify the entry.

    6. ninjabortion Avatar
      ninjabortion

      Don’t forget the M series was around long before the 5m, started in the 60’s, made it into the 2000gt, and went all the way to the mk3 turbo. It was like their small block chevy almost. I love my 5m-ge.

  15. KMNTR Avatar
    KMNTR

    General Motors 4.2 Vortec

    1. KMNTR Avatar
      KMNTR

      OK, nothing new here; I think there’s already an image of one of these in the original post!

  16. Simon Storey Avatar
    Simon Storey

    Oh, the beautiful Maserati inline 6. How could I forget that!

  17. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    DAF MX11 (Paccar) truck engine.

  18. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    Mercedes-Benz M104, the company’s last spark-ignition passenger car straight-six…to date, anyway; there were rumors for a while that they were working on a new one.
    http://www.luxuryautosac.com/parts-cars/640×480/004916-engine.jpg

    1. The Real Number_Six Avatar
      The Real Number_Six

      SsangYong still offer two MB-derived petrol I6 in the Chairman: a 3.6l and a 3.2l. Trouble is, they’re wrapped in a Chairman…

    2. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      New straight sixes arriving in the next two years to replace all the current MB V6s. Tooling is being installed. Another modular engine of 3, 4, 5, & 6 cylinders in line.

    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      The Barra referred to above.

      1. outback_ute Avatar
        outback_ute

        Here is a pretty mad video from one of these cars. I’m not sure what speed he gets out of shape at the second time, probably 100mph plus?
        I have had a ride in a 570 rwhp FPV F6 Typhoon, but it was on the highway so completely indistinguishable from a standard car!

        1. Rover 1 Avatar
          Rover 1

          This is the real strength of these engines, 11.0 sec 1/4 after driving 1600km
          I think I see a mildly worked Territory Turbo in my future garage.

  19. Lokki Avatar
    Lokki

    The 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C had a DOHC I6…, AND it was supercharged.

    1. discontinuuity Avatar
      discontinuuity

      It took me a second to realize that I was looking at the intake manifold. At first I was wondering why the exhaust goes into the transmission.

      1. Vairship Avatar
        Vairship

        It’s for service in cold areas: the exhaust gasses warm up the transmission!

  20. discontinuuity Avatar
    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      There can never be enough pictures of CBX sixes.

  21. karonetwentyc Avatar
    karonetwentyc

    Because we can never have enough mentions of it: Ford’s T-Drive engines were designed to be a family of 4, 6, or 8 cylinder in-line motors, all with twin overhead cams.
    The photo below of the 6-cylinder from the Thuderbird doesn’t really make that clear, unfortunately.

    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Produced from 1924 – one of the first DOHC production engines (as distinguished from racing engines that existed from 1912)

  22. Simon BiTurbo Avatar
    Simon BiTurbo

    No TVR Speed 6 yet?

    1. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
      SlowJoeCrow

      I was wondering if anybody was going to get that one

  23. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Bentley 6-cylinder from the 6.5L/Speed Six initially with a whopping 147 hp; mind you this was in 1926 with just 4.4:1 compression. The later Speed Six form had 180 hp at 3500 rpm. The engine was later stretched to 8 litres with a 4.3″ bore and 5.5″ stroke, for 220 hp.

    1. karonetwentyc Avatar
      karonetwentyc

      Good choice. Torque on these may as well be described as ‘infinite’.

      1. outback_ute Avatar
        outback_ute

        I can’t actually find a quoted torque figure. I don’t imagine it was that impressive by today’s standards, because again 4.4:1 CR.

        1. karonetwentyc Avatar
          karonetwentyc

          The long stroke has a great deal to do with these motors’ torquiness.

          1. outback_ute Avatar
            outback_ute

            I did find a reference to the power put out by Jumbo Goddard’s twin-turbo 8-litre: 550 bhp! Still doesn’t sound impressive, but the rev counter only went up to 4000 rpm. I remember reading about the car, when they first put the turbos on (only two because there wasn’t room for three!), they kept blowing holes in the pistons and after putting a boost gauge on revealed it was running at something like 48 psi! Because the Bentley engine doesn’t have a detachable cylinder head the usual symptom of blowing the head gasket didn’t act as a warning sign.

  24. Troggy Avatar
    Troggy

    Another Australian icon – the Falcon – will be phased out late this year, but in about 2002 the classic 4.0 inline six became a DOHC.
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/2006-2007_Ford_BF_II_Fairmont_Ghia_05.jpg/1280px-2006-2007_Ford_BF_II_Fairmont_Ghia_05.jpg