Cadillac 1937 LaSalle VVI Information page 66

In addition to the features of fewer main bearings to lubri-
cate, and their wider surfaces which retain oil better, there
are other advantages inherent to V-type design. The pas-
sages through which the oil must travel are shorter than in
straight eight design. This reduces chances of lubrication
failure and there is less chance of the oil passages becoming
plugged up and the oil is not retained in them so long.
The shortness of the V-8 crankcase also insures positive
lubrication. When straight engines operate on grades or
decelerate from touring speeds the oil flows to one end of
the crankcase which may result in the engine being oil
starved. A bearing operating without oil may be burned
out in one or two seconds which proves the damage which
can result from such action. In a V-type engine such an
accident is impossible as the crankcase is too short to permit
the oil level from uncovering the oil pump inlet.
In the Cadillac type V-8, dependability of the lubrication
system is assured by elimination of oil lines. In this type
engine, oil is directed under pressure through drilled holes
in the crankcase removing the danger of engine failure from
broken oil lines which may develop in straight eight engines
using a complicated piping system for lubricant circulation.
Because of its compactness the short V-type eight requires
few camshaft bearings which further simplifies the lubrica-
tion system, insures dependability, and decreases operating
costs.
V-Type Design Saves Space
One of the chief advantages of V-eight design is the
power it develops for each cubic inch of engine compartment
space. This not only gives Cadillac built cars more available
body interior room for each inch of wheelbase, but also per-
mits the use of an engine of greater power and displacement,
which results in the unparalleled performance of the 1937
line of cars.
Compare the 322 cubic inch displacement of the new
La Salle and 346 cubic inches of the new Cadillac 60 with
straight eight engines on wheelbases similar to the 124"
length of these models. The Cadillac built V-8 engines
develop more power than those in any cars of a similar size.
With straight eight design it is impossible to obtain such
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