04-03-2020, 11:04 AM
The pre-war Straight-8 26HP & 4-1/2 litre Daimlers had 9 main bearings. They also had an aluminium flywheel at the back and a heavy vibration damper at the front which I think would help the torsion. The postwar DE36 was 5.4 Litres and had 5 main bearings.
The DE36 did break occasionally crankshafts, always at the rear main journal.
All were fitted with fluid flywheel and pre-selector gearboxes.
The DE36 had prodigious low-speed torque and would easily start in top gear. I don't think that helped the crank.
There were also the 'Light Straight-8'. I've never heard of crank breakages for them.
The DE36 did break occasionally crankshafts, always at the rear main journal.
All were fitted with fluid flywheel and pre-selector gearboxes.
The DE36 had prodigious low-speed torque and would easily start in top gear. I don't think that helped the crank.
There were also the 'Light Straight-8'. I've never heard of crank breakages for them.
Jim