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Buick 198 specs: 198 ci (3.2L) 6-cylinder, 3.626 x 3.201 in (92.1 x 81.3 mm) bore and stroke, 8.8:1 compression. Rated 135 hp. Rod ratio and piston speed.
The Buick Fireball V6 (198) is oversquare — the 3.626" bore exceeds the 3.2008" stroke by 13.3% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.2008" stroke does not reach 4,000 ft/min of mean piston speed until about 7,500 RPM, so piston speed is not what limits this engine's revs — valvetrain and breathing are. Each of the 6 cylinders displaces 33.0 ci (541 cc).
8.8:1 on iron heads is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
It is one of 2 engines in the Fireball V6 family, the smallest at 198 ci. Factory fitments include the Buick Special, Special.
| Displacement | 198 ci / 3.2 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.626" |
| Stroke | 3.2008" |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Compression ratio | 8.8:1 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.133 |
| Block material | cast iron |
|---|---|
| Head material | cast iron |
| Valvetrain | OHV |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 135 hp |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.133 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,201 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 33.0 ci |
| Static compression | 8.8:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
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