Brilliant Failure - This Seized Aluminum 225 Slant Six Was Ahead Of Its Time (Can We Save It?)

On today's Engine Wednesday, we've got a pretty rare bird. The original idea for the slant six was well ahead of its time when conceived in 1957. It featured a super lightweight, die-cast aluminum block that would shave 70 pounds off of the front end of Chrysler's forthcoming compact car, the Valiant. This block featured an open deck design which was radical for 1960, but would eventually come to be found in countless other engines - such as small four cylinders like those found in Hondas. There were other unique features too, like the 30 degree angle of the cylinders to shorten the overall engine package vertically, as well as an offset water pump, and a reduction to four main bearings from the seven found in a typical inline six - both of which reduced the length of the engine. Of course, as Mopar enthusiasts, we are well accustomed to seeing these engines under the hoods of bottom of the barrel commuter cars and small pickups. But those engines are missing one very important feature - that aluminum block. Let's dig into this neglected featherweight slant six, and see what we can learn.