# Willys Lightning engine

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Willys_Lightning_engine
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Willys_Lightning_engine.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys_Lightning_engine
> Source revision: 1346588653
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Series of I6 engines built by Willys}}

The '''Lightning engine''' is a [Willys](/source/Willys) [straight-6](/source/straight-6) produced in the 1940s and 1950s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Car Willys MB: car specifications and history of creation |url= https://autoclassics.us/e/history-willys-mb/ |website=en.autoclassics.us |access-date=8 September 2025}}</ref> The [flathead engine](/source/flathead_engine) featured four main bearings and solid valve lifters.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://autohistorypreservationsociety.org/1949-willys-models-described-in-detail/ |title=1949 Willys Models Described In Detail |website=autohistorypreservationsociety.org |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>

The engines were used in the [Willys Jeep Station Wagon](/source/Willys_Jeep_Wagon), other Jeep-based vehicles, and Willys sedans.

==L148==
The '''L148''' version displaced {{convert|148.5|cuin|L|2}} and was rated at {{convert|70|hp|kW PS|0|}}.<ref name="Allen-227"/> This was the smallest displacement six-cylinder engine when introduced in 1947 in the Willys Station Wagon.<ref name="Allen-227"/> The bore was {{convert|3|in|mm|0|}} and its short {{convert|3.5|in|mm|0|adj=on}} stoke enabled the engine to achieve high revolutions given its
flathead design.<ref name="Allen-227">{{cite book|url= https://www.google.com/books/edition/Jeep_Collector_s_Library/zTsAbTJB5RIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Willys+Lightning+engine&pg=PA227&printsec=frontcover |page=227 |title=Jeep Collector's Library |first=Jim |last=Allen |isbn=9780760319796 |publisher=MotorBooks |date=2004 |via=Google Books |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>

Applications:
* 1947-1950 [Willys Jeep Station Wagon](/source/Willys_Jeep_Wagon)
* 1948 [Willys-Overland Jeepster](/source/Willys-Overland_Jeepster)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.kaiserwillys.com/about-willys-vehicles-jeepster-vj |title=About Willys Vehicles - Jeepster (VJ) |website=kaiserwillys.com |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>

==L161==
The '''L161''' version displaced {{convert|161|cuin|L}} and was rated at {{convert|75|hp|kW PS|0|}}.<ref name="1953-Areo-brochure">{{cite web|url= https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/jeep/53w/bilder/5.jpg |title=1953 Willys Aero (brochure) |website=lov2xlr8.no |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref> Introduced in April 1950, the engine featured a higher compression ratio of 6.9 to 1, and a larger {{convert|3.125|in|mm|0|adj=on}} bore.<ref name="Allen-227"/><ref name="1953-Areo-brochure"/>

Applications:
* 1950-1951 [Willys Jeep Station Wagon](/source/Willys_Jeep_Wagon)
* 1950 [Willys-Overland Jeepster](/source/Willys-Overland_Jeepster)
* 1952-1955 [Willys Aero](/source/Willys_Aero)-Lark<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VVYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40&dq=Willys+Lightning+engine&hl=en |page=40 |title=A World-Famous Family: each a leader in its field (advertisement) |magazine=Life |date=29 September 1952 |volume=33 |issue=13 |via=Google Books |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>
* 1953-1955 Willys Aero-Falcon<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=KUkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA142&dq=Willys+Lightning+engine&hl=en |pages=143-143 |title=Two things Willys is known for (advertisement) |magazine=Life |date=27 April 1953 |volume=34 |issue=17 |via=Google Books |access-date=17 September 2025}}</ref>

==Replacement==
The F-head [Hurricane engine](/source/Willys_Hurricane_engine) was introduced in 1950, a significant upgrade to the Lightning. The valve configuration was changed for better power and efficiency. In 1954, the 6-226 "Super" Hurricane was introduced.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willys Lightning Engine}}

Lightning
Category:Straight-six engines
Category:1940s automobile engines

{{Automotive-part-stub}}

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Willys Lightning engine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys_Lightning_engine) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys_Lightning_engine?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.