Owen Nacker


Owen Nacker was an American automotive engineer.

Early Automotive Career

Nacker was a consultant to Alanson Partridge Brush of the Brush Motor Car Company, makers of light car, the Runabout. As such he worked on the V-16 project at the Marmon Motor Car Company with Howard Marmon. This project was newly begun before Nacker left Marmon.

Cadillac engine development

He was recruited in 1926 by Cadillac general manager Lawrence P. Fisher to work at the Cadillac Division of General Motors Corporation. Nacker became head of engine development. He designed a 45 degree Overhead valve V-8 with an aluminum crankcase, five main bearings, counterweighted crankshaft with a front vibration damper and timing chain driving the generator. Cylinder blocks included cast nickel-iron liners extending into the crankcase with cast iron heads. This was the engine for Cadillac Division's new 1927 LaSalle companion model.
Nacker was lead development engineer of the Cadillac V-16 engine project. This was probably the first car engine to be styled for aesthetics as well as function. Finned aluminum valve covers were used and wiring and piping were hidden under covers and panels and enamel was used on some engine surfaces. Nacker also developed Cadillac's V-12 that shared tooling and many components with the V-16.
Nacker also was the leader of the 1936 monobloc Cadillac V-8 engine development with John E "Jack" Gordon also in the later stages. This new V-8 was so smooth and powerful it rendered the V-12 obsolete. Therefore, the V-12 was dropped from production after the 1937 model year.

Hydramatic transmission

Nacker was also part of the team of engineers that developed the General Motors Hydramatic automatic transmission.
Both the monobloc Cadillac V-8 and Hydramatic transmission were used in the M5 version of the Stuart tank during World War II.

Family

Owen Milton Nacker was the son of Harmon Nacker and Dora Law. They were married on November 22, 1882. Owen married Pearl Leonard on November 23, 1904 in Highland, Michigan.