With the history of hotrodding in the US I'd be surprised if it hasn't been done. If one has enough money and/or the necessary skills, anything is possible when it comes to modifying cars.

One big question that comes to mind is if the inline 6 will fit in the '28. There might need to be major changes to shoehorn it in there. 

The '28 engine compartment is 4 inches longer than a '27. I believe they originally wanted to get the 6 into the '28 vehicles, but the engine was not ready in time for the 1928 start of the model year.

I also remember hearing that the engine compartment was lengthened some more for 1929, so I suggest measuring the engine compartments before doing anything else.

Most everything changed in 1929, so I would expect that an inline 6 would not mate up or play well with the rest of the '28 driveline.

If you find that the changes are too great, it would be better to build up a '28 engine. There are plenty of used ones around. I know one guy who has a couple of dozen Chevy four bangers and I'm sure a number of them are '28s.

To get an idea of what is involved in building a '28 engine, here's a link to the old forum, where I describe my 2017 build of a 1928 engine for my truck Lurch: https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/386451/resurrecting-a-28-4-banger.html

Cheers, Dean

Are there 4 cylinder distributors that have some advancing capability without needing the steering column lever? Or a way to backfit the original distributor? 

Having three car projects going at once these random questions come up. 

I only use the spark retard/advance lever when starting the vehicle. Basically, you put the spark lever in the fully retarded position (on a truck, you pull it all the way down towards you). After the engine starts, you push the spark lever to the fully advanced position (for a truck, all the way up, away from you). Then, drive away! 😉

The '28 distributor has advance weights built in that increase the advance when you hit around 22 miles per hour. Totally automagically.

Here's a link to a post on the old forum where I explain in greater detail my process for setting the timing of the distributor and for starting the vehicle: https://vccachat.org/ubbthreads.php/topics/450864/re-1928-1-ton-lp-truck.html#Post450864

Hope this helps. Dean

I have pictures of an inline 6 in a 28 Chevy. The firewall needed modification to make it fit.

@ronald-s-beam, do you know the model year of the six cylinder engine and whether it bolted up to the four cylinder transmission?

Thanks, Dean

    The 1929 used most of the 1928 drive line according to part numbers.   Despite the extra length under the 1928 hood, it's not enough to accommodate the 1929 engine.   The 1937 - 54 engine is approximately an inch shorter than the 1929 - 36 engine.    The 28 engine is aprox 24".  The 37 is aprox 32".  The 37 engine will fit under the 28 hood without the radiator.    

Apologize for not getting back sooner. The two 6cyl engines are 1930 vintage and electric start. The bell housings I have from the 1928 transmissions (maybe 1926) are not bumped out for electric starters. 

I do have two 1930 transmissions but found that one is missing the clutch. Hopefully will find it in the barn on the next trip to pick up more of the parts I acquired.

edit: did look at the older engines, and they are set up for an electric starter. For them it is on the drivers side of the engine. The 6 cyls have the starter on the passenger side. The transmissions from 1928 look identical to the 1930 ones. Need to research if the couple of 1928 clutches will work with 1930 engines/transmissions.