See the essential elements of classic V8 engine design in this great tech feature produced by the clever people at Engineering Explained. 

The V8 engine configuration is nearly as old as the automobile itself. Early adopters of the design included Darracq, Marmon, and Curtiss, and Rolls-Royce, while Cadillac provided a key advance with the introduction of the cross-plane crankshaft in 1923. Henry Ford took the previously expensive design and re-purposed it for the masses with his 1932 flathead V8, and Chevrolet produced more than 100 million examples of its small-block V8 introduced in 1955. The death of the V8 engine in the American auto industry has been predicted more than once, but here in the 21st century it’s still going strong.

In this artfully produced video from the clever folks at Engineering Explained, the basics of the V8 design are explained in clear and simple terms—our favorite approach.  Aiding in the process is a neat little scale model of a Chevy LS V8 that was manufactured on a 3D printer. At only five minutes long, the tutorial does not go terribly deep on V8 technical details, but we believe even the most knowledgeable gearheads will be entertained. Video below.