180 crankshaft

FERRARI v8'S SUCK I have a comment on the sound the ferrari 180 crankshaft v8 makes, i live about 10 miles from hockinheim ring here in germany, and stationed here at germishiem army depot, i see, and whats worse, hear these cars on a regular basis and wondered to myself why these cars sound like two four cylinder engines running at the same time! IT's firing two cylinders in the left cylinder bank together, and then after 180 degrees of crank rotation two in the right bank together, which means it is two 4 cylinders joined at the hip. What A Deal, pay for a v8 and get the sound of a 4 cylinder,one of the worst exhaust sounds a engine can make. flat and bland. just like a Fast and Furious graphicmoble. the maserati, which uses the same basic engine as ferrari, but has a 90 degree crank and a x-type pipe after the cats,and this engine sound sooo much better. To view a animation of a 180 degree v8 in motion go to www.wis.co.uk/justin/deltic-engine.html when you get to the web site scroll down to the v8

I do agree that a screaming LS1 or ford 5.0 always sound sexier, but I also appreciate the sound of HP. The reason they sound they way they do is they're low stroke motors. (This is why american v-8's generally achieve bigger torque at lower RPM's) it also involves head design, valve durations/lift among other things. I don't know that 2 of the 4 cylinders are firing both at the same time, but if it is the case, then they are def. different than you're standard small block. I just think of it "Hey, it doesn't sound good, but It can beat a viper... now thats sexy..."

I do agree that a screaming LS1 or ford 5.0 always sound sexier, but I also appreciate the sound of HP. The reason they sound they way they do is they're low stroke motors. (This is why american v-8's generally achieve bigger torque at lower RPM's) it also involves head design, valve durations/lift among other things. I don't know that 2 of the 4 cylinders are firing both at the same time, but if it is the case, then they are def. different than you're standard small block. I just think of it "Hey, it doesn't sound good, but It can beat a viper... now thats sexy..."
the sound comes from the 180 degree crank, even a large flat head v8 engine would sound like a four cylinder, the engine fires two pistons together on the left bank and after 180 degrees two on the right bank together, you then have two simutaniously running 4 cylinder engines joined at the hip, thats what a 180 degree crank does, a ninty degree crank fires one piston every 90 degrees, giving you four power impules per revolution, verses two large impules per revolutionon as on a 180 degree ferrari crank, with less vibration .

Although the vibration is more apparant, and the sound (akward to some, inspiring to others) is a bit less 'burbly' than a 90 degree, there are advantages. As far as practicality their aren't really any real world benefits of the 180 degree, but it has its place in the sports car segment. Their more rev happy than the 90 degree V8.