V8 engine

A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder V engine with the cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two sets of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other, but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft.

In its simplest form, it is basically two inline-four engines sharing a common crankshaft. However, this simple configuration, with a flat- or single-plane crankshaft, has the same secondary dynamic imbalance problems as two straight-4s, resulting in vibrations in large engine displacements. Since the 1920s most V8s have used the somewhat more complex crossplane crankshaft with heavy counterweights to eliminate the vibrations. This results in an engine that is smoother than a V6, while being considerably less expensive than a V12 engine. Most racing V8s continue to use the single plane crankshaft because it allows faster acceleration and more efficient exhaust system designs.

Applications

The V8 with a crossplane crankshaft (see below) is a common configuration for large automobile engines. V8 engines are rarely less than 3.0 L (183 cu in) in displacement and in automobile use have exceeded 8.2 L (500 cu in) in production vehicles, such as the American Cadillac Eldorado for instance. In some applications, e.g. industrial and marine V8 engines, displacement can be even larger.

454 Big Block

454 Big Block was an American metalcore band from Boston, Massachusetts.

History

454 Big Block was formed by four members of the recently disbanded Boston Hardcore band Wrecking Crew. The last track of 454 Big Block's second (and final) album was a re-recording of the Wrecking Crew song "Why Must They?"

Record label Century Media had been in talks with Wrecking Crew before the band changed its sound and reformed as 454 Big Block. Originally vocalist Elgin James decided not to join the new project, but when the band's new vocalist didn't last for long, James changed his mind.

The band released two albums, one for Century Media Records, the other for Big Wheel Recreation, and toured with Marilyn Manson, Clutch, Deadguy, Bloodlet and Earth Crisis before breaking up. The group's performances were known to attract a violent audience.

In 1998, three members (James, Baltulonis and Garcia-Rivera) formed another band named The World Is My Fuse. As they began to focus their efforts on the new band, 454 Big Block came to an end.