V6 vs V8

The internal combustion engine has been around for more than 100 years. Why it's still here is anybody's guess. Big oil conspiracy? Lack of technology to move on? Pick one. The reason is irrelevant, really.

More than 100 years though, is a long time to improve on the basic design. From the block down is really pretty much unchanged, except for things like durability, better operating angles and such.

Where the real progress has happened is in the cylinder head and induction department. From flatheads to overhead valves, to overhead camshafts, to multiple overhead camshafts and more than two valves per cylinder.

Throw in all of the electronic advancements such as the modern ECM and EFI and it's easy to see how it's accomplished. I would love to see someone do a 440 in a modern EFI package just like the factory might have done it. EFI can calm a rowdy camshaft right on down.

I remember when I worked for the local Chevy dealer, I was at the GM training center in Atlanta for a drivability course. The instructor had a pretty basic GM 5.7 on a run stand. Basic except that it had no camshaft. The valves were operated by electronic solenoids tied into the EFI system. He could program them just like changing a camshaft. One minute it had a smooth stock idle the next he could reprogram it to sound like a top fueler. Really interesting stuff.

EFI can calm a rowdy camshaft right on down