Chevy V8 running with only one head

Decided to see if you could start a v8 with only one head on it. It worked pretty well.

This video belongs to me and is not to be shared or used without my permission.

[asdfmovie]

“Yeah I run open heads.”
“You mean... open headers?”
“No..?”

[macbook]

CHEVY guys: "it sounds like you're down a few holes"
HONDA guys: "it sounds normal"

[chandlerbraaten]

Seeing the piston speeds at that low of an rpm it's crazy to think what they would look like at 8 or 9k rpm. How any engine stays together is truly remarkable.

Edit: for fucks sakes, I know V8's don't typically rev to 8 or 9k. I was talking about imagining what a piston would look like in an engine that can.

[iDatedMyPizza]

My mechanic would tell me "she's running great, no misfires, just burns a little oil." And then charge me $300

[backyardrestorations]

Cars these days: “NO there’s not enough windshield wiper fluid I’m not running!!”

Cars back in the day:

[VB-bklh]

As a kid, in the early 70's, I went with my uncle to a small sawmill to get a load of sawdust for the barn. The old man there was cutting lumber when we got there. The mill was being run by an older, I believe first year 265 small block that was missing one head. The guy had made a piece of plywood that bolted over the intake and the open block surface to keep out dirt, but said he just cut the rods off when one bearing failed years before and had planned to find another motor but it did just fine the way it was so he never bothered. It seemed to run just fine as he proceeded to cut up a couple of oak logs.
What was even more memorable was that the driveshaft was made from a length of wood that still had bark on it. The flywheel had two pieces of angle iron welded to it, the log was bolted through with one bolt, and the other end was bolted through the original yoke from what ever shaft was there before.
Seeing that set up left an impression on me that's lasted all my life. When something needs fixing, I think twice about how to fix it and whether I really need to spend any money on it to get it going again.

[PaulMcClellanmn]

At work we have a v8 that runs on on one side, the other side was turned into a 4 stage high pressure compressor.

[maggs]

The guys giddy goofy "dew it again" is the best thing ever

[jimmygiordano]

we had a tow behind air compressor that had a Ford V8. Four cylinders on one side drove the unit, the other four compressed air. Strange beast.

[machninety]

You know how many times I’ve had a car that I just couldn’t get started... then I see this...

[tjsharks]

I bet if you slap a carb on it, it'll start and idle

[ParadigmUnknwn]

I've heard of these engines being turned into air compressors based on the same principle. One bank of cylinders retains functionality, and one bank runs purely as an air conpressor.

[MichaelThompson-btoj]

I've worked on cars and built motors since I was a teen. I would've never believed a motor will run with one head and no carb or throttle body. I've seen it all now. Great job

[LillaVya]

Cars today: one of my sensors doesn't work I can't start"
Cars back then: *(casually runs with a engine head missing)*

[salvador]

Guy: "do it again"

Mechanic: "i can do this all day."

[theandonlymuffinman]

The Bob Segar in the background is really just the cherry on top

[TwentytenSB]

Good illustration of just how fast those pistons move.

[burpostockings]

When Bob Segar is on, you know youre having a good time

[npdragonrage]

“Do it again” like a kid in a candy store

[questioneverything]

Use the other 4 cylinders and head to compress high volumes of air. It makes a great air compressor.