--- title: "This Transparent Chevy LS V8 Is An Amazing Demonstration of Internal Combustion" description: "This homemade transparent Chevy LS V8 is an amazing demonstration of how internal combustion engines work." date: "2023-11-19" modified: "2023-11-19" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/this-transparent-chevy-ls-v8-is-an-amazing-demonstration-of-internal-combustion" categories: - "Chevrolet News" - "News" - "News by Brand" --- # This Transparent Chevy LS V8 Is An Amazing Demonstration of Internal Combustion ![]() *Smarter Everyday | YouTube* Internal combustion might as well be wizardry to me. I have a basic idea of how engines work and I've been wrenching on them since I was a teenager, so I get the gist of it, but my feeble brain still turns to a bowl of mush every time I think deeply about the nitty-gritty details. This is why I love demonstration videos such as this one, which shows how[ internal combustion]() works through a transparent engine block and head. The video comes courtesy of the [*SmarterEveryDay* ]()YouTube channel and spotlights Brian King from the *[AWD Cutlass]()* YouTube channel. King's channel mainly surrounded his all-wheel drive Cutlass build, hence the name. However, more recently, King built a completely transparent engine, from the scraps of an old [Chevy LS V8](), to demonstrate how internal combustion works. ![]() **Smarter EveryDay** King bought the old, broken LS V8 for $50, stripped it of its metal skin, and replaced it with transparent plastic. Most of it still works exactly like a typical internal combustion engine, with a fully functioning crankshaft assembly, camshafts, valves, and even an oil pump. However, a few modifications were made to make it "run" without actually running. Since the transparent engine is just for display, it doesn't have actual spark plugs or ignition. Instead, the crank is driven by an electric motor. However, King equipped the cylinders with LEDs, to signify when the spark plugs should ignite and just getting that to work, with the correct timing, is more impressive than anything I've ever done, mechanically. To get the timing down, he placed a magnet on the camshaft sprocket. As it turns, the magnet passes by metal tubes with magnetic switches that flip the lights on. ![]() **Smarter EveryDay** When King flips the engine's crank motor on, and it starts working, you can see each cylinder "fire" and how the firing order on an LS V8 works in real time. It always amazes me to think of how fast engines rev and the violence of those metal parts flying around at such speed. To see it in action, with the room lights off, is amazing. It's also kind of funny when King diagnoses a "misfire" from the magnet being strong enough to trigger multiple cylinder LEDs at once. We've seen [transparent engine components]() before, such as those that show the inside of a cylinder head in action. However, this fully see-through homemade engine is a great demonstration of an engine's full four-stroke cycle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbhF7jTLlG4 *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()