1. Cam lobe positioning
Whittle V8

2. Firing order and engine rotation
The given firing order by EW is: , 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.
In order to fire every 90 degrees, the crank rotation must be anti-clock from front.
Piston 1 at TDC in Cyl. 1
Piston 4 at TDC in Cyl. 4
1,3,5,7
2,4,6,8
1,2,7,8
3,4,5,6
7& 8
1& 2
Flat plane crank
Front
5 & 6
3 & 4

3. Cam lobe position relative to Cylinder 1
The given firing order by EW is: , 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.
This is a 90 degree V engine:-
Even cylinder Pushrods meet the camshaft at 90 degrees to the Odd cylinder Pushrods!
Piston 1 at TDC in Cyl. 1
Piston 4 at TDC in Cyl. 4
Pushrod on cam heels
Pushrod on cam heels
45 deg. 1 4
Rotates to this position
When Cyl. 4 is at TDC 1 4
90 deg.
Crank rotates 90 degrees Anti-Clock to next
firing position 1 4
Camshaft rotates at half speed, so
45 degrees and Clockwise to next
firing position
NB. Compare these two profiles with EW drawing
for 1 and 4. They are the same!

4. Cam lobe position relative to Cylinder 1
The given firing order by EW is: , 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.
Crank rotates 90 degrees Anti-Clock
to next firing position
Camshaft rotates at half speed, so
45 degrees and Clockwise to next
firing position

5. Cam lobe positions relative to Cylinder 1 firing position
All cams Rotated 45 degrees Clockwise for ease of comparison to EW drawing

6. Comparison to the original EW drawing
For ease of comparison all cams have been
Rotated 45 degrees clockwise.
Now when we compare each cam to
Eric Whittle’s drawing,
we see they are identical!

7. Working the Firing order through
The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.

8. Working the Firing order through
The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.

9. Working the Firing order through
The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.

10. Working the Firing order through
The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.

11. Working the Firing order through
The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.

12. Working the Firing order through
The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.

13. Working the Firing order through
The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.

14. Working the Firing order through
The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.

15. Summary The given firing order by EW is: 1, 4, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 2.
To meet this firing order, the engine rotation is Anti-Clockwise looking from the front.
Camshaft rotation is Clockwise from the front.
The Cam lobe positions shown on the original drawing are correct to meet the suggested firing order.