Since the invention of the automobile, Americans have been fascinated with cars. I'm not talking about fuel-efficient, stripped-down cars either. I'm talking about big block engines, loud noises, and high horsepower. Don't get me wrong – I know how important fuel-efficient cars are nowadays. Even folks who like big rides are now looking for the most fuel efficient SUVs. I own a peppy little Toyota, and I use it to get around every day. It gets 30 miles per gallon, and saves me loads of money at the pump. Nevertheless, come the weekend I get in my big block engine Chevy Camaro and head out to the drag strip. There's nothing else like it! There are a lot of great things I like about big block engines.

One of the biggest draws, of course, is the noise and the power. I confess that I'm a typical guy in this respect. I love the growl of big block Chevy

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engines more than almost any other sound. It is music to my ears when the engine roars, the tires squeal, and the car takes off down the strip at breakneck speed. Nevertheless, there are many other great things about a big block engines as well. For one thing, they are much easier to work on than newer engines. Nowadays, the trend is towards high-tech, computer-controlled cars. Within another 5 or 10 years in fact, cars will be so dependent on their electronics that it will be impossible to work on them unless you are a professional. That is why I love old big block engine cars. You can really get under the hood and see what is inside. You can bore out the engines, add custom aftermarket parts, and do anything that you want to tweak your ride to drive just the way you like. Another great thing about big block engines is that they are cheaper to work with than you might think. Once you learn how to fix your own car, it is amazing what you can build. You can buy an old broken big block crate engine and rebuild it from scratch for very little. Basically, as long as the engine block is not cracked, you can probably fix it. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment to be able to tweak your own car. Most of us are so out of touch with the technology that we use every day, that it is refreshing to at least understand how our transportation works.