A Guy In Sweden Built An Inline-16 Out Of Volvo Engines And It Sounds Awesome

Pelle Söderström, a Swedish engineer, has built a one-of-a-kind inline-16 engine, dubbed the Herkules 1934, using four Volvo 2.0-liter B20 engines. The 8.1-liter engine has a unique crankshaft, which Söderström jokingly describes as a “two-meter-long contraption”.

The engine’s construction is well-documented, with a workshop manual available, albeit in Swedish. The inline-16 engine produces 264 horsepower and roughly 500 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm, with a limited engine speed of 3,000 rpm to protect the Triplex chain drives.

The engine’s hardware includes forged steel connecting rods, a crankshaft, and pistons sourced from Mahle. The camshaft is made of a special cast iron alloy, while the Volvo-sourced blocks and cylinder heads are made of cast iron.

The engine’s sound is described as loud and industrial, with a deep and bass-y tone. Söderström’s project is an impressive undertaking, with 13,000 hours of work invested in building the engine.