The Ferrari f355 engine’s aluminum block had Nikasil coated wet steel liners. Peculiarly lightweight solid aluminum alloy pistons drove the crankshaft through titanium alloy con rods previously seen solely in Formula one engines. The engine’s greatest innovation is its five-valves per cylinder, 3 intake and 2 exhaust, that combined high revs with high intake permeability maximizing gross potency. The aluminum head was ultra-high strength with variable rigidity twin valve springs. The radial intake valves created conical cam profiles necessary and therefore the high rotation speed necessitated a high carry for each reliability and long-term performance. The management lobe for the central intake valve was slightly offset, reducing pulse stress and therefore the emission of unburned hydro carbons.
