[Silverback51]

Well I have to speak up in defense of the engineers.

Spark plug location. If it's a dual overhead cam engine, your options are very limited. And if you are trying for the best flame pattern, there is no option. You want the spark plug in the center of the cylinder.

For *13*. Look at the size of the 74 Chevy pickup and the size of todays cars. Also look at the amount of equipment that is under the hood now days. It's a packaging nightmare for the engineers. And believe it or not, good engineers do look at these items. However, sometimes the requirements for serviceability get out weighed by other items, such as maintaining the low hood line for a lower CD number.

There are a lot of trade offs in any design. Some we see as the consumer, and some we do not.