"Tom Del Rosso" wrote

> >> This always bugged me. Why is firing order always non-consecutive?
> >>
> >
> > Because, in the case of classic 1342:
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1h9eU9YH5o
> >
>
> That doesn't explain why it isn't 1234.

The reason they don't just fire "one end to the other end" is balance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_balance

The reason the firing order isn't "consecutive" is due to the conventional
way(s) of numbering cylinders.
Straight 4 cyl = 1234
Straight 6 cyl = 123456
Some V8 = Left 1357 Right 2468
Other V8 = Left 5678 Right 1234

Feel free to build you own engine, and make it fire "consecutively" using
normal numbering (have fun as your engine shakes the car to pieces), or
get a felt pen and number your cylinders any way you like. :-)