It's been more than 10 years since YouTuber and gearhead James Peter showed off his completely homemade V8 engine, which he claimed was "smaller than the smallest engine in the world." Technically, that would make it the world's smallest running V8 engine ever built.
The 5-foot long, hand-started 44cc engine has a 3/4? bore and 3/4? stroke, making us believe Mr. Peters when he says that this thing is, in fact, the world's smallest running V8. At least at the time. Feast you eyes on this incredible feat of engineering in the video below.
WATCH: Smallest Running V8 Engine
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Isn't that little thing awesome? It really makes you respect the art of mini engine building.
Now, if that video inspired you to pick up a new hobby or teach your kids or grandkids how to build an engine, there are plenty of incredible scale model engine-building kits available on Amazon to get you started.
The Build Your Own V8 Engine kit from Haynes is definitely a good place for interested hobbyists and novice gearheads to begin. For ages 14 and up, the V8 model engine kit simulates a running engine and comes with over 100 parts, including crankshafts, pistons, and connecting rods. The smaller scale V8 also features ignition and engine sounds and light-up spark plugs. Again, it's not a real car engine, but it still makes for a great introduction to engine building for someone with little-to-no experience.
A similar kit is the Playz Kids DIY Toy V8 Combustion Engine Model Kit.
For a hobby toy, this mini replica of a classic four cycle eight-cylinder internal combustion gas engine is a pretty great learning tool at an affordable price. It lets you mess around with cranks, pulleys, belts, and exhaust valves to create a realistic-looking product. It's fun for the whole family!
This post was originally published on October 18, 2019.