For all you out there who like big, honking V8s and screamin' V12 engines, check out these tiny versions that you could run on your workbench or kitchen table. These models were built by craftsmen the same way the big ones are made, by machining billet stock and castings, but in miniature. These are not just models that look like engines, they are real running engines.
Some of these photos were taken from the Joe Martin Foundation Craftsmanship Museum web site at the Craftsmanship Museum, but many more images can be found elsewhere on the web, and engines like these can be seen in person at model engineering shows around the country. Here are some really nice examples:
The late Lee Root built this 1/4 scale Corvette engine. The major components were machined entirely from solid billet aluminum that has been bead blasted to look like castings, and it will turn 18,000 RPM! The coin you see in some of the photos for size reference is a US quarter. The valve covers are just 4-1/2" long, and the miniature spark plugs are commercially available.
This 1/3 scale billet machined, supercharged Chrysler 300 Hemi racing engine from the 1960s was built by James Weber. It has a 1.0" bore and 0.90" stroke, displacing 5.65 cubic inches. The engine burns gasoline or methanol (methyl alcohol) on dual electronic spark ignition and incorporates a two-stage pressurized dry-sump lubrication system. You can see and hear video of it running HERE. It will turn around 12 grand and uses a couple of computer cooling fans on the radiator to keep things cool. Note the professional-looking throttle and gauges on the stand.
Here's a V8 and a half; a 1/4 scale Ferrari V12 by Jeron Classic Motors. It has double overhead camshafts, burns methanol on glow ignition, and is equipped with two oil pumps for dry sump lubrication. All six carburetors function and are linked together for smooth operation. The heads and block are about 7-1/4" long. Only a few of these were made before the company went out of business, so it's pretty rare. Like many of the engines you see here, it is on loan to the Craftsmanship Museum courtesy of Paul and Paula Knapp and their Miniature Engineering Museum.
Here's another twelve. The late Al Ingersol built this Curtiss D-12D 1/6 scale V12 airplane engine completely from billet stock and also built a model Curtiss Wright P6E biplane to put it in. The engine is only 9" long and weighs 6 pounds. It has a 0.80" bore and 1.062" stroke, displacing 6.46 cubic inches.
One of the more popular model V8 engines over the years has been the Challenger. This one was built by Ron Colonna. Casting kits are still available for this 1/3 scale engine through Coles Power Models, although it is definitely not a beginner project.
Several V8 engines by Ken Hurst are displayed at a model engineering shows like the recent Western Engine Model Exhibition (WEME) in Vallejo, CA. How about that supercharger! Behind the first engine is his blue Challenger V8. The 103 cc engine sounds great running on a mixture of white gas and high octane racing fuel.
Eugene Corl built this 1/3 scale Chevy V8 using engine castings he produced himself. The engine is seen here at the Gas Engine Antique Reproduction Show (GEARS) in Portland, OR.
Seen above are some of the wooden patterns, molds, cores, and raw castings that had to be made to build Gene's 1/3 scale Chevy V8. Once cast, the parts must be precisely machined just like real engine components. When you look at one of these finished little engines, keep in mind all the planning, preparation, fixturing, and behind-the-scenes work that goes into making one.
The three photos above show the world's smallest known running Chevrolet V8. Jim Moyer built this 1/6 scale version of a 1964 365 HP Chevrolet Corvette 327. Note the tiny firing order cast into the intake manifold just like on the real thing. The heads and block are machined from billet aluminum. Jim even made stamping dies to make the oil pan, rockers and front cover. The valve covers are investment cast.
The finished 1/6 scale five-bearing crankshaft fits in Jim's hand. It utilizes real Babbitt bearings.
Here you can see the cylinder heads of the Moyer 327 plus the stamped oil pan and front cover. Some parts inside the engines are made to scale like the 30-30 Duntov camshaft, but some things have to be modified to make a small engine run. Electricity and fuel molecules don't scale, so some parts have to be slightly heavier or larger than exact scale would dictate. Getting a small engine to run requires skill and careful work; getting one to run well is an art.
Here's a shot of Jim's tiny Corvette V8 being test run. You can view a video of it running on his website HERE. He is now working on a 1/6 scale Chevy 409.
Gary Conley came up with the 1/4 scale Conley V8 in the 1980s. This version has twin carbs. You could buy it as a kit or as a completed engine. Gary is now building what he calls the "Stinger 609" V8 that will soon be available as a complete running engine. Gary's site is Conley Precision where he has video of a supercharged Stinger 609 running in a 1/4 scale dragster. Impressive!
Paul Knapp built this great looking version of the Conley V8. It runs twin carbs on a fully functional Roots style 671 blower and will turn 12,000 RPM on methanol. Note the nicely painted and highly polished finishes on this beautiful engine. (Did you notice that the ignition switch even has its own set of keys like a real engine?)
A Cirrus V8 by Profi M.E. of the Ukraine is based on the Merritt Zimmerman design. The exposed rocker arms need to be manually lubricated before running the engine. Again, note the really nice finishes on every part.
This is one of only six air-cooled Micro Cirrus 1/12 scale V8s produced by Profi M.E. using the components from a run of four-cylinder Micro Cirrus engines. Six water-cooled versions were also built. The cylinder heads on this rare V8 are only about 2" long. Note the size of the quarter at the bottom of the photo. This thing is TINY!
This 87 cc V12 by Martin Ohrendorf of Germany has a 21 mm bore and stroke, 24 exposed rocker arms, and three carbs. It will spin a 24/10 propeller at 4500 RPM. One just like it can be seen running on YouTube.
This scale 426 Hemi V8 by Roger Butzen was made by using parts of a plastic model kit for reference. This one, however, is all metal and it RUNS! Only the air cleaner decal from the plastic kit made it to the final running version.
Here is another Challenger V8 at the WEME show in Vallejo. This one was built by Dick Pretel and sports triple carbs. Starter, batteries, and other peripherals are hidden in the wooden base. It even has carrying handles! Big fins on the valve covers help with cooling.
The Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship has a machine shop in their museum in Vista, CA, where they are currently building a miniature Howell V4 engine. They have documented the build step-by-step so you can see what it takes to put together a running miniature engine. Please point out this thread to every motorhead you know. The craftsmen who build these little beauties deserve plenty of recognition.
