This wild homemade model V8 four-stroke engine was built using “scraps” that were laying around the shop, according to the builder, YouTube user davidrobert2007. It’s fascinating to watch in action, with the sound of the engine rhythmic and consistent, as any engine should be. 

According to David, the engine is a 90-degree V8 that uses a crossplane crankshaft and is made from scrap metal, wood, wires, Meccano pieces, and some other odds and ends. Rather than reinventing the wheel (or engine in this case), he built the engine to work on a big-block Chevrolet firing pattern – 18436572 – and it uses a camshaft to actuate the solenoids every two revolutions of the crankshaft, just like a four-stroke combustion engine. Engine speed is regulated by a simple dial mounted on the side of the platform.

Solenoids are switched by the relays, which are triggered by the camshaft, seen in the top video on the left side of the crankshaft. The camshaft is geared to runs at half engine speed through the timing chain. Revs tops out at 460 on a 3-amp power supply. 

It’s an impressive feat of engineering for sure. One has to wonder whether applications like this might pave the way for future electric engines based on traditional gasoline-fired engine architecture – could the engine produce enough torque and power to motivate a vehicle?

Of course, it would have to move past the rigged-up stage it’s currently in, and the zip-ties would probably have to go,  but it’s certainly an interesting idea. Check out the entire series of videos – David has many different ones showing single-cylinder testing all the way up to the finished V8 product.