LEGO V-8

[Greg Myers]

LEGO V-8

[Nick Winter]

You know you have too much time when: you build a lego engine that'll get up to 1400 RPM.

[SuperStockAndy]

Build a working tranny for that thing and I'll use it for lots of things.

[Harry P.]

Somebody is going to have to explain to me how a model engine made of plastic can "run" for that long at that speed without the heat and friction melting everything into one big blob.

[Foxer]

Somebody is going to have to explain to me how a model engine made of plastic can "run" for that long at that speed without the heat and friction melting everything into one big blob.

Or, considering I've built many Lego models, how the vibrations didn't shake itself apart. Maybe it's the inherent balance of a V8 ... a straight 4-banger would be in pieces waiting to become a rhinoceros or multi-span bridge.

[Adam144]

It's just an air pump so there isn't much heat. I can only assume the glossy surface of the LEGO pieces and a loose tolerance would allow it to slide freely without generating much friction/heat at all.

[torinobradley]

If I were to guess, I would think it runs on compressed air, not an internal combustion. Lots of air lines running all over the place and it doesn't show anything about the internals. Very interesting though. Thanks for sharing! I'll have to show my Lego-Maniac son.

[MikeMc]

Somebody is going to have to explain to me how a model engine made of plastic can "run" for that long at that speed without the heat and friction melting everything into one big blob.

I suspect it is air driven and really loose. The color of the fasteners might indicate a special polycarb mix...and all those tubes..air or liquid?

very cool concept

Edited January 21, 2011 by Stasch

[Harry P.]

It's just an air pump so there isn't much heat. I can only assume the glossy surface of the LEGO pieces and a loose tolerance would allow it to slide freely without generating much friction/heat at all.

I guess. And I also guess that it was glued together and not just friction-fit.

[Harry P.]

I also bet they coated everything in some kind of lubricant. Lego plastic is pretty tough stuff, actually. I'm less surprised it didn't melt than the not flying apart...part. I wonder if they did any balancing to keep vibrations under control?

How do you balance a Lego engine???

[ra7c7er]

Here you go guys. The place that sells them. It is pneumatic and air cooled it runs the 8 cylinders with only four intake ports so it's kind of a double 4 and not a true V8 but it is still cool and neat.

V8 engine lego Tech

Oh and check out the lego mustang powered buy one of the engines.

Edited January 21, 2011 by ra7c7er

[SuperStockAndy]

How do you balance a Lego engine???

Harmonic Balancer

I suspect the spark plug wires(or should I say tubes) really just have air in them. I never saw a distributor anywhere, so maybe.

Edited January 21, 2011 by Android

[Harry P.]

OK, their site explains HOW.

But WHY???

[CAL]

OK, their site explains HOW.

But WHY???

sometimes just because you can.

[ra7c7er]

OK, their site explains HOW.

But WHY???

Because it's cool. Just one way for nerds to try and be cool and do a much better job at it than jocks.

[Scott Colmer]

I taught my kids how to build models. One prefers Mario Kart, the oldest likes to build legos. He makes his own creations. You can be sure I am going to show him this. I think it's killer!

[Modelmartin]

But WHY???

Why not?

You wouldn't be questioning the need for something like that if they made a 1/8th scale Superbird, would you?