printable v8 engine (probably working)

thingiverse

I've seen all kinds of engines in my time, but they're usually basic block, crank, and pistons. One inline 4 stands out as being wonderfully done, but it's not a V8. So, I decided to build a V8 of my own. Not having a 3D printer, I couldn't test-print this model, but I know that steel or brass rod would be perfect for some parts like the rocker arms and crankshaft rods. Pushrods should definitely be made of steel or brass too. This isn't a plug-and-play kit; all models require some work when assembled. When modeling each part, I made sure to use very tight tolerances. Pistons will need sanding, likely along with most other parts, so don't think of this as a print-and-go project. It's more like building a plastic model kit from the hobby store. My intention was to create an engine with all the working parts that isn't just an inline 4 – rocker heads, valves, pistons, camshaft, and more. This is meant for education or as a nice desk toy, not a replica of any specific brand's motor. If you find any problems with this model, please let me know so I can fix them. I have plans to do similar projects like flat engines, inline engines, and W engines in the future. If anyone makes this project or prints one part, I'd love to see how it turns out – please post a picture in the comments! I recommend scaling up the model by 11 or 12 for better detail. I also uploaded the complete engine so you can see what it's supposed to look like when assembled. Update 1.1: Since then, I've added an intake manifold and valve covers to this project. Both parts required changes to the block and heads. After completing the intake manifold, I thought it wasn't awesome enough, so I added a big blower. The blower should work; I designed it with a single pulley attached directly to one of the compressor blades from the crankshaft, but that would put too much stress on the rods connected to the end of the compressor blades. To solve this issue, I built a complicated series of gears connecting the crank to the blower. For those who prefer using metal rods instead of rubber bands, you can simply attach one of the pulleys I uploaded onto the end of it and use a rubber band to connect the two pulleys. Currently, I'm working on a V10 engine that will be fuel injected or modeled as such. If anyone is looking forward to this project, please let me know in the comments. I also plan to create Hemi heads and pistons for the same block so you can build an engine that's unique to your preferences, just like in a video game. Post-printing notes: This print will indeed need sanding – there's no way around it. It'll likely require some drilling for holes as well, so you can screw everything together or remove supports. I designed this project using Blender 2.75/2.77, which is why everything isn't exactly identical; I free-handed a lot of the design based on how Blender works.