What is the cheapest way to make a working model v8 engine?

Question

Must be made of metal such as aluminium

DON'T WANT PLASTIC ONES ITS GOT TO BE ABLE TO RUN OF OF SOME FUEL

Answer 1

If you want to make one from completely from scratch you'd need quite a lot of machinery to do it accurately, which is quite important at small scale.. Such machinery would normally add up to quite some cost, but if you're planning on doing it as a hobby (and your time is free!) check out books by this guy. In Particular his "home metal shop from scratch" should give you many ideas of how to make you own tools
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingery

Then all you need is scrap metal which you melt and cast, into rough approximations of the parts you need. It's not too difficult to make your own tools, which can then be used to machine components, maybe more complex tools, or maybe things like an engine.

V8's to do with the arrangement of the cylinders rather than what provides the motive power. Perhaps it would be easier to run it as a steam engine?

Answer 2

You can buy working plastic model engine from toy stores (Toys R Us?)
By working, it is meant that the parts move if you turn a crank.

You can't build one for what one of these models costs.

Answer 3

I'm not sure about costs but check out 'youtube'. Type in 1/6th scale corvette engine. It will open up tags to other engine builders. Some of them are amazing!
You may be able to contact them for advice. Good luck.

Answer 4

Go to a junkyard and buy one.

Really. It's probably a whole lot cheaper than one of the plastic versions. If you tell hte junk yard that it's for a school project, you might even get one for free.