John
Why? Look at those OH camshafts....plural....as in "two" They look too difficult! At my skill level, I'll be lucky to machine, one. I have very serious doubts about making two. Then, there's eight of everything else. The V-6 "looks" like the V-2, and I will start with the V-Twin first, then work myself up the the V-6....maybe.
Time is also a factor. I will be using someone else's shop, machines, tooling, and will only be working on these engines when the shop is available. My friend, (who owns the shop) is in the middle of building a triple-compound, launch engine, and is also putting the finishing touches on a steam train, scaled like the old Cagney. It's so big he has it on a modified, hydraulic, car-lift. So, I have many limitations, and my schedule depends on him. I no longer have my own, personal shop. If I set-up a machine to make a part, I have to finish that part, on that day. That's a PIA. I can't/won't leave without returning the lathe, mill, etc. back into a usable condition, just in case he needs his tools to machine a part for himself. There's also clean-up time factored into this equation. Machining is all set ups, and, clean ups, and slowly removing any metal that's not needed. Time consuming when you are a guest in someone's shop.
But before I make the first chips fly, I will cut my teeth on a far simpler engine build than a V-8. I have a V-4 Flame-Licker in mind. I saw an engine on You-Tube that I'd like to try first, before any gas engine build. No fuel mixers, camshafts, wires, spark-plugs, carbs. etc. Simple, like me.
By the way, (stupid question coming....) is there a "distributor" involved with these V-2 thru V-8 engines? I don't see one. Do these engines work off some kind of sensors that trip a spark across the plugs? Are these glow-plug engines?
Educate me, please.
Frank
