My mrs has asked me for some help, as she has to teach a group of 8-16 yr olds about how a internal combustion engine works.

One of my ideas is to get a cheap engine, and section it, so you can see inside it, and watch it working as you rotate the crank. I was hoping to do somthing like a zetec engine, as they are dirt cheap, and a nice simple example of a overhead cam petrol engine.

Just wondering if anyone has ever attempted somthing like this themselves, or have any tips on how to do a good job?

somthing like this is my aim at the end...

 

its harder than it looks, with a iron block even more so.

i would look at buying one of a collage or ebay

 

did a gearbox years ago at collage grinder hacksaw files etc
took forever to do and as above if its iron/cast block will be even harder

prob alot eysier if you have a decent band saw you could use

 

Cool as fuck when they are done, but as above I wouldnt underestimate the amount of work involved!

 

just buy one of those haynes plastic engine kit things. they are like a model kit, but see with a see through block, and it all works when you rotate the engine.

 

there are some great animated gifs out there now, most teachers have the interactive white boards to show this type of thing, save having to go through the hassle of sectioning a real engine.

Always liked the deltic 3 crank train engine one

 

Of theres the animated screen save that was knocking about years ago? deutsh engine or something it was called?

 

As Martyn says....get a Haynes kit, even if its in addition to a sectioned engine.

Here's a vid of one in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TTqsEMbOOk

 

The God of all engines

 

far easier to do moped engines did a 2 stroke one at college but as said its a bit of a bastard to do to say the least planning before u cut anything is king believe me

 

i know a guuy who has a steam saw who could maybe do a block but hes norfolk area

 

that was good it's deutz btw

sectioning an actual engine will be far too much work. a local college may already have one.

i would suggest a video as the kids are down with the tube. something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaG36fidm3I

 

suck, squeeze, bang, blow in big letters on the black board, thats how my old teachers got our attention!!

 

i was trying to get my dad to cut up an old cylinder head years ago for me. he told me to fook off as it would take too long lol