Amazon is selling a $100 mini V8 engine kit for just $70

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While mechanical proficiency is valuable at any age, dipping your toe into the automotive field can seem intimidating. The barrier of entry is steep. You need access to a spacious garage with a lift—or at least a decent set of jacks or ramps. Then you have to visit a junkyard or scrub through Facebook Marketplace listings for an old beater to tinker on… Or do you? Now $69, down 30 percent off its usual $100 sticker price, this miniature engine kit seems to suggest otherwise.

Playz V8 Combustion Engine STEM Kit $70 (was $100) at Amazon

Made specifically for educational purposes, this Playz kit is divided into over 270 pieces, along with visual instructions on how they should be assembled. Based on a classic V8 configuration, the package comprises replica pistons, pulleys, belts, valves, and a crankshaft, along with a real electric motor and a speaker that outputs realistic sounds. Three AA batteries are required but not included, so you will have to purchase those separately if you don’t already have some.

Still, it’s a small price to pay for hours of productive entertainment. Not only is it fun to build, but it’s a clever introduction to developing genuinely useful skills. A straight-six version is also available at a 25 percent discount, bringing its total price to $52 when you clip the coupon on the page. Both are common engine layouts, although the six-cylinder version might bear closer resemblance to the inline engines we mostly see today. It’s also less complex, with 230 components, fewer than that of the V8.

“The Playz V8 Model Engine is a great kit for learning about engines,” said one shopper. “It's easy to build, fun to operate, and a perfect gift for anyone interested in engineering.”

Another Amazon customer called it “educational and fun,” even if it’s a bit of a challenge at times.

Put together your own engine—in your choice of a V8 or inline-six configuration—with a big, exciting project in a small package before the sale ends.