Gear Head Coffee Table - 215 Aluminum V8

[bugdewde]

Well, I've seen these things on the web for a few years, and I've always wanted one.
So...... today, I pulled the old mock-up Buick 215 cubic inch all aluminum V8 block out of the stalled '73 Vega Kammback project to see how hard/easy it would be.

WOW! It took 5 minutes to build the rough draft.....

1. After separating the rod caps, I simply slid one rod bolt into a head bolt hole. The other rod bolt just hangs in the lifter valley pan area.
2. The pistons are almost level.... will need some tweaking/leveling to sit flat.
3. Cut some old blue jean grease rags up to keep the glass from getting scratched/nasty from the old carboned up pistons.
4. Added Sunscreen, Bug Spray and a bottle of hootch to the cylinders for effect...... sitting on top of the 2x4 in the crank area to raise them up and out of the bores

After a good de-greasing and some clear coat on the steel rods/pistons/cylinder walls, I think I just might have a new back porch/deck coffee table.

 

[Mojo]

. . . Hon, you forgot to vacuum under the coffee table again!

 

[Scott14SG]

Very cool!

 

[CrBear]

Looks great !
I have fond memories of that motor in two vehicles. 1) had a Grand Prix that busted a piston on New Years Eve around midnight on the highway (Buick engine). A buddy and I replaced it, but it never ran the same. 2) Same buddy had a Vega '73 maybe. We worked together as field techs and he was at an account, parked in front. Called and said his damn Vega was on fire! Said he thinks a bolt fell in the carb when he was working on it.

 

[TomA]

Now that is really cool idea and doesn't everybody have an old V-8 laying around.