42 replies to this topic

[KurtVerbose]

Looks like you've got a nice place to play in.

Yes, when I had the garage built I had a small room between the garage and house included. It's concrete so pretty soundproof. The only issue is the doors. Need some heavy sealed doors and then I'm all set. It's a detatched house so the neighbours won't be able to hear.

The cable hi-hat I find ok, but I hear they vary hugely in quality. But maybe I'm too crap a drummer to push the limits of it.

Got to say, big drums sound wonderful.

[NickB787]

Looks lovely So what are you going to do with it? Got another one and something to put it in? Wonder how many gallons per hour it would use?

[peteslag]

This is shear lunacy, I love it!

[KurtVerbose]

Ok, so here's the plan.

 

Coffee tables can't be tall, and seeing as it's going in a little wooden house this one can't be heavy. It currently weighs about a ton.

Here's the engine from the side with some labeling I've added.



For a coffee table I'm interested in the cyclinders and the crankcase, and that will give me a height of 48cm, which is only 3cm more than my current table. Engine diameter is 125cm - which is pretty ideal for what I want. Just as well as getting the larger 18 cylinder Centaurus would've been nigh on impossible!

So what I need to do is dissmantle the front - the prop reduction gear and the sleeve crank drive gears. I also need to dismantle the rear - the magneto's and the supercharger. I've already removed the carb (which was enormous).

However, this gives me a problem - how do I dismantle the rear of the engine when the engine mounts are there?

My plan is to remove the cylinder barrels first, and then make a temporary mount to hold the engine from where the cylinder barrels are bolted on. Then I'll have access to both ends of the engine. The barrels themselves will need treating/painting as all the steel bolts are badly corroded and the aluminium itself looks rough and industrial. Anyone have any tips of a good finish? All suggestions gratefully received.

With all that removed it should be a lot lighter, but still bloody heavy. So the next thing would be to remove the internals. Here's a picture of what they look like on another engine.


I think they're stunning to look at, even though in this picture you can't even see the crank and rods. These are the crank and rods from a Bristol Centaurus which is a similar engine, just with 18 cylinders.

 

So I'm thinking to re-assemble these from the supercharger forwards and make what would effectively be a glass crankcase so you can see it all, and make a dining table with it.

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

Will look good when Finnish ..... Will need to pop to see it my next visit in Switzerland :-)

[Bargi]

I love it, takes upcycling to a new level. As your VX bits become redundant will the become your bedside table or toothbrush holder?

[NickB787]

Excellent job

[hairy]

Can you jack up the back end to take the engine mounts off?

[KurtVerbose]

I can Hairy, but I'll need to have a jacking point and that means removing the cylinder barrels.

[hairy]

what you really wanted....

 

[KurtVerbose]

If you're going to use an engine from a boat....

 

[Goosenka]

If you're going to use an engine from a boat....

 

Bet Vocky has had a play with that one

[Mangham54]

Is that a Klassen manifold on that boat anchor(sorry Tubby engine).

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

any pics of the sed finished coffee table ect?

[KurtVerbose]

No, haven't even started dismantling it yet - too many other things to do. Will keep the thread updated when I do though.

[Crabash]

Just saw a very similar coffee table to what you spoke of on sale for £18k and some, painted mostly black with some polished/chrome parts and a sheet of glass.

[KurtVerbose]

Advertising it for £18k is one thing, selling it for that is another!

[Crabash]

True but this place did seem to be making a living from it. They had loads of that kind of stuff.

[FLD]

Imagine how fast the table top will spin!

[Steve.i.am]

 

If you're going to use an engine from a boat....

 

Bet Vocky has had a play with that one

 

 

Sorry to quote the pic again, but I searched this thing. 5.6 million ftlb @ 102rpm. WTF