And now, for something completely different...427 8V coffee table

[Pentroof]

Yeah, I've got more impressive stuff to do and talk about, like: getting the Crown Vic front end under my 1970 F100 instead of sitting in the bed and swapping the 428 in my Cyclone over to EFI since I've owned the Victor EFI intake for 5 years and it's been on the car for 3 years with the injector ports plugged running a 850DP. But, I thought this one would be more unique. And hey, I like good coffee, so I need a proper table.

The desire for this project came from my recent completion of finishing my basement. I don't want a complete "man-cave" theme, but I do want it to be fun and semi-whimsical (is that word too soft for an engine forum?). The idea is to project some of the personality of the family but still have everything tie together. One thing I've always wanted but never had enough room to do right is a pool table. So, with the table I wanted in mind (1950's Brunswick Anniversary), I designed the layout and busted my ass for a few months. Did everything myself except lay the carpet. Next, I found the table I wanted at the right price and got it set up. This table has cast aluminum pockets and unique pedestal feet with aluminum skirts, so it really blends well with older automotive stuff. Probably the reason I'm drawn to it.

Here are a couple shots of the room and the pool table. The coffee table will be at the far end with a group of swivel chairs.




One of the design cues: I bought a couple of these side tables that raise with a hand crank. Black cast iron and walnut would work well with the coffee table (as well as the Klipsche Forte IIs in the background).



So, the plan is to build a coffee table utilizing an FE outfitted like a dual quad 427. I know, you're thinking the damn thing will be so heavy I'll want to leave it if I move. Well, that's where the fun and interesting parts comes in to play.

Stay tuned.... 

[cjshaker]

Is it going to be running? I say it'll be worthless unless it runs. That way it'll keep your coffee warm.

[Pentroof]

So, to keep weight down, I started looking for some aluminum stuff that died a sudden death at the track and could be had cheap....no luck.

I guess I'll just have to buy a new aluminum Shelby block and some BBM heads to keep the weight down. Maybe hollow them out with a plasma cutter or sawzall.

OK, back to reality....how about a plastic block and some plastic heads?
http://www.payr.com/352-390-427-428-Ford-FE-Series-Short-Block-W-Heads-3035.htm

That should do the job. I can paint it black like my side tables and then add the glitzy stuff in aluminum to tie in with the pool table: valve covers, timing chain cover, intake, air cleaner.

But...that still sounds a bit pricey for a coffee table. OK, valve covers will have to be the real deal. They're just too visible on this thing and they have to indicate that this motor is real. Money will be spent on valve covers, unless I decide to put my originals back on my 66 Cyclone and use the chrome Mercury script pentroofs for the coffee table , I'll decide later. The timing chain cover I have somewhere in the garage, I'm sure. What about the top end? It needs to have dual quads and a finned dual quad air cleaner, otherwise it's just a V8 under a table.

Carbs can be had cheap enough and don't have to be 100% accurate. The same guys that make the block also make a plastic carb, but it really doesn't look like a carb. It looks more like a spacer to hold up the air cleaner. So I put a call out and ended up buying a couple 4160 carbs from Leny Mason (I think he's a forum member here). They're not dual quad originals, but once I paint them with some Eastwood carb renew paint and stuff them under a big air cleaner, they'll do the part perfectly.

Spare distributor is also in the garage, along with wires. I don't think I'll put a water pump on it. Leaving the timing cover exposed will allow some aluminum to show and keep the dimensions down.

So, that leaves the intake and the air cleaner. Of course the filter element will have to be real and the bottom of the filter assembly could be easily fabricated. The lid though. That has to look very real or the whole notion of a dual quad is useless. And the intake is very visible. It has to be very convincing that it's the real deal.

[Pentroof]

Is it going to be running? I say it'll be worthless unless it runs. That way it'll keep your coffee warm.

I have to admit: that is a utility that I hadn't thought of and perhaps could justify the cost of an actual Shelby block. Perhaps a SOHC would keep it even warmer?

[Pentroof]

Here's the plan on the intake and the filter assembly lid. I contacted a forum member and was able to borrow a Blue Thunder dual quad intake and a Shelby dual quad lid. The plan is to scan the two parts using a laser scanner on a CMM to create a 3D model of the parts and then load the models into a 3D printer and print the parts in plastic.

I'll let the VERY GENEROUS forum member announce themselves if they wish to do so.

[machoneman]

Click on this link: https://www.google.com/search?q=cosworth+engine+display++table&rlz=1C1SAVS_enUS541US568&espv=2&biw=1097&bih=555&tbm=isch&imgil=1uJ2f3c7_GUqwM%253A%253BiNdBgz5gxtww6M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.bertm.freeservers.com%25252Fphoto2.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=1uJ2f3c7_GUqwM%253A%252CiNdBgz5gxtww6M%252C_&usg=__pxCUQLizph8kI-Q-KD_6niwoA54%3D&ved=0ahUKEwj-ssKx4M3OAhXK6CYKHYTZAWoQyjcIJw&ei=JCC3V_6QDcrRmwGEs4fQBg#imgrc=1uJ2f3c7_GUqwM%3A

Your post instantly reminded me of some really pricey Formula One engine tables! 

[Pentroof]

Parts being scanned using a Mitutoyo line laser scanning head on a Mitutoyo CMM. I'm evaluating the line scanner as a cheaper alternative to a structured light unit for work (reverse engineering and tooling development). These parts actually worked out very well for the evaluation because of the geometries involved. The intake was very complex and required 100 scans to get a decent file. I still have some work to do in some editing software to clean it up and reduce the size. The original file included about 25 million points. It's currently down to 9 million and will be reduced considerable from here.
The lid was a good speed challenge for scanning, considering the nearly 2 dimensional geometry.

[Pentroof]

Model of the lid is nearly done. The bottom is flat, not contoured like the original piece. This will enable printing, was easier to scan and won't be noticeable when assembled.




Here is the model evolving for the intake. This was also only scanned from the top. The underside will be filled manually in the software. No care was taken to scan the head mating surfaces other than the front and back that will be visible. This is currently just a shell of the top surfaces of the manifold.



You can see some of the areas that need to be manually cleaned up. I'm doing that now. Originally, I was going to leave the model as a top shell only to keep the material content down. After considering the fact that some surfaces will have no support to start from as its being printed, I've changed the plan. The underside will be completely filled and then the printing parameters will be adjusted to print the interior in a substantially lighter structure than the external few mm.

Both will be painted to look like aluminum castings after printing. There is actually plastic material available that has aluminum content in it that prints objects that look like aluminum, but that's a bit spendy.

The 3D printer to be used is also owned by a forum member and I won't say who unless they comment.

[Pentroof]

Click on this link: https://www.google.com/search?q=cosworth+engine+display++table&rlz=1C1SAVS_enUS541US568&espv=2&biw=1097&bih=555&tbm=isch&imgil=1uJ2f3c7_GUqwM%253A%253BiNdBgz5gxtww6M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.bertm.freeservers.com%25252Fphoto2.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=1uJ2f3c7_GUqwM%253A%252CiNdBgz5gxtww6M%252C_&usg=__pxCUQLizph8kI-Q-KD_6niwoA54%3D&ved=0ahUKEwj-ssKx4M3OAhXK6CYKHYTZAWoQyjcIJw&ei=JCC3V_6QDcrRmwGEs4fQBg#imgrc=1uJ2f3c7_GUqwM%3A

Your post instantly reminded me of some really pricey Formula One engine tables!

I think I've seen most of them while doing my research. The one with the blue lights inside gives me an idea. I hadn't determined what I was going to do about exhaust, if anything. Headers would look cool, but would need to be very short and compact.

Now I'm thinking maybe I'll design a short zoomie style tube on a flange and print 8 of them here on a printer I have access to locally. Some orange, yellow and white LED lights tucked up inside may be cool without being TOO tacky.

They may be cheap enough to fabricate out of stainless too. Then I could hit them with a torch to get some blue in them.

[mike7570]

this would be my choice...

[cjshaker]

this would be my choice...

Now that is just plain bad a$$!!!