ENGINE DISPLAY

[GH]

I have been working on an engine cutaway exhibit for the local Discovery Center. It will have a hand crank on the crankshaft so the kids can turn it and watch all the moving parts.It will be enclosed in a steel frame with 1/4" clear plexiglass, so they can't get their fingers caught in it.

[Elmo Rodge]

Cool. I have a GMC 6 Cylinder cutaway and I had a Ford Y-Block but I gave it to Jim Gordon at Antique Ford in Rosemead. I like cutaways.  Wayno

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Gary, I've always been impressed by well-done cutaways -- like I've seen in commercial displays and museums.  It must take an awful lot of work to make it/them look good, right?

So -- how'd you learn to do this -- or is this your first effort?  Smooth edges, good and contrasting colors, and so on and so forth -- man-o-man, it must take bloody near forever.  Congratulations on your project.  Let us see more as you get it ready to go to the Center, hey?

[racergeo]

   Those 400 sbc 2 bolts are getting hard to come by. Do you get to right that off on your taxes?

[Dean Los Angeles]

This adds to the old standard . . .

If it won't go, bore it.
If it still won't go, stroke it.
If it still won't go, chrome it.
It it STILL won't go, make a cutaway out of it . . .

[GH]

SSS, this is my first attempt. Yes it does take a lot of time but I have a lot of it. All the engine parts were donated by 2 machine shops that I  use. I have been a metal worker fabricator for a long time, still have most of the equipment. This is really fun. The people at the Discovery Center is real excited about it and is scheduling a special unvailing of the exhibit and wants a few cars in the parking lot (fast Studebakers and Buicks) on hand for viewing.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

"...wants a few cars in the parking lot (fast Studebakers and Buicks) on hand for viewing..."

Finding fast Studes and Buicks will be a big problem, won't it?

[GH]

As of today, the Buick is not running very good. Here is the latest photo, today I start on the stand and frame work for the clear 1/4" plexiglass.

[John Noonan]

Looks great ! !

[GH]

Here is a couple more photos, one shows the exhaust manifolds and the other is the stand with the frame work for the 1/4" cleaar plexiglass.

[46champ]

I've always wondered what tolerances do you build to and how do you keep the non painted parts from rusting.

[GH]

I don't think the unpainted parts will rust because of the building it will be in. As for tolerances, we wanted it to turn real easy, we used front and rear main bearings only, real loose, rod bearings were .010" undersize and the crankshaft is .030" under, front and rear cam bearings also, no rings, lots of clearance in the bores and real light valve springs (4 valves only).

[GH]

Here is the photos of the finished engine exibit. I will deliver it next Monday and drill the holes in the concrete floor to anchor it down.

[Peter Jack]

Really nicely done Gary. Congratulations!

Pete

[GH]

Here is a real cheap, low friction, combination rev kit-valve spring and if your pushrods are too long, just whack them off with a chop saw. This was the last thing I had to do to the engine exibit so the lifters and pushrods would stay down against the camshaft.