LS Coffee Table

[postalUT]

So I've been toying around with an idea for a coffee table made out of Lincoln LS parts. I've seen similar ideas with Ferrari and Porsche parts, but I thought it would be really cool to do with parts from an LS. My first step is going to finding a junked or seized V8 engine and taking out either 4 or 8 pistons to make the basic leg structure. Since I have recently been given access to both the IRIS metal shop and the FutureX Vehicle shop at the University of Tennessee, I finally have a place to actually do the work with all the equipment that (I think) I need. My basic plan was to create the legs out of the pistons, and to make a supporting frame out of stiff fuel lines. I might decide to implement the springs as the legs if I cannot find a junked engine cheap enough. The table surface would be a giant piece of plate glass and I would get a Lincoln star emblem frosted onto the glass. I might even get an auto shop to tint the glass. I also thought about putting a pair of LS cupholders at each corner. Sadly though, finding all of this stuff is going to be expensive so I'm going to be looking around some salvage yards for parts. But I do have access to the tools (until I graduate) and I have a few rough sketches on paper and it doesn't seem that far out of reach.

I guess I just wanted to see what you guys thought or if you had any ideas, especially ones that could make the cost more feasible.

 

[1bad4.6l]

do it dude i dont know if youre that artistic but i make stuff from carparts all the time i have three crabs that have open ed wrenches for claws, a motorcycle that has alternator pulleys for wheels bolts for the frame and three crown nuts for the v-twin motor. also an 8 foot piece of exhaust pipe bent just right saw blades on the back for fins nuts bolts for teeth and eyes. its in my front yard! also made a spider with one wheel 8 rods from a 350 chevy and a regular mig welder. if you can see it you can do it, patience though and a steady hand if you want the metal look be sure to clearcoat it or it will rust even indoors. ive made several benches for my friends out of angle iron and tail gates. if anyone would like something made i can email pics with my moms digital camera of the stuff ive made. im not too computer savvy, just got one a month ago. but moms can help me a little. my stuff is good and im not highpriced my benches went for 50 bucks, they brought me the tailgates. ive always wanted to do this for a living but it doesnt seem probable:waving: :waving: :waving: :waving: man you can make this table but i wouldnt use fuel line some are aluminum and if not they will be too thin to get a good tack on those thick pistons. try exhaust pipe it woks good and you can usually get a 15 foot piece for 30- 40 bucks, get regular aluminized not stainless. or find a different part to use such as rods. or even control arms the options are unlimited. good luck on this just try to make some other things first if this is your first project jack with that welder til you get it just right the speed is the most important based on power. youll know when its right. you dont want some ugly table in youre living room, for youre frinds to say look at that weld, cause their used too this computer controlled stuff they see.:W to my hobby

 

[1bad4.6l]

I have to move this to the top sorry but its my life dream!

 

[mholhut]

Great idea, but even though you'll be using LS parts, there's nothing uniquely identifiable about it. The etched Lincoln logo is a great idea though.

I'm finishing my basement into a "Man-Town" and I'm going to use a V6 Taurus SHO motor as a coffee table.... the whole motor, just gutted competely for weight savings and cleaned up. The intake on the SHO motor is flat enought that just a couple rubber pads will be used to rest the glass on the top. And 3.0 SHO motors are pretty cheap at about $100.

 

[owlman]

That's a cool idea; can't wait to see what you come up with! :wrench

 

[eastcoastLS]

i was gonna use one of t he 17'' wheels from the LS and lay it flat then put a round piece of glass on top.

 

[postalUT]

It'll be a pretty tricky project to undertake. I've been practicing MIG and TIG welding on some scrap parts. I'm horrible right now but I'm getting better constantly. Using the block as a center for the table to rest on sounds like a fairly easy idea, but I really want to try and make something unique. Thanks for the tips about the clearcoat, I would have never thought of doing it. I'm still trying to find a way to incorporate the grill somehow but i keep drawing blanks. Perhaps I'll do an abstract outline of the grill to do in etched glass.

 

[luttersj]

Something like this?

I don't know if you tried Google but there's quite a few links for it: Google Results