During the 80's, my machine shop of choice was "Bishop and Buehl Engineering"
here in Southern California. They were heavy into formula one racing, I seem
to recall, and like everyone else at the time, they also did a lot of work on
V8's. However, working on my Triumph (tractor) motor was a total change of pace
for them.
...any ways...
I had started to prepare a motor that I wanted to be totally over-the-top and
bullet-proof... Following Darryl Buehl's recommendation, my crank out to another
company that ground it undersize, chromed it oversize, and then turned it down
and polished it to standard... Apparently this was the hottest thing you could
do at the time... and I recall it cost me $350.00. (Darryl felt guilty about
the cost and chose not to mark it up. He showed me the receipt from the other
company to show me that he hadn't.) I kept that crank in a box with other
parts that they B&B had worked on, waiting to put it on that one hot dream
motor.... I still haven't used it! I kept hanging on to it for a future
car and settled for nitriding, etc. on the engines I've rebuilt since!
What's your thoughts on this process Kas? I don't really hear anything about
it.
--Justin Wagner
Kas Kastner wrote:
> Brings up an interesting (to me) story about my last TR-6. I had a stock
> to start with crankshaft that made it possible to turn 8000 revs and keep
> everything together for almost two years.
> I sold the TR-6 to a fellow in Texas. ( this is the same car that crashed
> at Mid-Ohio #72)
> The new owner ran the car a few races then dutifully took the engine down
> and found a reported small longitudinal crack in on of the throws ( it had
> been there from the new part) and so he took out this crank and made it into
> a lamp. (no phone call to me)
>
> That crank was worth probably $5,000 in exp. work and machining and thought
> and balancing and weight improvement.
>
> Also the crank was fully polished and looked great as a lamp but would have
> served much better in the car. But of course, this new lamp will now furnish
> the light needed to try and
> figure out how to turn 8,000 revs with comfort in a TR-6 for more than a few
> times on a stock crank.
>
> The lesson is; never sell a great racecar. (probably)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Rikrock@aol.com>
> To: <fot@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Sunday, November 24, 2002 7:14 PM
> Subject: Re: Auto-art .... Was blatant etc
>
> > In a message dated 11/24/02 6:36:05 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> N197TR4@cs.com
> > writes:
> >
> >
> > >
> > > If you cant sell it, you can always make auto-art out of it. I just
> > > attached
> > > a crankshaft to a flywheel, set the assembly vertical, put an aluminum
> race
> > >
> > > wheel on top of it and then bought a glass table top from the Hobby
> Lobby
> > > on
> > > a 1/3 price sale. For about $20, I now have a unique end table.
> > >
> > > I'd sell it $100 :-) No I wouldnt...just kidding.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Joe,
> >
> >
> > It might fetch a higher price if you refer to it as "assemblage art" or
> > "assemblage sculpture". I hear that's what the artists (and people who
> pay
> > amazing $$$ ) call it.
> >
> > I doubt any FOT member would spend money on your table (which I think is
> > pretty cool!) or something similar, but it's big world out there.... so
> I'm
> > assembling a few pieces myself :-)
> >
> > Rich Rock
> > Pottstown, PA
|