Engine Block TV Stand

This is an instructable of how I re-purposed an old car engine and created a TV stand nice enough for the wife to allow it in the living room.

Basically this engine was too small to look good as a coffee table (like top gear), but just about the right size for a TV stand.

Supplies

1) An old car

2) A TV

3) Welder

4) Spray Paint

5) 3D Printer

Step 1: Remove Engine From Car

Assuming you have no further need for an engine in this vehicle, remove it. You might be replacing it with a jet engine or retrofitting a tesla motor, but in my case, the engine timing belt had failed, writing off the engine and the car it was in.

This engine could have been repaired, but the cost of new parts were higher than the total value of the working car. Combined with selling working spares on eBay, it made sense to strip the car and scrap the shell.

A broken engine is not worth much on eBay, and I have a healthy habit of taking absolutely everything I own to pieces. So that's what I did.

Step 2: Dismantle Engine

We want the engine to be a pure as possible. No extra bits on the side to confuse things.

Be careful with the likes of oil, coolant, and any fuel left in the injectors. Do not just flush them down the drain either, be a good human and recycle them properly.

Step 3: Tidy Engine

Unless your engine is brand new, it will likely not look good in a living room. And if your engine is brand new, why are you taking it apart?

If you have access to a shotblaster, this can be a good way to get a nice matt metal surface.

Alternatively do what I did, which was put it in the dishwasher. My wife did not know until our wedding day, when my best man showed everyone a photo during his speech. Best man, worst brother.

Once it came out the dishwasher, I polished a few wee bits down, then spray painted the entire thing gloss black. Goes with the TV etc.

Step 4: Weld Stand

This is the part that actually holds the TV up. The engine block just weighs it all down, stops it falling over.

I used a big old steel pipe and a welder from the 70's. Do not take any advice from me about welding, I'm terrible at it, but this did work.

To make it look pretty, finish it with the same finish as your engine block. In my case, black spray paint.

I'd have liked to have used a better TV bracket, but my initial plan fell through and an old projector mount was handy. It works enough, so I'll not be changing it. The wooden board was just a mock TV, to ensure the arms reached the mounting holes.

Step 5: Print Mounting Brackets

Unless you're a master welder, the upright won't perfectly match up with the engine block. To fix this, I printed all the brackets.

Everything was put in place and measured up, so there were minimal adjustments required.

I'd upload some STLs, but as it's all made to fit you'd have to design your own anyway.

I use Fusion 360, it's free for makers and small businesses.

Step 6: Assembly

Put everything together, attach the TV, wire everything in. TV wires were fished through the steel tube. Under the AVR and behind the engine block is a large enough space to neatly plug all the power cords. Cable tie everything so it doesn't unravel, and turn it on.

If this is pulled off well, it can give a perfect talking point sitting quietly in the corner.

Comments

[buck2217]

Jeez, that's ugly ---- I love it!!
My wife would have kittens though if I made one
voted for you

[buttonkey]

How to make your wife have kittens sounds like an awesome Ible, tho. Just saying, lol.

[RaymondR6]

I prefer to mount my flat screen TV sets on walls directly and save floor space for regular furniture, but this is unique. BTW, wouldn't it be easier to just buy a block from a machine shop? Sometimes they have old blocks that were damaged by broken rods or bad bearings, and abandoned, so the project could be simpler and cheaper. I know about scrap yards, but I doubt anyone can find a good looking block easily and rust free in such a place.

[SirDan]

I agree with the wall mounting, I did look into it, but the chunky AVR would then look out of place.
Can get an engine from anywhere really. Condition wouldn't matter too much, even catastrophic damage could add to the character. A rusty block could still work, if it fitted with the rest of your decor.
For myself, the inspiration for the project came from having the old broken engine, which happened to be Aluminium so was in reasonable condition.

[seamster]

I love it. Certainly not the aesthetic for everyone, but tearing down a car completely is on my to-do list, and using the engine block for something like this has always been part of the plan. So this was great to see. Thanks!

[RaymondR6]

I have torn down one car to rebuild another in 1974. Both were 1965 Rambler Americans, and the engine was a 250 CI inline six. That is the best on-hand schooling for mechanics, but I am an Engineer.

[BrockGrimes]

You can use the piston rods as mounts for the pipes as well if you pick the right block.

[chefspenser]

Very well done, thanks for sharing! A friend and I once painted his Harley engine and baked it in an oven...his mother damn near killed him with a broom!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

A very unique piece of furniture!