| Project by Dick, & Barb Cain | posted 572 days ago | 1051 views | 0 times favorited | 34 comments | ![]() |
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.There are a lot of old connecting rods at the junk yards, if you want to tear an engine apart.
The Oak shelves are from some salvaged shelving.
I was going to build a wooden case to use them in,
One of the trucks burned out an engine that was beyond repair,
so I salvaged the connecting rods.
I cut some 1/4’’ X 1” strap into 4” lengths.
Then drilled 3/8’’ holes to match the centers on the connecting rods.
Then I welded the straps to the connecting rods
Then all I had to do is drill the boards, & bolted them all together with 3/8” carriage bolts.
This makes a very sturdy, & unique looking bookcase.
I made a couple of these, & also a shelf that’s suspended below another wall shelf.
it didn’t take long for Barb to fill them with her books.
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A closer look at the connecting rod.
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NOTE:
International DV-550B V-8 diesel, 1975.
I think this engine was a downfall for IHC.
It had a flame hardened crankshaft, that couldn’t be reground.
I rebuilt one once, & it cost more than a buying new short block, so I just junked them after that.
I never got over 38,000 miles on one. I called it a throwaway engine.
They now have a 6 cylinder diesel that’s very good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diesel piston bookends.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1































34 comments so far
GaryK
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9496 posts in 867 days
posted 572 days ago
Can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like that before. Great job!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Dominic Vanacora
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504 posts in 748 days
posted 572 days ago
Looks like you firing on all 6 cylinders.
Is this what they call workig green.
Great idea for recycling.
-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.
CharlieM1958
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7467 posts in 1097 days
posted 572 days ago
Unique project, Dick. Your creativity is boundless!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
rikkor
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11338 posts in 753 days
posted 572 days ago
Cummins, huh?
motthunter
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2079 posts in 678 days
posted 572 days ago
what a cool idea.
-- making sawdust....
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 572 days ago
International DV-550B V-8 diesel. about 1975.
I think this engine was a downfall for IHC.
It had a flame hardened crankshaft, that couldn’t be reground.
I rebuilt one once, & it cost more than a buying new short block, so I just junked them after that.
I never got over 38,000 miles on one. I called it a throwaway engine.
They now have a 6 cylinder that’s very good.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
dlcarver
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259 posts in 609 days
posted 572 days ago
You know your stuff, Dick. I never saw anything like that either. NEAT IDEA!
Dave
-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com
Scott Bryan
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20080 posts in 701 days
posted 572 days ago
Dick,
I can count on you to come up with something innovative like this. This is certainly a classic example of thinking outside the bookcase (or box if you prefer). Very nice. I can honestly say I have never seen anything like this. I wonder how many miles your are going to get out of this one? :)
Nice post and great project.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
trifern
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7890 posts in 646 days
posted 572 days ago
What a creative use of materials. I love stories like this that teach me history.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
DAN
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6402 posts in 862 days
posted 572 days ago
cool one Dick ! be sure to enter it into the bookcase contest !
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
tenontim
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1319 posts in 623 days
posted 572 days ago
This would have gone great with my airplane engine cylinder lamp. I knew I shouldn’t have let the wife talk me into putting it in the garage sale. This would have opened up a whole new decor for the house. :[
-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com
Lee A. Jesberger
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3709 posts in 858 days
posted 572 days ago
Hi Dick;
What haven’t you done?
Great job! Very Creative!
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 593 days
posted 572 days ago
That’s pretty creative Dick… me being the “Anti-Mechanic,” I didn’t even know those parts existed!... lol.
Pretty creative and functional bookcase..
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
Douglas Krueger
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379 posts in 602 days
posted 571 days ago
a very unique project Dick, just wondering how many novels/gallon you get with it.
-- I can so I wood but why are my learning curves always circles
MsDebbieP
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14096 posts in 1039 days
posted 571 days ago
Yes, Dick… what CAN”T you do? or What HAVEN”T you done?
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 571 days ago
Thanks to all of you!
Lee, & Debbie:
There must be something I haven’t done, but I don’t remember what it is.<;o)
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 730 days
posted 571 days ago
Clever use of those old con rods Dick & a bit of nostalgia to boot.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 484 days ago
I decided to enter this in the summer awards contest.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 730 days
posted 483 days ago
Good luck with your entry Dick.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 483 days ago
Thank you Grumpy!
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 480 days ago
I just updated the pictures today.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
DocK16
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697 posts in 966 days
posted 478 days ago
Now that’s a unique idea. Yep it’s a winner
-- DocK, WV
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 478 days ago
Thank you Dock!
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
brunob
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1465 posts in 1048 days
posted 478 days ago
Now that is really cool. Thinking outside of the box.
-- Bruce from Central New York
Karson
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25279 posts in 1279 days
posted 478 days ago
Great Bookshelf Dick.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 477 days ago
Thank you Bruce, & Karson!
There wasn’t an awful lot of woodworking here, except the drilling of the holes in the shelves,
but at least they were made of wood. <;O)
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
RobS
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1231 posts in 1185 days
posted 460 days ago
So you were looking for supports for your bookshelf, went to a junk yard, tore down and engine and said…
“Hmm, diesel do.”
Ha, sorry, couldn’t pass it up, good luck with the contest.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 459 days ago
Thanks Rob,
With the price of diesel fuel nowadays, I wished I had use parts from a gas engine.<;O)
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Christopher
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563 posts in 799 days
posted 415 days ago
I am somewhat of a gearhead too, my son and I work on motorcycles, and I gotta tell you this is is cool! My son, a true gearhead, loves it too! I want to post pics of our motorcycles that my son and I have been working on all summer but I wonder if LJ’s is really not the place to do it.
-- "That Government is Best that Governs The Least."-Jefferson
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 415 days ago
Thanks Chris.
You can put your bike picks in a blog, or the coffee break forum, but your blog would get more attention I think.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
ajosephg
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423 posts in 440 days
posted 415 days ago
So Dick,
Do you have a creative ideas for these circa 1959 Cat D2 Pistons?
The pistons were made in 3 pieces. The top (aluminum) ring lands (steel) main body (aluminum)

One of the piston tops unscrewed releasing the ring lands and rings where they banged against the bottom of the head, which essentially welded it all back together again.

Oddly enough the only engine damage was the one piston and its sleeve. Rod/bearings/head/valves were all ok.
-- Joe
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 415 days ago
Hi Joe,
I made a set of bookends with a Cummins engine Piston.
I’ll get an image for you tomorrow.
You live in a nice place, I’ve been through there on my way to Hot Springs.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
sharad
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686 posts in 683 days
posted 414 days ago
A very ingenious use of useless auto engine parts.
Sharad
-- patanjali
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 414 days ago
Thank you Sharad.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1