Check Out this See-through LS Engine Made Out of Plexiglass
Incredible transparent LS engine is what happens when talent meets extra time and extra parts.
When you have a high level of talent for fabrication, you see opportunity everywhere. Brian King from the AWDCutlass YouTube channel (which is cool in itself) has built an entire fully rotating LS long block out of see-through plexiglass. The transformation from sheet material to a well oiled machine is mesmerizing to say the least.
With an old LS block sitting on an engine stand, King begins to disassemble the engine to use the parts from it, and then uses the engine itself to create templates. King’s masterful fabrication is on display while aligning things perfectly (or close to it) in order for this whole project to work. Those main parts start from just two endplates that house the bearings for the crankshaft and camshaft.
After that, other cutting is needed, but this is where the iron block becomes a template once again. Using a flush router bit, King lays plexiglass to cut out things such as the bores for the pistons and piston supports but also pass-throughs for the pushrods. And of course, it wouldn’t be a complete engine without rockers, valves and oil galleys. We’re sure you’re as amazed with this build as much as we are.
In the part-2 video above , we finally get to see more parts of the engine coming together. Of course, this isn’t built to be functional, but instead built to show function. The cylinder bores are made of plexiglass too, and those bores are glued to the block deck.
From the original engine, most parts of the rotating assembly are re-used. From the crank and camshaft of the basis, to the rocker arms, push rods, timing chain and more. And after everything is epoxied together, we get to see it in action. And even filled with oil as the engine is a sealed unit meaning no oil will leak out.
But just getting this engine together wasn’t enough for King. He had to go one step higher. An attached electric motor can keep the engine turning over in perpetuity, but added LED lighting mimic the combustion process for each respective cylinder in the 4-stroke process. With lights out, the multi color LEDs make for a fun light show. Ultimate coffee table decoration? We think so.
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