Engine stand/dolly

[drooartz]

So I'm going to Harbor Freight this weekend to pick up an engine hoist (2-ton, I think, seems better to err a bit on the capacity side).

Other thing I need to think about is some sort of engine stand or dolly. I'm not going to be doing anything with the engine for a while, but I do need to be able to move it about somehow. I've thought about an engine stand (one of the rotating jobbies), an engine dolly like the one Moss sells, or a cheap furniture dolly and some strategically placed 2x4s. Any suggestions?

How much does a 1275 and ribcase weigh, anyways?

 

[Whitephrog]

Drew

I've bought a 1000lb furniture dolly from Home Depot for the same purpose. Haven't figured out exactly what to do with it yet. Even thought about getting two and rigging them up somehow to support a stripped tub.

 

[budk1953]

Drew - do have a Pep Boys in your area?
They a foldable 2-ton for $139.00 (119.00 after rebate)

 

[JPSmit]

I've got mine on the lightest stand harbor freight has. all together the engine is only about 350 lb I recall. Tranny can't be much more than 100-150 lb. Paid about $40 for the stand and I can roll it anywhere. You can even make an adapter to side mount the engine - the plans are here somewhere. The nice thing about the stand is that it is at your height.

 

[bugimike]

For rolling the engine around the garage, I have always used an old creeper - quite strong enough, in fact I have two old engines sitting on it right now. Right on with the Pep Boys hoist, I bought one recently and for $119 it is great. It'll yank Chevy & Ford V8s, so a LBC engine should be a snap!
----------
Mike
59 Bugeye
69 Sprite

 

[Bugeye58]

Drew, A 1275 weighs 253 lbs. The tranny is only another 45.
Jeff

 

[jlaird]

I set mine on a peice of cardboard, but if I had an extra I would build a furniture dolly.

 

[budk1953]

My son got a used heavy duty service cart, bolted some angle to it, installed a plug in the top tray to catch spills to work on his Land Cruiser engine.

 

[jlaird]

I have lots of dollys in my garage, everything must be moveable, I use 2x4s and dolly wheels from the usual places. Build em to size. Work great and cheep.

 

[ThomP]

I can attest to the $39.00 HF stand and the plans here for the side mount. They work well with the A series engine.

 

[drooartz]

Thanks for the thoughts, and the tip on the Pep Boys hoist. There is a Pep Boys in Salt Lake, so I'll stop by there first. I'll probably grab the HF engine stand, $40 is a pretty good deal and getting the engine off the floor sounds like a good idea.

 

[ChrisS]

Drew,
I made a poor mans engine cradle out of (2) 2x2's and some of that universal angle iron they sell with the holes and slots. The 2x2's are the runners and the angle bolts to the back plate where the tranny would be and the front motor mounts. It worked great for keeping the engine off the floor a bit. It you end up getting a stand let me know the size of the adapter pivot and I'll send you one for the block.

 

[Taz]

Only one thing about an engine stand Drew. I do not know how big your garage is, but if it is just for storage a small roll around thing like some of the other guys are describing is best. An engine stand takes up more room in a small garage. Unless you are planing on working on the engine sometimes they can get in the way. Just food for thought. I use both one for working one for storage.

Carl

 

[drooartz]

[ QUOTE ]
If you end up getting a stand let me know the size of the adapter pivot and I'll send you one for the block.

[/ QUOTE ]

Chris, What do I need to measure? I did wind up with the HF engine stand, and if you're talking about the adaptor you made up to work with the A series motors, I'd love one.

I like your idea of a simple 2x4 and metal engine stand for storage purposes. I'll have an extra motor to store, and some sort safe storage would be welcome.

 

[ChrisS]

This is a pic of the stand I was describing; a cheap way to store an engine.

 

[jlaird]

Why heck, that's a work of art. Er work of Chris.

 

[ChrisS]

Quite picking one me, I have feeling you know. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif

 

[drooartz]

Personally, I think it's brilliant! Now that I have a picture to work from, I'm going to see about assembling one myself.

On a related note, is it okay to rest the engine directly on the oil pan? I'm going to have to put it down on the floor before I have a stand ready.

 

[jlaird]

Sure, why not. put a couple of peices of 2x4 under it to keep it off the damp from the concret.

 

[Hagar]

Here's mine. It's rough as guts, but was made from bits I has lying around and fits under the bench.