Dropping engine - Advice on this cradle?
 

Anyone have experience with this engine lowering cradle sold by PP?
If not, post up any pics on your home brew approach :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1225579038.jpg

I purchased the cradle from Pelican and dropped my motor a few weeks ago without any issues. As a matter of fact, the cradle balanced my motor (86 930) and transmission perfectly. At first I thought $200 was a bit much, but I'd pay more after using it.

Regards, Dave

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Any homemade options out there (ie. Furniture mover dolly or something similar)?
Also, will that mount sold by Pelican bolt up to any jack?

Thanks,
Bryan

I just use a dolley that I made of 2x4's and roller wheels, I can slide my jack underneath and lower the engine onto it .. Works well and I probably have $15 into it..

I use a motorcycle lift, the same as I use for my Harley. Some strategically placed 2x4's is all it takes to balance things out.
However, I DO like the looks of this unit from PP.

That's what I use. I bought a "ready made" dolley at Home Despot and cut one section out of it so that it's more of a "U" shape, so that I can get my jack out once the engine is sitting on it.

Great minds think alike

Thanks Dave for your assessment of this PP cradle and thanks to everyone else for their approach!

No one have pics of their contraption?

What I used:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1225682874.jpg

My rig is pretty much what Lucittm has.. except I use another layer of wood so it sits a bit higher...

FWIW, I might have bought that "cradle" pictured above in the first post, but I think it's over priced. $80 and I would have been all over it. Just my $.02...

I used an ATV jack, with a plywood base, heat exchangers sit nicely, and it is balanced. Removed my engine on my own, took my time with no problems.
ATV jack cost about $60 from Harbor Freight.
Rod if you need some help let me know.

Here is what I did... Home Depot furniture dolly with two pieces of half inch plywood screwed on the top of the remaining frame.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1225725134.jpg

Thanks again all!

Since I do not yet own an ATV jack, Bryan and I will split the cost of the PP cradle (reminder to let Bryan know he owns ½ of a cradle :D )
Wow thanks Julian! I would love to have your expertise present when Bryan and I drop my engine.
We are thinking the week after Thanksgiving? But would work with your schedule?

I, too, would like to see homemade solutions to this issue.

I see two different solutions being talked about here -- one as a platform for rolling the engine around once it's lowered to the floor, and one to provide the stabilization while the engine is being lowered (or raised) on the jack. I think the latter is more crucial. The Pelican cradle does this, as would the motorcycle or ATV jack. But platform jacks take up lots of space that I'd rather not consume. The cradle idea is attractive, so that a standard floor jack can do double duty.

I just use a regular floor jack, strategically placed, and a helper to operate the jack while I stabilize the engine with my hands and monitor progress. Things can get a bit stressful, though, if the balance point isn't just right (or if the jack operator isn't well practiced!). It would be nice to have a real cradle that would take the place of a helper, though I'd still rather not do that job without another person around. Trouble is, I take out engines of all different configurations (911 and 930, with/without headers, some with heat exchangers, different model years, etc.), and I don't know how "custom" the cradle would need to be for each engine.

Here's mine. I added carpet to soak up fluids and to keep the engine from sliding around. The panel is big enough to span the headers and add stability. Finding the balance point is the tricky part.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1225767154.jpg

I've seen two types on eBay for early and late engine cases.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1225767381.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1225767450.jpg

I just strip off anything that would unbalance the motor off (turbo and exhaust) because all of the crap that I got on my car is actually easier than stock. Then I use a few blocks of wood, 2 normal hydraulic jacks, and a case of beer to get her down. I also have the car on four truck duty jack stands when I do this. I don't know about you guys; I don't remove the valance- but I have a ***** of a time getting the fan past the bottom of the car. I usually use many blocks of wood to jack the car higher.

I've mentioned this before, but I lower the car back down to the ground once I've gotten the CVs off the tranny (and any other items that need to be disconnected under there). I lower the engine/tranny down on to my dolley. Then I Jack the car up, put her on stands, and roll the engine out. I always work alone, so it makes me nervous having the car jacked up so high for too long. I also remove the bumper.

Rod,
give me a call 559 901 5441