Dropping Motor: High lift pallet truck ?

superninety · 05-04-2017, 01:00 PM

Looking to drop the motor. I've seen people mention ATV/Motorcycle jacks and also hydraulic tables. What about using something like a Pallet Truck? A friend has one and offered to let me use it.

Why would this not be a great option? Drops to 3.25" and then raises to 33".

Looks like this:

Mark Henry · 05-05-2017, 03:25 AM

Sure it will work, but you will have to use a pallet or make some kind of a deck.
I have a lift, but I use a scissor lift cart to drop engines onto.

I made a wood cradle to support the engine on the table, a 911 engine on the steel deck is real slippy and a recipe for disaster. The wood may be low tech, but it has good grip on the engine to keep it from sliding around.

superninety · 11:17 AM

Agreed. Good points !

Was more thinking about the geometry of it all when asking originally.

Would buy a table like you have, but this option is free, and I won't have to store it after the fact, which is a big issue as even in my three car garage, as it is full of kids bicycles, sports gear and scooters, etc. until we get them out of the house. : )

Thanks !!

Mark Henry · 05-05-2017, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superninety

Agreed. Good points !

Was more thinking about the geometry of it all when asking originally.

Would buy a table like you have, but this option is free, and I won't have to store it after the fact, which is a big issue as even in my three car garage, which is full of kids bicycles, sports gear and scooters, etc. until we get them out of the house. : )

Thanks !!

For a 911 rear engine it should be OK as long as it will clear the rear apron.
For me that truck would be no good for 914's because of the hump. Or at least I'd have to make a deck as high as the hump.

Right now I'm modding the handle for my cart so I can pull a pin and the handle folds down.

superninety · 07:09 AM

Yes "911"....1990 964.

My fault for not mentioning that. Added to my signature....

Thx !

2jmotorsports · 2jmotorsports's Garage

Another thing to consider is how finely you can control the rate at which the truck platform descends. If I turn the release screw on my motorcycle jack too much to fast the platform will drop suddenly so I have to be focused and "crack" the screw with both hands just enough for it to descend. If you miss disconnecting a wire or a line somewhere you may damage it if the engine drops too fast.

superninety · 05-05-2017, 11:12 AM

Absolutely, a controlled lowering of everything is very important. I'm told by its owner it manages that very well.

safe · safe's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by superninety

Looking to drop the motor. I've seen people mention ATV/Motorcycle jacks and also hydraulic tables. What about using something like a Pallet Truck? A friend has one and offered to let me use it.

Why would this not be a great option? Drops to 3.25" and then raises to 33".

Looks like this:

Used that(but an electric hydraulic one)many times, works absolutely perfect. In fact I can't think of anything that's much better.
Just get a half pallet to rest the engine on.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

One thing to consider is lifting the body of the car. I put the car up on jackstands just high enough to get everything loose and lower the engine and trans as a unit. Once it is as low as it will go, I jack up the body high enough to pull the drivetrain out and then lower the body back to the jackstands. This keeps the body/chassis from being up in the "wobbly/scary/dangerous zone" any longer than necessary. Hope this helps!