Getting Engine into Stand - Ideas?
 

I feel like a real "shade tree mechanic" here but got the engine removed from the car and it is well balanced on the wheeled furniture cart. Now the challenging part of mounting it onto the engine stand. My plan is to have somebody raise the engine with a standard hydraulic jack while I position the stand into place. A few test runs by myself and the engine seems really unbalanced on the jack :eek: - even though I spent an hour ensuring it was cenetered. My plan is to have a couple guys help balance the motor while I raise it and get the motor mount inserted into the stand. Any suggestions or a better plan to get it mounted??

Thanks!

Careful the jack likely won’t raise it high enough complicating the issue.

I have only done it once so there might be better solutions. I took the front leg off the stand (slid it back) so I could get the engine connected to the stand. Then lifted the engine high enough to get the front leg of the stand back into position. Worked well with little unstability. Took the engine off the same way, single handed, though a couple extra hands is always better.

Chris
73 911 E

hoist
 

This is when an engine hoist really comes in handy. It is likely that you will be able to rent or borrow one from your local auto parts store.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1328191637.jpg


regards,
al

We use a technique called "The Herniator". Four guys pick up the engine, while the fifth guides it into the stand.

You have gotta have four friends, correct? :)

Thanks guys. Engine hoist would be the safest and smartest way but need to find a local place that rents them - no luck so far.

Chris - My engine stand sounds like a different design, but connecting to the stand while still on the ground may be an option? Stay tuned!

yea, it depends on the stand but if you can get it connected to the stand then all you have to do is stand the stand back up. My back hurts just thinking about it but a fun jurney ahead if a first time rebuild.

Chris

You may want to consider buying an engine hoist from Harbor Freight. Relatively inexpensive and since you need the hoist at least twice during the rebuild cycle, you could sell it for half price at the end of the project still making it less expensive than renting a hoist twice.

Also, Harbor Freight sells a hydraulic table. You can use it to lower the drivetrain out of the car, raise it back into the car, and to raise it up to your stand.

When I used to wrench on Subaru's, I used to get a buddy to help me lift the engine up onto a pickup truck bed, wheel my stand over, screw the engine on, have somebody jump up into the bed of the truck and pull the assembly off.

another option is something like a 1/2 ton chain hoist.
if your ceiling is closed in, you could cut a hole to do this.
place a 6 to 8 ft 4x4 on top of the rafters, closer to the wall is better. hang a chain down from the 4x4 to attach the hoist, then you can use that to lift the engine up to the stand.

when i built my garage, i had 4 of the trusses engineered so i could hang a hoist about 6 ft out from the wall with about a 600lb load.

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Yeah, I've used this approach a few times.

You're better off buying from HF or having four friends help you out. If you rent a hoist to get it into the stand, you'll also be renting to get back to ground plus the hassle factor of pick up and dropping off. For a few bucks more you'll have it at your disposal then you can tell your friends they can't borrow it.....

I would try a come-a-long and find a place to make a hole in the ceiling for a chain. You could add extra 2x4's to rafters. Or if you have a large tree limb over your driveway or sidewalk. I threw the chain over a the limb and use the come-a-long as a host to lift it onto the stand. then you can roll it back into the garage. I did a 80gal commercial air compressor off a trailer this way by myself with no problems, as long as you go slow it will work !!

Easiest way is invite a couple of friends over. few guys to lift and one to guide it into the stand.

I've done the chain fall method too, you have to be inventive though because really you need a spreader beam of some sort to prevent the chains from squashing things.

Get a 12 pack and invite some friends over.

x2 on hydraulic lift table

I use one for dropping the engine - very stable and has dozens of other uses

My garage has an I-beam. There is an I-beam clamp that the hoist is connected.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1328209076.jpg

My method was a jack that had a 38" lift capacity.
The engine stand was the 2 front leg type.
The jack was used to get the engine out...and then after attaching the support (P201?) it lifted the engine to the correct height to slide the stub into the stand.
This makes it a one man operation (yes I have friends...but they are not always on call...something about working for a living...LOL).
First rule of this...work slowly...check everything twice before lifting....if in doubt have someone...even a child of phone dialing age present for the lift.
Also...I made and replaced the round end of my jack with a plate that fit the engine (made one out of T6061 Alum) to better support and balance the engine.
The engine and trans come out as one...and are separated on the jack at floor level....then the P201 is attached.
Work safely...have fun.
Bob

A come-a-long or chain hoist hung from a tripod of 2x4s will work. Just remember that the top needs to be hooked together in a structural manner and the bottom needs to be set so they cannot slip.
Dropped an engine on my legs once. It is a learning experience. A situation where that is possible will NOT happen again...

I ran a 4x4 post across 5 joists in the attic and then suspended a piece of angle iron from that. An inexpensive chain hoist from Harbor Freight easily and safely lifts the engine from there.

I wrestled with this (literally!) on my engine rebuild and used a series of stacked 2X4s. I won't go into detail b/c it was scary as hell and I don't want anyone else to do it. In reading this post the next time I'm going to use the i beam and hoist method somehow. I'll need to reinforce my garage beams first somehow.

One thing I did was to put the engine stand on its side and mount it to the engine before lifting. Then when you lift the whole assembly with the chain hoist, you don't have to try and wrestle the yoke into the stand base with that big lump of metal swinging in the air. You just lift the whole mess up enough for the stand base to swing down under the engine.