engine stand
 

I'm thinking of pulling the engine and putting it on a rotisserie stand so I can get at EVERYTHING. Anyone with pics and info on making this a "no-brainer", your input would be appreciated. Are there any issues in mounting the motor on the engine stand?

I just bought one from O'Reilly, and it works great. This one: ACDelco 34125 - Engine Stand | O'Reilly Auto Parts

I'd never used one, and initially, we had a helluva time getting it hooked up to the bellhousing bolt holes.

Finally, we hit on the easy solution: rather than holding the engine steady on a chain dangling from the hoist and trying to position the engine just so (which just wasn't working), we pulled the whole bracket off the stand (you pull the handle out, and the whole holder assembly just pulls out).

Once we had the holder bracket off the stand, we easily bolted it to the bellhousing holes, then with the engine on the hoist, jockeyed the engine and holder tube assembly back into the stand. Voila!

You will need four M12x1.5 bolts, i think i used like 90-100mm and a few washers and large nuts as spacers. Two of the original bell housing bolts will work aswell as all 4 crossmember bolts, but unless i am in a pinch i prefer not to use those.

Here is my spare engine on a stand.. makes life alot easier.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...o/IMG_0883.jpg

+10 like a dumb ass I tried to bolt the motor (928) to the entire stand too. It could be impossible. Once you remove the mounting plate it's much easier. I just lifted the engine high enough and basically mounted the stand to the engine rather than the other way around. The stand is well worth the money. Get one like the 2 shown, with 2 wheels wide in the front. I've seen them with just 1. which aren't as stable. especially if your are going to move it.

I got the 2000LB one from harbor freight, and it worked well (paint was all getting chipped off though, typical Chinese quality.) You have to take the bell-housing off of the engine, first though if you want to put it in that stand.


Edit: Here is an example to go with Mikes :p

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6881504_n.jpg

Yeah. D'oh!

http://www.mikepellegrini.com/Graphics/DSCF7871.JPG

+1 for bolting the arms onto the engine then sliding it into the stand...

my 60 year old father and i lifted the complete engine onto the stand with no problem :p

a 2000 lb engine lift? Is that really necessary? I don't know how much the engine with accessories weigh and Harbor Freight has one a lot cheaper that has 1000 lb capacity. If I'm being a bit foolish its ok to weigh in on me about this.

Hey Red Baron, did you drop the engine out the bottom? I noticed the cross member bolted to the engine on the stand.

Did you drop the engine out the bottom? I saw the cross member bolted to the motor while it's on the stand and was wondering. It looks great. Do you think the 2000 lb stand was overkill or do you think the 1000 lb stand would be sufficient.

My brothers S engine is on a 1000lb Harbor Freight stand that he borrowed from a friend. That stand is a bit sketchy to move unless you have two people and then it is fine. I also liked the fact that you could fold the 2000lb stand when you were done (plus it will be handy for pretty much any other engine.) Regardless, both are fine and 2000lbs is a bit overkill, I agree.



I did remove the engine from the bottom (easier then removing it from the top if you have a lift and a barn that has trusses that can support the engine with a piece of uni-strut from the top while removing it.) It is actually really easy to remove from the bottom and it seems to be the natural way.

This was beginning of removal with a simple harness:
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/5875/img0154v.jpg


This was beginning of installation with a bracket made of uni-strut at the bottom to help support it:
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/1709/0219011216a.jpg

The 2000lb stand will most likely feel more solid as you work on the engine, but the 1000lb will be plenty. I think mine is the 750lb job from Pepboys and it worked fine. If you don't have a lift, the engine is light enough to mount the bracket up, lay the rest of the stand down to connect to the bracket on the engine while it's on the ground, and just tip the whole thing up to stand it up, which may require help depending on how much of the engine is there. A short block is manageable with 1 person. I did my engine swap without a lift and it was a PITA, but doable.

The larger transmission bolts work for mounting the bracket as well. I was lucky and have a big paint bucket full of scrap 944 hardware I bought off someone. It's next to impossible to find large metric hardware like that locally, at least at the usual consumer grade hardware and auto parts stores.

Barn?
 

I wish I had a barn but with my small garage, a smaller hydraulic lift will have to do. Thanks for the info

Piece of cake. Word of advice - drain the oil before turning the engine on its side or upside-down. It saves a hell of a mess.

I can't lift the car that far off the ground. Maybe I'll dig a pit in the garage.