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Engine stand

1

1980

1/2 ton status
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Posts
335
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Location
Wyoming
I'm looking at these and wondering how useful are they? I was going to buy one when I bought my hoist, but they were out of stock ( they still are). I am thinking on a 1250lb from what I've read searching these threads. I saw a 750lb listed on CL, said "Used once, need out of garage", it was gone in minutes, but used once worries me. I now wonder is it really necessary and useful very often. I'm thinking when you need one, renting isn't feasable, so here's my question:

What are the alternatives for basic 350 rebuild. Can the engine just set on 4x4s or something?
What do you guys do, use?
Thanks,
L.A.
 
from a guy that has motors stored all over his marina.. everything from blocked to test running em sitting in a tire, I wouldn't consider having motors around my home shop without a stand..... if the marina wasn't all stone, and had a decent shop, i'd have a couple...

rebuilding one without a stand, not a chance.... sure it could be done, but do you really wanna be hoisting it every time you wanna turn it over?

I do have a bare block kicking around not on a stand, but I actually own 2 stands.... pretty cheap and invaluable when ya need em...
 
An engine stand is useful if you are building/assembling an engine from a bare block up, or a complete teardown for that matter. If you are getting an assembled engine or short block and all you need to do is install heads and sheetmetal, don't bother with a stand, especially if you only plan to do this once.

If you need to teardown/assemble the whole thing, get a stand. It will be easier on your back and knees working on it at stand height rather than trying to do it all on the floor or hefting it around on a workbench. In this case the block bolts to the stand and allows you to flip the assembly over to work on the bottom side or tilt it to work on one head side nice and level and tilt again to work on the other head side. Plus if you plan to do more engine work or swaps in the future, you will already have it.

I have one. It's been used only a few times, but I have been glad to have it every time.
 
I have 2 stands so I can build up a motor on one stand, and pull out the old motor and put it on another stand, swap parts over with both motors right there side by side, then install the new motor and leave the old one on a stand. Do not get a engine stand that has 3 wheels, they will fail...Must have 4 wheels for v8's.
 
I got two cheapie engine stands at a swap meet for 20 bucks each,ones that only had 3 wheels--I added a peice of square tube to the front and put two casters therte to convert them to a 4 wheeler,after one came close to tipping over when I was trying to roll a 350 on one into my garage,and the front caster got hung up where my floor seets the driveway....I've had a 6.2 sitting on one of them for well over a year with no issues,they look cheesy,but can handle 750 lbs according to the label on them...I had a fully dresed Caddy 500 on the other stand for awhile,it drooped over some,but never broke it--came right back straight once the engine was removed....
 
I don't use any engine stand unless its for rebuilding the motor.

If I'm gonna store an engine or have it out of any vehicle for a while and need to move it around, I use these instead:

55580065.jpg


I've got 2 BBC's and 1 SBC all sitting on cradles right now. Very easy mobility and take up very small space. Plus they're a lot safer than being up a little higher like on a stand.

I'm currently looking at purchasing a cradle for a 460 I just acquired for my Highboy.
 
If you do get an engine stand, I highly recommend you get one with 4 wheels, I've had a few with 3 wheels and they can be alittle scary at times, not as stable as 4 obviously. :D

And pretty much like everyone has said, it all boils down to mobility :D you can work on it better, cause you can move it, turn it, spin it, store it,, move it to where it needs to be easier, it's just easier with the block on a stand with wheels :D
 
Geeze, Guys,,I wondered if I really needed one and Now I wonder if I need two!:rolleyes:
Thanks, I think?
L.A.
 
I have about 4 engine stands and then I made several engine cradles like Wes posted. The engine cradles are nice for storing an engine since they slide around fairly easy even without wheels.
 
I made a few similar cradles from old bed frames and the casters--they are great for storing an engine,it'll fit under a work bench and not be so high and tippy as a regular stand--but they aren't much good for doing any work on the engine,unless its all from "above"...

I used my engine hoist many years to "hang" an engine while working on one ,when I lacked a engine stand...U used to put a couple of 2x4's in the engine mount saddles and bolt them on,so it wouldn't be swinging wild when I wanted to torque bolts up,etc...being 6'5" tall,I liked the engine being up as high as possible when working on one,its easier on your back if your not crouched over...
 
1980 said:
Geeze, Guys,,I wondered if I really needed one and Now I wonder if I need two!:rolleyes:
Thanks, I think?
L.A.
Click to expand...

ck5 will do that to ya, and actually id get one engine stand, and one cradle, the cradles unbolt and store away easily when your done with them, a lot easier then an engine stand would and the cradles are cheaper.
 
onetonbb74 said:
ck5 will do that to ya, and actually id get one engine stand, and one cradle, the cradles unbolt and store away easily when your done with them, a lot easier then an engine stand would and the cradles are cheaper.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you actually need 3 stands and two cradles. Because this is a disease, and you have caught it.

REally a 4 wheel stand, even a 750lb unit will work for all SBC and BBC's.
Make sure you have full thread engagement on your bellhousing bolts without punching a hole in your oil filter or bottoming out in the block, and cracking it. I use an unsharpened pencil or similar to check the depth of the holes in the block so this don't happen.
 
1980 said:
Geeze, Guys,,I wondered if I really needed one and Now I wonder if I need two!:rolleyes:
Thanks, I think?
L.A.
Click to expand...


yeah, the only reason I have 2 is cuz a bud left me his after he got his car outta my garage...

one day I'll throw together a mobile cradle.. priority #162


btw, the 3 wheelers, which both of mine are, aren't bad with a sb, still gotta be careful when moving it, etc, but it works ok... I wouldn't want a BB on it tho...
 
76zimmer said:
Yeah, you actually need 3 stands and two cradles. Because this is a disease, and you have caught it.

REally a 4 wheel stand, even a 750lb unit will work for all SBC and BBC's.
Make sure you have full thread engagement on your bellhousing bolts without punching a hole in your oil filter or bottoming out in the block, and cracking it. I use an unsharpened pencil or similar to check the depth of the holes in the block so this don't happen.
Click to expand...

Yep, I found the perfect 4 bolts. I keep them duct taped to the stand because I can never find them when I need to use the stand and they are a random length.
 
i have 2 4 wheel units. welded them up for less slop in the bolt together joints.

hold trannys for clean up or valve body work / motors / even hold dana 44 corvete ifs diff for regear . try holding that cast iron pig with out the engine stand.
 
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