Engine Stand Selection

[jmgtp]

Would a rather cheap engine stand like the below linked harbor freight one allow you to rotate the engine while it is mounted on the stand? I know it says "Four adjustable arms and 360° rotation for easy mounting" - but that can be read in that the arms rotate before mounting to make it easier, however once mounted it is fixed position. I'm looking for a stand that doesn't break the bank but also allows me to spin the engine on its axis while mounted.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32916

[neo71665]

Yep and thats a pretty good v6 stand for the price, Got 2 of them. They are shaky with a SB chevy on them tho.



Bad pic of the stand but the very same one is holding this one up.

[jmgtp]

Hmm... well for the price it seems right then.
My other engine is an SBC and ideally I'd like a stand that can accomdate that as well, but with no near future plans to have that out of the car I think this stand will suffice for now.

Thanks for the input!

[robertisaar]

summit might have something for you, my dad got a stand from them a while ago and he doesn't have anything smaller than a SBC...

[asylummotorsports]

With engine stands you pretty much get what you pay for.

That one (Harbor Freight) would be at the low end of my wish list, but it will likely do the job on a 60* engine.

Especially if it's something you are only going to use occassionally. At least it has four wheels and wouldn't be as tipsy as the lower priced one three wheel variety.

[pocket-rocket]

I have one of each, but my 4 wheeled one is from Advance. The Harbor Freight one I have is 3 wheeled, and has done just fine with anything from a 3400 to a GM 2.2 to a GM 2.4 DOHC from my wifes car.

[jmgtp]

Well consider that I'm not rebuilding an engine or doing major work right now. This stand is serving to hold my 3500 in its pre-swap state so I can do some mild work on it. This will include installing the OBD I reluctor wheel/crank sensor, changing intake manifold gaskets, adapting a cable driven TB and maybe a few other things..... [i]maybe some performance stuff but that is for another thread[i]. I just want to have the capability to rotate the engine should I want to take a look at the bearings or anything else. I'd like for it to have the ability to steadily hold an SBC but if that means double the cost of the Harbor Freight unit I am not willing - I do have some sense of a budget in mind for this swap, stand included.

I've heard that the 3 leggers tend to be wobbily and that is why I have been primarily looking at 4 legged stands.

Secondary question... is it okay to store an engine on one of these stands long term? Will this have any detrimental impacts or possible failure on the stand and or block? (the DOHC will need a home till I decide what to do with it).

I appreciate all the input thusfar. Right now it looks like the Harbor Freight stand will be the one, though I need to check the Summit and Jegs sites to see what they offer.

[pocket-rocket]

The DOHC is a bit heavy for these stands, so you might want to get a bigger one. I'm not sure where Ben got his, but he has a nice one with a wide stance and has a mesh area that looks like it would be nice to put parts removed. I had to stick a piece of 2x4 under the crank pulley on my DOHC because it looked like it was stressing the stand and I knew it would be there a while and didn't want to come out to the garage to find my engine on the ground with my stand broken.

[jmgtp]

Yargh... I may have to spring for a sturdier stand then. The DOHC may be there a while. I know I should sell it or part it out - theres nothing wrong with it and it has many goodies on it (ported heads, 96 intakes, 75mm tb...) then another part of me says this motor needs to be in a fiero. Then reality sets in and slaps me in the face to let me know I already have 3 cars and no garage of my own! I may upgrade to the nicer 4 legged, foldable, and most importantly much sturdier stand. That extra strap of metal connecting the top to the bottom does a lot. My engine hoist has 2 of them and can lift 4 tons.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=67015

[pocket-rocket]

That is kind of like Ben's except his is grayish/silver, I don't think his is fold up, and that open area on the bottom at the rear is where that mesh area is, IIRC. I may be interested in the 75mm TB if you decide to part it out since I have a complete 96 top end. Don't kick me, I know you've been wanting me to get it years ago....

[jmgtp]

Well if I part it I may try to sell the 96 top end as a unit. Would make a nice swap. The piece from the plenum to the TB is custom made from 3" steel and the flange on the end accepts Northstar and LS1 TBs.... I've had both variety on there.

Thats another thread in the not too far future.

[pocket-rocket]

Well if you go that route, I could send you my intake arm in return

[asylummotorsports]

As I suggested, you get what you pay for on these things!

And an extra $30-$50 bucks gets you a better piece of China!

Same as buying tools. Buy the best you can afford.

FWIW!

[SappySE107]

http://www.toolprofessional.net/Stinger-1250-lb.-Capacity-Engine-Stand/M/B000XSI8ZI.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle

http://www.shinnfuamerica.com/Products/Product_Categories_Description.aspx?ID=239&Tag=/T-1085/750-lb-Deluxe-%22H%22-Engine-Stand/Pro-Lift/Engine-Crane-and-Engine-Stands

Those are the 2 stands I have here. The first one is really nice as it sits the engine higher. That is something to consider when comparing specs.

[neo71665]

The harbor freight one does only put the top of the block at my waist (im 6'2). It will hold a sb v8 but does get shaky if moving it around much. My lil 3.4 has been on it for a few months now with no problem at all. It held a 350 for about 4 months sitting in the corner with no problems. If your planning on just buying one and using it for everything I would get the bigger one. I got the 2 smaller ones from a buddy for $25 so I wasn't gonna pass it up. Our bigger stand is either a mac or snap on that my uncle gave to us while we were building the motor for his race truck. Its a great stand but I'm sure he gave way more than its worth cause of the name that was on the side.