[ihc] RE: ihc-digest V7 #488

["Jim Grammer" <jgrammer@xxxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 11:14:10 -0700
>From: Joel M Brodsky <jmbrodsky@domain.elided>
>Subject: [ihc] Engine stand recommendations

>Binders,
>      Way back before I even started my engine swap I bought an engine
>stand...yeah, yeah the Harbor Freight kind.
>The kind with the arms too small to fit the bell pattern of an IH SV.  So,
>it went to the side of the shop and I made these nifty wooden cradles out
>of 2x6 and have been using them, trouble free, for years now.  The question
>is, what do you all do to modify your engine stand so that you can actually
>work on the engines instead of just swapping things back and forth while
>the bottom end is in a wooden cradle?

Mine got a chunk of 1/2" thick steel plate bolted to the original 'face
plate', with the stock arms attached to new SV-specific mounting holes in
the 1/2" plate. It's OK for a short block, but needs reinforced with a tube
gusset for complete motors.

Taller versions of my engine storage cradles would be handy for some things.
I bolt angle iron to the block-front engine mount holes and the bellhousing
holes in back, then weld on a crossbar foot. The next generation of this is
on the drawing board; a full height cradle built of 2" square tubing(free,
remember?) that allows 2 cradles to be stacked with locating stubs so the
upper cradle can't shift. Don't think I would go 3 high, but reducing the
'footprint' of my stored engines by 50% would be a big help.

Jim