Engine stand: How have you done it (4.2 V8)?

[Birdflu]

Hey all!

I have a 4.2 I'm working on for a replacement swap in my B7 S4. I'm finding that mounting that motor on a stand to work on the back side (and hopefully rotate it to work on the pan) is a bit tricky. I'm used to "standard" engine that seem designed to be on a Harbor Freight stand in someone's garage some day : )

I have this one loosely set up on the stand using the cast holes in the cyl. heads (and supported from the ceiling with straps until I have it dialed in), but I'm thinking there must be a better way.

What have you all done or seen done that works well? Ideally I'd like to be able to get to the bottom end as well, using the same setup.

Thanks!

[badger.]

Here is what I did. I added cross bracing immediately after this pic to connect each stand:

[aroderick56]

[q_dubz]

In my build thread in my signature

[Birdflu]

Thanks all!
Keep 'em coming! I like Badger's setup, especially with the trans attached. I'm doing motor first (donor), then pulling the motor/trans that are in the car now. I like the metal/square tube stand too, but alas I have no welder on site.... and I have to keep things relatively mobile in the "bunker". Various bikes, furniture and other largish items seem always be going in and out.

Going to check q_dubz setup now, and I'll post whatever I come up with too.
Cheers! [beer]

[924Carrera]

The engine block has 4 M12 holes on the front designed for an engine stand. Not the greatest photo, but this is what mine is on right now.

[lyates1987]

anyone know if a harbor freight engine hoist will hold the V8 and trans or is that too much for a harbor freight hoist? Not trying to thread jack, just figured this would be a good place to ask that question before I attempt and possibly break stuff.

[924Carrera]

anyone know if a harbor freight engine hoist will hold the V8 and trans or is that too much for a harbor freight hoist? Not trying to thread jack, just figured this would be a good place to ask that question before I attempt and possibly break stuff.

I wouldn't attempt it with both the engine and trans, that is a lot of weight cantilevered off the end and, while Harbor Freight does have some good products, their engine stands that I have seen (not to say that they are all like this, but just the ones I've seen) are not rugged enough for that. It would really suck to have that drop off and crack your trans housing/break the oil sump and whatever else.

I actually had just my engine without trans on a flimsier stand than the one in my photo above and it was sagging really alarmingly so I used that beefier one instead (has 4 wheels instead of 3)

[roboto_1337]

I found this very effective... the smaller pallets help when getting your cherry picker in place.

Note the various sized 4x4s used to stabilize the weight.

Hehhehe....




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[lyates1987]

I wouldn't attempt it with both the engine and trans, that is a lot of weight cantilevered off the end and, while Harbor Freight does have some good products, their engine stands that I have seen (not to say that they are all like this, but just the ones I've seen) are not rugged enough for that. It would really suck to have that drop off and crack your trans housing/break the oil sump and whatever else.

I actually had just my engine without trans on a flimsier stand than the one in my photo above and it was sagging really alarmingly so I used that beefier one instead (has 4 wheels instead of 3)

I was asking about a harbor freight HOIST, not a stand, i'd never attempt to put an engine with a trans connected on a stand, doesn't seem like it'd be able to stand it lol

[924Carrera]

I was asking about a harbor freight HOIST, not a stand, i'd never attempt to put an engine with a trans connected on a stand, doesn't seem like it'd be able to stand it lol

Oh, I totally misread that, my mistake. What is the Harbor Freight hoist rated at for weight? I would think that it shouldn't be a huge problem.

[badger.]

I found this very effective... the smaller pallets help when getting your cherry picker in place.

Note the various sized 4x4s used to stabilize the weight.

Hehhehe....

I always thought just setting it down like that would crush the oil pan??? Or is that a non-issue? Seems risky but I haven't pulled very many engines myself..

[roboto_1337]

I always thought just setting it down like that would crush the oil pan??? Or is that a non-issue? Seems risky but I haven't pulled very many engines myself..

I used the 4x4 to support on either side of the oil pan. I never put it down on the pan itself



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[unichipi]

I used an old tire to set the engine on to work on it. Worked great for me. Used some blocks of wood underneath to get it on different angles to make it easier to work on

[roboto_1337]

If you look closely at my pic you can see the two oil soaked 4x4s that run parallel with the crank


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[924Carrera]

Blocks of wood do work well if you don't have access to an engine stand. However, if you need to do upper oil pan removal, the stand really comes in handy because you can just flip the engine over.

[Birdflu]

I know a local that has used the Harbor Freight hoist (one of the less expensive ones) to pull the engine/trans combo. It seemed to work fine. He rigged some kind of furniture dolly-based roller to put under the trans to move the whole thing around.

Thanks for the pic of the motor on the stand! Definitely beefier than the one I have, but in looking at how you mounted it up, I have the arms on mine configured a bit different. I'll re-set them and see if it helps. I'll post a pic, if I don't end up trapped under the motor in my garage : )

[lyates1987]

Oh, I totally misread that, my mistake. What is the Harbor Freight hoist rated at for weight? I would think that it shouldn't be a huge problem.

I believe it's rated at 1 ton, I'm pretty sure it would work but it's harbor freight so you never know if it will only work once.

[VinnysS4]

I've used a harbor freight cherry picker many times with no issues

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[lyates1987]

I've used a harbor freight cherry picker many times with no issues

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That's what I'm talkin bout!

[MG15]

I've been meaning to make a thread on my build, but I've been crazy busy ever since completion. This is what I did for mine. I Mcguyver'd the crap out of this. I found random planks from an unused shed and built them to fit the tire skates I had. I wanted the portability since I was working in a tight spot. Held strong and did the job lol.


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[MG15]

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[MG15]

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[MG15]

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[MG15]

I built the stand in about 1 hr. I wasn't going for looks, but more so for strength and sturdiness (although it doesn't look it). I also had access to a hoist which was quite useful since I pulled and re installed the motor myself. Definitely would ask for assistance next time around.


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[Mike50design]

I used some scrap steel brackets that were being thrown out at work to build two stands that picked up either motor mount at the M8 bolt:





When the tranny was mounted, I used my jack to keep it level. I would have built another stand had it not only been for a few hours to redress the motor before putting it back in the car.

[GAll33]

Once the trans was separated I set the engine on 4 stands. Put a bracket on the mounts to insure the jacks didn’t slip out. The jack in the front and rear are necessary because the motor isn’t balanced on just the motor mounts.




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[PigDiesel54]

Once the trans was separated I set the engine on 4 stands. Put a bracket on the mounts to insure the jacks didn’t slip out. The jack in the front and rear are necessary because the motor isn’t balanced on just the motor mounts.




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Bear down

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[icanfly]

anyone know if a harbor freight engine hoist will hold the V8 and trans or is that too much for a harbor freight hoist? Not trying to thread jack, just figured this would be a good place to ask that question before I attempt and possibly break stuff.

Yup - works just fine if you have it on the right setting - I did my engine+trans as a complete package pulled and reinstalled just fine using an HF shop crane

[mark_ma]

anyone know if a harbor freight engine hoist will hold the V8 and trans or is that too much for a harbor freight hoist? Not trying to thread jack, just figured this would be a good place to ask that question before I attempt and possibly break stuff.

Worked for me! No issues at all lifting engine/Tran out and then back in


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[mark_ma]

IMG_0261.JPGIMG_0452.JPG


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[522sixth]

Also used the Harbor Freight Stand. Bought it on sale for $40. I had to drill an extra hole in the mounting plate to get them to line up but works flawlessly.

[S4Bennett]

I did wood pallet with two 2x4’s under the shallow end of the oil pan to allow access to the crank lock pin port and allowed me to remove everything down to the chains and tensioners from the rear of the block.

To remove the oil pan and lower block skirt, I had to put it on a HF engine stand. I used the transmission bolt holes and 4x M14x1.75 bolts and some washers as spacers to clear the dowel pins. I had already removed the heads by this point but the stand can take the full weight. It does make it difficult to rotate a long block when the heads have so much weight away from the pivot.

Baum Tools makes flywheel and crank snout mounted turning tools.

[badger.]

Also used the Harbor Freight Stand. Bought it on sale for $40. I had to drill an extra hole in the mounting plate to get them to line up but works flawlessly.

Resurrecting this for a moment -

Does anyone know What size Bolts are needed for using an Engine Stand?

I am looking to bolt the BHF to a similar HF engine stand from the Front

Searching the forums yields that they are potentially M12 size? But what thread and length?


S4Bennett indicates bolts for what looks like REAR-Mounted, which is handy but I am looking for Front mount.
4x M14x1.75 bolts and some washers as spacers to clear the dowel pins

[ngood1]

Also need to know. What bolts are they?


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[ngood1]

Can confirm they are m12 on the front. The harbor freight stand does not appear to line up with all 4 holes


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[badger.]

I got some m12x1.75 bolts to hit the larger holes on the front, and I can get all 4 arms of a HF stand engaged if I use one of the snub mount bolts (m10 I think there)? I am going to try and mount it up tomorrow night.

Thinking the 3 yellow circled holes and either the blue, green, or purple for third?? Thoughts??

[ngood1]

I got some m12x1.75 bolts to hit the larger holes on the front, and I can get all 4 arms of a HF stand engaged if I use one of the snub mount bolts (m10 I think there)? I am going to try and mount it up tomorrow night.

Thinking the 3 yellow circled holes and either the blue, green, or purple for third?? Thoughts??

The 3 holes at the bottom are for the snub mount bracket. We’re you also unable to get the HF stand to line up with main 4 holes? I think I have it lined it up, and I’ll confirm tomorrow but I took the mounting plate off the stand and fitted that to the engine first


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[luvsspeed]

Can confirm they are m12 on the front. The harbor freight stand does not appear to line up with all 4 holes


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I currently have my engine mounted to a harbor freight stand with no issues. You do have to get creative on getting one of the arms lined up, with one of the holes.

[ngood1]

I thought it might be able to. Could you post a picture?

- - - Updated - - -

I currently have my engine mounted to a harbor freight stand with no issues. You do have to get creative on getting one of the arms lined up, with one of the holes.

I thought it might be able to. Could you post a picture