Engine Stand: Which one to buy?

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I'm going to be doing some engine work, and don't have a stand, so I am planning on buying a stand.

I was just looking for some input on what stands other people are running and how they like them.

Also the engine I will be working on is going to be around 1000 lbs.

 

[KLF]

All I will offer is to NOT buy one that has only 3 wheels, or the front 2 wheels are really close together, like this one:

Very unstable, they tip over very easily, then you'll have a heavy engine laying on the garage floor (or on top of you).

You want the wheels to be as far apart as possible.

 

[porten1134]

i didn't need anything too fancy, so i bought one listed for 1000 lbs from the good ol HF. i does have 4 wheels. it sais its rated for 1000lbs but i dont believe it. i bolted a 5.7L sbc to it and it seemed really unhappy. the bolts that connect the arms to the plate are stresssed and look pissed off at having to support weight. i tightened em up but i stopped after a bit for fear of stripping them out. i ended up welding a piece of 1 1/2" square to the front to help support the front end of the engine. maybe some better bolts would do the trick, but my sad bit of redneck engineering works.

I kinda got what i was expecting outta the thing, and i dont see myself working on lots of engines. if i was gonna do a lot of this stuff i'd look for a better one. i can move it around reasonably well and i got it to work without being nervous, so i'm happy with it for the price i paid. still, maybe looking in some classifieds would yeild something you can trust without additional mods.

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

Thanks for all of the advise. I was planning on getting one with the 4 wheel base. The last thing I want is for the 6BT to fall on me while I'm working on it.

I'll look around in the classifieds, maybe I'll find what I'm looking for.

 

[KLF]

Search craigslist, they come up on there often, usually pretty cheap.

 

[Trollhole]

I use this one. Works great for the f motors.



Torin Big Red Engine Stand — 1250-Lb. Capacity | Engine Stands | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[jynx]

I like the Torin Big Red stand myself, I would recommend that you get one similar to the one Trollhole has posted. I got one with a T-bar style front and while the wheels are reasonably spaced and it is stable, the T front makes it less than easy to get the engine hoist close enough to get the engines off and on the stand. It is doable, but if I had it to to over I would have gotten the other style.

Tucker

 

[Rwhat]

Sometime you can get lucky on Amazon.com

I got a Torin full size jack for $65 with free shipping after the price dropped down from $170

 

[samibattlemaiden]

I havn't seen the Torins but, I like the one Trollhole posted looks like it'd hold an F.
I bought a 1/2 ton stand and it never even saw the full weight of the 2F before I decided it was doomed to fail. so I got my hands on 1 thats total over kill (legs are like THC's above but about 5' long) i did have to fab the actual mount plate as it was MIA but a a chunk of 1/2" plate and some 3 1/2" tube later and im ready to go.

 

[DanS HJ-45]

I have had an HF engine hoist fail, specifically the metal legs bent. Could have been VERY bad. After that, I won't buy anything cheap for lifting or holding heavy things.

To that end.... (this is just a 3B on it, very easy for it)


It's an Omega rotating engine stand. the gear drive for rotating is AWESOME. With a non-geared stand (my other one) an assembled 2F is too much for one person to safely rotate, but this one can do it all day long safely.

I really don't know what I'll do with the other stand, because this one is just too much better to use in every way. You can find Omega brand stuff relatively easy (you can get them from Tool King shipped to you), and lots of heavy truck shops carry it as well.

Dan

 

[StevoJonesFJ60]

I want to thank everyone for their input.

I'm going to keep an eye out on craigslist for a stand, but I don't find one in time I do like the omega stand.

 

[Sc0-]

harbor frieght 2000lb folding engine stand...

This is by far one of the better designs that I have used, I'm sure that the steel is cheap and the bolts are even cheaper but it's holds and rotates my 1FZ engine without issues. If you have a NRA membership they have a 20% off coupon in their magazine, it helps the purchase price...