Engine test stand

[Pistol Pete]

So.......I put together a 440 to stuff in one of the project cars littering the joint because I'm tired of pushing the damn things. It didn't even qualify as a half assed rebuild, just clean it up, run a flex hone through it and new rings. It was a well abused motor with an unknown history.

Long story short, it put it in the car, fired it up with a Craigslist carb (you know where this is going) and due to an internal fuel leak, immediately washed out the rings. I pulled the motor and proceeded to tear it down. Again.

I was so pissed that when it was done, I built this to break them in outside of the car.

 

[MoparMitch]

Very nice!! How much to build me one?

 

[EV2 GTX]

Nice work indeed, that'll be way handy for engine work...love the control panel.

 

[Cranky]

Nice! Always intended on building one....30 years later....well, still don't have one lol. I want mine with about half the height.

 

[Pistol Pete]

Very nice!! How much to build me one?

:icon_mrgreen: With the way the employment situation looks these days, this may be my new line of work.

 

[Pistol Pete]

Nice! Always intended on building one....30 years later....well, still don't have one lol. I want mine with about half the height.

Thanks for the props fellas. I was going to build this a little lower, but I also built a cradle that goes under the K frame and needed the extra height.


Here's a few shots of it broken down. It takes up a little floor space, but being on casters, I just shove it out of the way.

 

[moperformance]

Very nice!

 

[iraqivet01]

That is really cool and some Macgyver engineering going on.
I like the idea of making it that high, makes it easier to tighten up things underneath, or pulling the pan if needed.

 

[Cranky]

That is really cool and some Macgyver engineering going on.
I like the idea of making it that high, makes it easier to tighten up things underneath, or pulling the pan if needed.

That's what chairs with wheels are for!

 

[iraqivet01]

That's what chairs with wheels are for!

:headbang::headbang:
I know I put a lot of mileage on mine in the shop.

 

[scottlanes]

this stand is genius! what a beautiful design

 

[65DODGE]

really nice.

 

[Propwash]

Wow! Great job man.....Top notch.

 

[TheSwede]

Real nice, I want one so I can keep my engine in my living room during the winter, just two holes in the wall for the headers and it is ready to scream every time you throw a party!
And it will be a nice heater as well. "Darling is it a little cold in here, could you turn on the heater?, sure babe, everything for you... ROAR!!!:woohoo:

 

[Tempest 455]

Nice. I built one years ago and will never install a motor in a car without testing it 1st.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Great fabrication skills!

 

[mopar 3 B]

How are you supporting the back side of engine while on stand?

 

[Pistol Pete]

The stand was designed to have the trans bolted to the motor. This way the starter is installed without the need for a "chunk-o-bellhousing" for support. The motor is bolted to the K frame and all the accessories can be bolted on as well.

After the motor is broken in and I'm satisfied it's not going to grenade and no vital fluids will be spewing forth, I can support the motor with a cherry picker, break down the stand from around the motor/trans combo and lower it onto a motorcycle jack for installation from under the car.

It works well.

 

[MarPar]

The stand was designed to have the trans bolted to the motor. This way the starter is installed without the need for a "chunk-o-bellhousing" for support. The motor is bolted to the K frame and all the accessories can be bolted on as well.

After the motor is broken in and I'm satisfied it's not going to grenade and no vital fluids will be spewing forth, I can support the motor with a cherry picker, break down the stand from around the motor/trans combo and lower it onto a motorcycle jack for installation from under the car.

It works well.

you da Man Pete!! :headbang:

 

[mopar 3 B]

I saved a complete frame from a 68 Charger with the intentions of doing something like this some day. Have everything from radiator support to Tran's mount but have never finished it.
Like the idea of being able to stand it on end for storage and save space. Will be gone before I build another engine after see yours and reading on here about in stalling engine from bottom have never tried it on a car but have done several vans that way.