Engine stand recommendation

Hanging off the Bell housing is like haveing SEX without using protection you may get away with it MANY / MANY times But SOONER OR LATER >>>>>>>> well you know what happens !!!!!!!
 
If you are going to buy or build or modify an engine stand for a flathead, spend a great deal of time looking at what KR Wilson built for the Ford garages. Stability and strength are incredibly important when dealing with masses of unyielding material several feet above your own. Consider it cheap insurance against a lifetime with a limp. Or worse.
 
I have the HF type and like so many of my tools, I felt it needed some modifications. First I welded spacers into the members everywhere a bolt went through. I hate tightening a fastener and watching hollow members collapse. Besides, unless you use nylock nuts, there's always a chance of loosening. I think most of these types are assembled the same way (including Summit's). I also put fixed casters on the front and swivels on the rear. (I kept the stock casters under the leg supports). I also added a floor stop under the cross member to keep it from taking off as it did with another poster. The one area that I'm concered about is the mounting plate and arms. Most commercial ones I'm familiar with have solid (1-1-1/4") mounting arms, the HF unit uses 1", 1/8" wall tubing. I will modify the mounting plate and change the arms before using. I don't see how these can be rated for 2000 lbs!
I know it sounds like a lot of work but when I use it I'll feel safe with a unit that moves around easily.
 
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How many of you have one like this
 

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BILL WZOREK said:
Hanging off the Bell housing is like haveing SEX without using protection you may get away with it MANY / MANY times But SOONER OR LATER >>>>>>>> well you know what happens !!!!!!!
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Bill, I think I know the answer to this one.....
Her bell housing finally breaks and they both fall out of bed :eek:
 
Bluebell said:
How many of you have one like this
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Looking at the guy on the left I think he would have no problem SNAPPING off any flathead bolt he wanted.LOL LOL :eek:

Another thought I did not see any hoist for picking up the flattie into the stand that was also his job. :) lol lol
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
Bill, I think I know the answer to this one.....
Her bell housing finally breaks and they both fall out of bed :eek:
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John a little heads up that Flathead Humor will follow would be nice / that way I will swollow my coffee before reading ( now I have to get the wipes & clean every thing up.) :D :) ;)
 
The best engine stand that I have ever seen was made by Mike Bishop. I'll try to dig up some pictures to post here later.
Whatever you buy or make, think safety first, utility/function next and price last. Going cheap on tools and equipment is never a good thing.
 
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Thanks for replies
Still haven't decided on a stand yet.
I like the one from summit but I'll still have to figure out a
way to modify it to mount to the exhaust ports on the flathead.
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
The best engine stand that I have ever seen was made by Mike Bishop. I'll try to dig up some pictures to post here later.
Whatever you buy or make, think safety first, utility/function next and price last. Going cheap on tools and equipment is never a good thing.
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Thanks for the kind words, John. It has some drawbacks as an engine work stand, however. I built it for porting flathead blocks, with two axes -- X and Y -- of rotation to eliminate the "heavy lifting" aspects from the otherwise enjoyable task of porting a large lump of cast iron. On the Y axis it locates the block on the camshaft centerline to make the mass as neutral as possible with regard to rotation.

As a porting fixture it works great, but would have limitations as an engine work stand in that the camshaft and oil-pump drive gears would have to be installed before placing the block in the fixture. It would accommodate most other tasks, although essential steps (degreeing the camshaft, timing cover installation, clutch installation. . .) can't be accomplished with the engine in the fixture.

The fixture accepts all full-size V8s, including the French, plus V8-60. I've yet to mount a 4-cylinder block but that will be happening soon -- just need to drill the end mounting plates to fit the block. Recently I made a set of plates to hold cast-iron Chrysler Hemi heads that I ported for a pal, and then followed that up with a bridge for motorcycle heads! It's great for porting but not so good as a general work stand.

Mike
 

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mikebishop said:
Thanks for the kind words, John. It has some drawbacks as an engine work stand, however. I built it for porting flathead blocks, with two axes -- X and Y -- of rotation to eliminate the "heavy lifting" aspects from the otherwise enjoyable task of porting a large lump of cast iron. On the Y axis it locates the block on the camshaft centerline to make the mass as neutral as possible with regard to rotation.

As a porting fixture it works great, but would have limitations as an engine work stand in that the camshaft and oil-pump drive gears would have to be installed before placing the block in the fixture. It would accommodate most other tasks, although essential steps (degreeing the camshaft, timing cover installation, clutch installation. . .) can't be accomplished with the engine in the fixture.

The fixture accepts all full-size V8s, including the French, plus V8-60. I've yet to mount a 4-cylinder block but that will be happening soon -- just need to drill the end mounting plates to fit the block. Recently I made a set of plates to hold cast-iron Chrysler Hemi heads that I ported for a pal, and then followed that up with a bridge for motorcycle heads! It's great for porting but not so good as a general work stand.

Mike
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You wouldn't consider going into the business, would you?

Or maybe selling copies of your "prints" for a nominal fee?

I'm sure many of us would buy or copy your fixture and use a HD four leg engine stand.

The bends could be replaced with welded tubing and gussets. If I could weld worth a crap it wouldn't be a bad project.

Your photos will help lots of us, so many thanks.
 
This is mine . I need to make one of those adapters for mounting by the exhaust ports. The 2x2 under the font don't cut it as it tends to fall when rotating the block.
 
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I am currently working on an 59A which has had been broken by mounting it by the bellhousing (not by me!). I made my side mount out of angle iron and some plate. There are several places that sell similar mounts. It seems hard to believe that some continue to mount these engines by the bellhousings, even a quick look would show how weak the block is in that area. But they swear they have been doing it for a "hundred years" with no problems! After seeing several broken bellhousings it will not happen with my blocks.
 

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Just do a search for "engine stand adapters" and you will find some good information. I have one made by Stumpy's Fab Works and it works very well. Ed
 
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My friend was throwing away his POS Harbor Freight stand
I stepped in and put the save on it

Kept it so it still breaks down

1. Nut plates on the head
2. 16”s of 2” tube and 4 new 3” wheels
3. Strut tube … to stiffen it up
4. Blast and new paint
5. Re assembled with real bolts
 
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