VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 mounting eng. on stand

On my 235 can I mount the eng. on a stand and bolt direct to block or do I need the bellhousing on? Thanks Virg

bellhousing is removed.

thanks, not used to working on 6s...Virg

Also, I hope you have an extra HD engine stand. Use a lot of caution with the engine on the stand, they are so long and heavy that most regular engine stands will tip over real easy. I have a 235 on a stand now, I had to modify the connection arms of the stand (drilled extra holes), and when I work on the engine I hook the Cherry picker on the front of the engine around behind the crank pully with a nylon strap for extra support when I am working on it.

Most of todays engine stands have 3 wheels,2 at the mount end and 1 in the front.I removed the front single wheel and welded square tube up front so I could use 2 wheels for better stability.Years ago I flipped a 3 wheel stand when I was rotating a 454.Needless to say it wasn't pretty and it was a lesson learned.

If you will be buying or borrowing a stand, this design is quite good. You can easily mount a GMC or Chevrolet straight 6 and also safely rotate the engine to work on top and bottom. The lighter weight stands can be unstable and you must be careful if you want to roll the engine around your work space.

I have an engine stand similar to the one pictured in this thread. I bought it a couple years ago to install a new rear main seal on a 454 motor that I had. Never having used an engine stand before, and not bothering to think it through, I mounted the engine with the crankshaft in line with the rotating axis of the stand. When I attempted to rotate the engine (with the heads and intake manifold still in place), the engine, being very top heavy, got away from me, and the rotating handle damn near broke my arm as the engine inverted itself. I was lucky it didn't break or severely damage the stand.

I just recently finished working on my 216 motor using the same engine stand and it worked great. Just be sure to mount the engine so that the center of gravity of the engine is approximately lined up with the rotating axis of the stand. This will vary quite a bit depending on whether the head is on or off the engine. Also, I like the idea of supporting the front of the engine with a cherry picker while working on the engine.

Mark Yeamans
VCCA # 35724

Hey Tim I see that's a Harbor Freight item, I like the fact that it fold up for storage. That and their cherry picker are a couple of the better items from HF and worth the money. Can't say that for most of their stuff though.

Speaking of the CG, does anyone know where the CG of the Stovebolt is exactly? For the short block?? For the complete engine??

I agree with staying away from the tricycles. I burned out a few heads on our burning table and welded up several stands a few decades ago. My brother, a few friends and I have been using them for a nearly a half century now.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/129180608/large
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/129180609/large
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL