VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Straight Six on an engine stand

Looking to store one of the extra engines on an engine stand.

Any problems with holding it out where the transmission bolts up? Any suggestions on a better place to bolt up?

This is what we believe to be the original 216 from a '37 1/2 ton truck.

Justin

That's as good a place as anywhere else. I've never had a problem putting the full load there. Be sure to use long bolts to grab enough of the metal.

Also, One other bit of advice. Most engine stands are made for V8's which are much shorter. When I used my stand for my '31 engines, I accidentally tipped it over once... THAT is not fun.

So I have added a board with additional wheels on it as a Tee on the front strut. That adds a lot of stability preventing side-to-side tipping. It's held on with some U-bolts.

Thanks, Bill

How far apart were the wheels on your tee? I have a stand that has two wheels up front (about 18 - 24" apart) instead of the three-wheeled variety

I can measure tomorrow if you want. But I'd guess that they were about 18" apart.... Wider is better. However, I didn't want them to be wider than the rear cross piece. Otherwise it's makes if difficult when you go to move it around.

Yes, mine was the three-wheeled variety. The cheapie one. If I needed a stand again, I'd pay for a better one now. But when you're young and poor, you get what you can afford. :-)


ADDED: One last thought. And I know that it goes without saying. After the engine is on the stand, put it someplace where the grandkids can't get to it. It scares me to death to think of one of them pulling it over onto themselves.

If a person is looking to just store an engine take a look at this stand. I have built a few of them and use them to store my spare engines. They work great and are very stable.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/engine_dolly.html

Don's idea would be more stable than the end mounted type that are designed to hold the engine for repairs.
Tony

I built one of those and it works great. It's cheap to build and very stable. I used steel casters.

Thanks all.

Don, great design. I went and bought material yesterday to build a cart. Thanks for sharing!

I can't take credit for the design, glad to hear its going to work for you.

If it is going to be stored and not worked on, chain it securely to a wall, support column, or some other nonmovable object, so it won't tip over. Beamer

Good pictures and good plan. I should have thought of that. I use a similar design too.

Don, if you don't mind, I'm going to add your plans to the VCCA Technical site. You'll be famous... but still poor. :-)

I've bought the cheap furniture dollies at Harbor Freight & did a little modifying. Believe it or not, they will support a fully dressed 6 cyl & transmission...Joe

I've done the same as it's cheaper than buying the casters. They come in handy when working alone and moving heavy or bulky items around the shop.

I stored a 216 for a couple of years on a stand. I added the front wheels to the front at the same width as the rear wheels, to make it more stable.

I also cut a hole to match the crank balancer in a 2"x6" (might have been a 2"x8" or larger) and then cut the board in half. I fit the board so that the balancer laid in the arc and placed a 2"x4" under the board to brace the front of the engine so that it would just lift the engine slightly and remove the pressure from the engine hanging off the stand.

Don't know if it help or not, but the engine survived nicely and it made me feel it was more secure.