Where did u get your engine hoist?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
My engine stand is a Harbor Freight. I did cut it and re-welded it so I had the engine level instead of going down hill.
Sorry, but I built my own hoist. I made it so it has a extra high lift to get the engine out of a 74 Chev Blazer with large tires. Hoists that were available could not lift the engine high enough.
Sorry, but I built my own hoist. I made it so it has a extra high lift to get the engine out of a 74 Chev Blazer with large tires. Hoists that were available could not lift the engine high enough.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 313
Likes: 20
I have several engine stands, but the one I like to use if its not occupied is one I bought from Blair's Speed Shop in Pasadena in 1972 to do my first engine.
My engine hoist is a China Freight collapsible I bought in 98 for a job where I had to load a boat engine in my truck in the parking lot at the Marina. The collapsible can be taken apart for transport for deals like this. My "good hoist" I bought from an old-timer in The Recycler (long time ago) got borrowed, and never returned. Lost track of the ***-hat that "borrowed" it, so it's gone. I just use the cheap-o China Freight one. Gets the jobs done even after almost 20 years of outdoor storage. I doubt a current China Freight hoist is as good.
I will add that a 4-point engine stand is MUCH safer from tipping than a 3-point. My old Blair's stand is a 3-point, and I have had it topple a couple of times, once with damage to the engine that was on it. I probably should stop using it, and throw it in the bin.
My engine hoist is a China Freight collapsible I bought in 98 for a job where I had to load a boat engine in my truck in the parking lot at the Marina. The collapsible can be taken apart for transport for deals like this. My "good hoist" I bought from an old-timer in The Recycler (long time ago) got borrowed, and never returned. Lost track of the ***-hat that "borrowed" it, so it's gone. I just use the cheap-o China Freight one. Gets the jobs done even after almost 20 years of outdoor storage. I doubt a current China Freight hoist is as good.
I will add that a 4-point engine stand is MUCH safer from tipping than a 3-point. My old Blair's stand is a 3-point, and I have had it topple a couple of times, once with damage to the engine that was on it. I probably should stop using it, and throw it in the bin.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 313
Likes: 20
My engine stand is a Harbor Freight. I did cut it and re-welded it so I had the engine level instead of going down hill.
Sorry, but I built my own hoist. I made it so it has a extra high lift to get the engine out of a 74 Chev Blazer with large tires. Hoists that were available could not lift the engine high enough.
Sorry, but I built my own hoist. I made it so it has a extra high lift to get the engine out of a 74 Chev Blazer with large tires. Hoists that were available could not lift the engine high enough.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
I purchased my engine lift from Auto Zone when it was on sale for $175.00. I got my engine stand from Harbor Freight.
The lift was a quality looking model and I have pulled and reinstalled a couple engines with it. It worked great. I got the Harbor Freight higher capacity engine stand also and it served its purpose.
The lift was a quality looking model and I have pulled and reinstalled a couple engines with it. It worked great. I got the Harbor Freight higher capacity engine stand also and it served its purpose.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 811
From: Saskatoon Sask.
Your friend's shop roof must have been made out of tarpaper or he was lifting the engine out of the Queen Mary. I have a winch that is anchored by a 12 ft. 6 X 6 spanning 7 standard truss rafters. Lifting an item that is 5-6 hundred lbs. puts less than 100 lbs stress per contact point.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I bought my engine hoist about 30 years ago and I don't remember where I got it, but when the hydraulics failed with a slow lead so it would slowly lower when unintended I got a replacement jack for it at Harbor Freight.
So far so good. Then new jack is rated higher than the old one, it fits my hoist well, and it was under $40.
I have used the hoist a lot of times for a lot of things. I have pulled and replaced motor in my cars, It has lifted engines, transmissions, axles, and more out of my pickup, and it worked great for lifting the box off my pickup so I could change the fuel pump with easy access to the top of the tank.
It is one of the tools I wish I had bought sooner, and don't ever intend to be without one.
So far so good. Then new jack is rated higher than the old one, it fits my hoist well, and it was under $40.
I have used the hoist a lot of times for a lot of things. I have pulled and replaced motor in my cars, It has lifted engines, transmissions, axles, and more out of my pickup, and it worked great for lifting the box off my pickup so I could change the fuel pump with easy access to the top of the tank.
It is one of the tools I wish I had bought sooner, and don't ever intend to be without one.
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
4 point collapsible, Kragen yrs ago. Clearance sale $125 love it
Never bought one before they are just too heavy and take up too much room
Lifted many motors, motor/trannies even an entire body off/on the car lots of times, figured it was probably only good for a few uses
Like the motor cradles that bolt to your mounts can put it in the corner easy to move or remove the casters it isnt going anywhere easy to throw in your truck and go.
Wish the boom was a hair longer but still does the job
Get a tilt mechanism makes the job SO much easier.
This is doing it the hard way haha.
Never bought one before they are just too heavy and take up too much room
Lifted many motors, motor/trannies even an entire body off/on the car lots of times, figured it was probably only good for a few uses
Like the motor cradles that bolt to your mounts can put it in the corner easy to move or remove the casters it isnt going anywhere easy to throw in your truck and go.
Wish the boom was a hair longer but still does the job
Get a tilt mechanism makes the job SO much easier.
This is doing it the hard way haha.
Last edited by cv67; Mar 6, 2017 at 01:33 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
Likes: 266
From: indy indiana
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Another HF guy here
I have a couple of the 4 point engine stands from HF as well. I keep my spare 406 on one sitting in front of the vette. (Just to remind the 350 to behave itself...
)
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,191
Likes: 1,670
From: Long Island
Buy the 2 ton, Harbor Freight lift. With all the coupons it's under $150.
Get an engine leveler also - a good one.
Engine stand = local speed shop , USA made and on sale..
Last edited by BLUE1972; Mar 14, 2017 at 11:02 AM. Reason: stupid auto spell
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,649
Likes: 863
Got mine at Grizzly - about 15+ years ago - probably no different than the Harbor Freight version.
Get the 2 ton version - you'll almost always be using the max extension position and the 1 ton only gives you 1/4 ton or less at full extension. and get a model that folds up when not in use - they take a lot of space when the legs are out.
The angle lift adapter isn't critical to have - but it will make your life easier - particularly if you're doing the engine pull alone. I will say that on a C4 - I typically bring the hoist in from the side - that way you don't have to pull the hood off. Pulling the hood isn't that terrible - but it's normally a 2 person job - and there can be issues getting it realigned. When using the hoist from the side - the angle lift adapter is not really that helpful...
Biggest reason to have a hoist of your own is that if you've ever rented one - they are typically caked with grunge, and even the bed of a truck will probably need a cleaning after bring the rental hoist home. If you have to transport one in a hatch back like I had to 25 years ago - it can be pretty ugly (let's just say a blue tarp was not enough).... Plus - when you rent something you are always fighting the clock - at least in your mind - not the best thing to be thinking about when you want to do very high careful work....
Get the 2 ton version - you'll almost always be using the max extension position and the 1 ton only gives you 1/4 ton or less at full extension. and get a model that folds up when not in use - they take a lot of space when the legs are out.
The angle lift adapter isn't critical to have - but it will make your life easier - particularly if you're doing the engine pull alone. I will say that on a C4 - I typically bring the hoist in from the side - that way you don't have to pull the hood off. Pulling the hood isn't that terrible - but it's normally a 2 person job - and there can be issues getting it realigned. When using the hoist from the side - the angle lift adapter is not really that helpful...
Biggest reason to have a hoist of your own is that if you've ever rented one - they are typically caked with grunge, and even the bed of a truck will probably need a cleaning after bring the rental hoist home. If you have to transport one in a hatch back like I had to 25 years ago - it can be pretty ugly (let's just say a blue tarp was not enough).... Plus - when you rent something you are always fighting the clock - at least in your mind - not the best thing to be thinking about when you want to do very high careful work....
Last edited by Purple92; Mar 14, 2017 at 07:12 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,971
Likes: 243
Like others, I have the older orange harbor freight one. And I have no complaints. It's worked flawlessly for years. Only thing I'd change is a better holder for the handle for the hydraulic ram. It likes to fall out of the loop.
That said I also have a HF engine stand that I don't particularly like. It's stable but extraordinarily hard to rotate the engine and, more so, then stop it. A higher end model with a worm drive gear likely worth the money.
That said I also have a HF engine stand that I don't particularly like. It's stable but extraordinarily hard to rotate the engine and, more so, then stop it. A higher end model with a worm drive gear likely worth the money.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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