Hey gang,

I figured some of you would appreciate this.

I'm doing an engine overhaul/detailing and I needed to lift it without removing it from the car. I only needed to drop the pan, change the oil pump, etc. Since I no longer have an engine crane due to space, I decided to make my own, much more compact rig.

Here's all it took: (all from Home Depot)

3 pieces of 1" square tube steel (base and main arms)
1 piece of heavy gauge flat steel (cross braces)
Universal drill bit
Grade 8 hardware

With this rig, I can now raise the motor with just a floor jack and then rest it on jack stands. It bolts right to the block (heads actually) and is solid as a rock! Using this setup, I was able to easily drop the pan, change the pump, clean the bottom of the engine for a new pan gasket and reassemble it all. Of course I tested the strength and stability before putting myself in any possible danger and the motor didn't budge! I now have this to use for future similar jobs, including motor mounts. I felt MUCH safer using this than suspending the motor on a crane as I've done before.

If you'd like more detailed instructions on how to build your own, let me know. Check out the pics so you can get an idea of how to make one and see how it works.

Hopefully somebody else will benefit from my home made creation.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZOWzhy0cMWLCwA

John

 

Cool rig!

 

Thanks! Gotta get creative sometimes, right?