9 replies to this topic

[stormduck]

Any engine stand in particular needed for an A series? Or a universal one like this one here be okay:

One i found on Ebay

Cheers! dave.

[Guess-Works.com]

Any old engine stand will do, the trick is to get an adaptor.... There was a guy making them on here, spitfire_bob, but not sure he's still doing it...

But this is what they look like....

[stormduck]

Cheeers fella, you're a technical genius, i'll ask and find out! How do people rebuild their engines if this sort of thing isn't commonly available? Surely having an engine stand would make life so much easier?

[Guess-Works.com]

before I had the stand, which I must admit makes it 10 times easier, I did it on the bench...

Put the pistons in first with the block on it's side, then over onto the face, put in the crank, followers, cam, mains, them timing gear The up and over onto some 2x4 blocks so the crank can be turned and the timing set... then head on and finally onto the gearbox...

then finish the build.. ( gets a bit heavy at this point so a hoist is useful ! )

But on that engine stand I can build the entire engine, and then from their straight into the engine bay... and it's only bolted on using the two alternator holes. You do see them on ebay occasionally..

[stormduck]

I'll keep my eye out then. I don't have much space in the garage with all the other mini parts, and with other household stuff there isn't any room for a bench, only my tool chest and there's no room on that! A stand would be ideal!

The stands that i've seen have adjustable bolts that slide up and down diagonally on 4 corners. I take it that it's not enough adjustability to reach the alternator holes like this?

[Guess-Works.com]

It's not that they wont reach, it's the fact that those arms ont be able to hold the weight of the engine on only two bolts,

The only way I could see to fix an engine using them would have been into the two holes where the topengine steady fixed, and two of the bolt holes in the end of the block which usually hold the transfer case... the only problem with this is that the engine is then end on which makes putting the crank in a little bit of a fiddle and also you cant build one end of the engine...

If you want I can measure it up and then you could see if you could get a local engineering firm to knock one up for you ??

[stormduck]

That would be flaming excellent if you could! I used to work for an engineering firm so i'm pretty sure they would make it up for me, and i'm sure if it's succesfull they'd be happy making a few up to sell on if anyone else wants them. I had a look today and there isn't really anything else that you could fix it to.

How much weight have you put on the two alternator bolt holes safely, like did you take the gearbox off before fitting the engine to it?

Have you any idea how much an A series weighs? I have no idea, d'you reakon a 340kg stand would surfice? I'm sure it would, that's the weight of three big fellas! Or three fat women..whichever you prefere.

[Jammy]

I'd have one if you can get em made up?

This Will tell you what you need to know about weights.

[stormduck]

That's excellent, cheers fella, 150 kilos with transmission will be fine for the stand, just not sure about that weight through the alternator holes! I'm sure guessworks will know through experience.

If all goes well and guessworks can sort these measurements out, and my chums can make the adapter up successfully, and are happy to make some more, then i'll start up a thread for others to get hold of them, and sort guessworks out for his help :wink:

[Guess-Works.com]

I've had a complete, straight out the engine bay, engine with oil water and everything with the exception of the alternator ( obviously ) on it..