Was wondering if anyone had some plans for an engine cart. It drives me insane having engines hanging off of engine stands (long term) when my kids (5 & 7) are in the shop. I know it's probably perfectly safe, but I'd just feel better with the engines sitting in mobile frames 12" off the floor (Tough for my kids to get under that). I was hoping to be able to fab up a couple of small frames to support the engines with wheels under them so I can roll them around. I've seen a few but can't remember what they were designed like. Thanks in advance.
I go to the dealership and get the wooden crates that crate engines come in. They are built to cradle the engine real tight. Put 4 of the cheap 3 dollar HF casters on it and you're done.
I buddy made some killer engine carts out of old metal shopping carts he got at the junk yard. they seem to handel a big block just fine
Al, These are so inexpensive, you could'nt hardly buy the materials to build it. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1000-Lb-Engine-Cradle-Dolly-Chevy-Universal-Style_W0QQitemZ4616769646QQcategoryZ43998QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Take look behind Expect Discount, Marcs or any supermarket. They usually have a nice selection of dollys behind the building. The ones they use for the bread trays are good. They have heavy duty casters with grease fittings too. I have a few & the price is right.
I fabbed this out of "versa-bar", the channel they use to hang heavy ductwork and wiring in commercial ceiling spaces. I have differnet angle brackets for different motor mount configurations and the slotted channel can bolt anything to it. The low CG prevents any tipping and the casters make it easy to roll it around the shop. I actually use it to run engines as well - hence the uprights for safety in case the thing gets jumpy. (notice the little tank and start solenoid. Powerband
Needed one for one of the spare flatheads. Whipped this one up out of some old garage door track. No plans necessary.
Why not? The fact they're interested in something other than TV and video games seems great to me. It teaches them about safety, lets them learn some useful things, and allows me to spend some time with my kids. I'm hoping your comment was meant to be funny.
i was helping my dad in the garage before i could talk and i DO mean "before i could talk" my first words were car, socket and wrench i learned fractions off of sockets and wrenches, and this is how i also learned to count i was helping with valve jobs when i was so little that the sheet metal valve cover felt horribly heavy and the first time i remember getting a decent sized cut, i walked in the house without saying a word, cleaned it like i should, put a bandaid on it and quickly went back to helping dad on the car if his kids are interestd in helping dad, they belong in the shop, as long as they understand the rules, and the shop is decently safe, which is somethingthat 39coupe is obviously trying to do
I have two Chevy engine cradels/roll arounds. One I built from s**** angle and one I bought at the local cheap tools place for $20. If I ever need another one I will buy it. For a few bucks more you can get one with an extension for an attached transmission. Don't know if the cheap stands will accomodate "odd" motors. I made a stand that holds my Olds 215 and attached 5700R-4 out of a discarded "Body By Jakes" exercise set. No casters. But I can set it on a dolly I made out of s**** angle, plywood, and cheap casters. The dolly gets a lot of use. Every shop should have one.
I agree on your comment about the dolly. I took a 3/4" sheet of plywood, cut it in half, screwed it together and mounted wheels on it salvaged from the home made wooden welding cart that came with my Miller when I bought it. I've used that dolly to store and move the coupe body when it's off the frame numerous times.
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