Engine stands, do they still make good ones?

The best engine stand I have is a Crower stand built in the 60's. I have a bunch of junky Harbor Freight stands etc.

I want a decent stand but don't have time to build one right now.

Who makes a decent American made engine stand these days?

Thanks

Root

 

not sure the one i borrowed from my friend sucks and its an older pre H.F. the one i got my B.&B 440 on is stout..and it will not tip over if you push it across the floor and it hits a crack or unsuspecting bolt..now we all know that story..im not sure where it was made i got it second hand..it may have been made by someone who has had problems with the shitty ones..

 

I have found a decent one at Tractor Supply , not the cheapie , but their heavy duty stand.

 

We have a Cornwell one at work. Heavy duty 1000lbs, 4 leg jobbie with a gear driven, hand crank head to turn the engine.....I think it was @ $299.
It does take up more space than a regular stand, as the head is not removable...

 

yup, find a tool truck, they can get you good one. I have a Mac (close to 20 years old) that looks kind of like their new ES3125, plenty stout, lists for $160

 

i have the one from work, the Pro One, with my 455 on it and through all the hard wrenching and such it has performed flawlessly. it was only $60. i have pushed it over some crazy shit and it's stayed stable and worked like a charm.

 

So, are these all made in the same factory? HF, Tractor Supply and Parts America.

 

Sure looks like those all are made by the same people , but there is a heavier on that the tractor supply stores here sell and it is better , but everyone has their own ideas on what is really a good stand.

 

look at the part where the upright connects to the center brace...they are all different.

i forgot to mention on that pro one stand thought, my engine sat on there for over a year while i was collecting funds and parts and it still turns the whole engine fairly easily (for a 455 cube beast)

 

all those stands pictured..are crap! trust me

 

No, all are made in Red China to please the low-buck, no quality, one use, throwaway demands of the US consumer market.

 

I only have the HF cheapie...but it has worked for me. However, this one looks nice.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200313359_200313359

 

I don't mind spending a little dough on a good one. I just refuse to bring any more junk tooling into the shop.

 

Out of four, I've got one that looks like it would hold up two 392 Hemis bolted end to end, another pretty decent one and two pieces of shit that are okay for shortblocks at best.
Wait, I almost forgot. I'm down to three now. I cut up one of the shitbox ones when I needed some box tubing a while back.

 

Heres a good one

http://www.amazon.com/Sunex-1000-Ge...6-1827315?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1189807162&sr=8-12

 

After my hemi about folded the yellow stand (lift chain still tight), I went out to my local Harbor Freight and bought the orange heavy duty stand. Note the different style and construction. It's pretty damn strong and stable but obviously no bearing or gears in the rotating head.

 

Bingo... we have a winner... especially when you're dealing with anything big block, or a Nailhead or a Hemi

Cornwell and Matco seem to be the best deal. The Mac and Snap-On are nice but a bit more...

Looks like the same one Matco and Cornwell sell...

 

Mac tools has a nice one ... I bought mine off the Mac guy ... for about half price. He had to repro it for non payment from the original purchaser ... I gave $150 to $200 I think ... it has a geared head for turning heavy engines. I built a lot of Big Block Chevys ... in the past ... and it never even noticed the BBC's on it.

 

The best one I have I bought at a Uhaul store auction years ago, from when they used to rent tools. I only bought 1 and wish I bought more. They had about 30 of them. Paid 70.00 for it. They were all the same but for some reason some of them had 1000 pound ratings and some said 1500 I think. Holds anything I put on it and moves very easy across the floor. Do any Uhauls rent tools anymore?

 

OTC makes pretty nice stuff maybe give them a look.
750 lb http://www.otctools.com/products/detail.php?id=1193
1000lb http://www.otctools.com/products/detail.php?id=1194
1250lb http://www.otctools.com/products/detail.php?id=1195
1000lb w/crank http://www.otctools.com/products/detail.php?id=1199
1250lb w/crank http://www.otctools.com/products/detail.php?id=1200

we have this one at my shop
http://www.otctools.com/products/detail.php?id=1108

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There was a good thread over on the garagejournal about this a while back.....might be worth checking out....


EDIT:
here it is, check out post #2!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10869&highlight=engine+stand

seems like there was a couple of other good threads too.....try a search.....

 

Most pro builders I know don't even use a stand......too slow to mess with......they simply use a gantry crane or boom, an electric hoist and a sturdy work bench.

 

you can build a race car, why not build an engine stand?

 

if you want a good stand build it. built mine out of 120 wall 2x2. 4 wheels. will hold a 302 jimmy and i can flip it over by hand. also have a removable handle to pull it around.

 

O'riellys sells an A/C Delco stand (4 wheeler for about $50
Steves wholesale has a choice of real nice wide base 4 wheelers for about $75 or so.
I'll get some pics tomorrow.

 

i know its OLD but hay so am i
H.A.M.B. friendly everything pre 1965 ...lol
http://www.crower.com/huskyboy/

 

I've got one called a Bluebird. Made for rental stores so it comes apart has very heavy fasteners that are spring loaded. My local rental store went out of business. He told me I was buying it for lees than 10 cents on the dollar I paid 40 bucks. Rated to 1200 lbs.

 

I had one of those Crower stands - and loved it. Now I just build my own out of 3" square tubing.

 

Any stand that will hold a hemi, without sagging, is badass.

 

I also have a Cornwell, but the head is removable. The best stand I've ever used. Mine was about 300-400 bucks but it's been well worth it.