Nailhead Rolling Engine Cart - Who Has One?

This 401 Nailhead is destined for my deuce roadster. Just ****oned up the bottom end and the heads should go on next week. I notice that these Buick oil pans are kinda soft and should not take the weight of the entire engine when transporting them.

So I need to fabricate or buy a rolling cart to move the motor around.

Before I break out the 2x6's to build something, does anyone have a photo of a stand or rolling cart they have used for rolling a nailhead around the shop??

 

I have one I made out of wood that holds just the engine. Sits on the pan rails. Got two that take the whole engine ****** combo.

The engine one sits on top of a furniture dolly.



Yes it's the Dolly Llama. I've named all the dollys in the shop. we have the Dolly Parton, Dolly Llama, Dolly Madison, and on and on...



These are good for moving and or storing complete engines.

 

These are good for rolling them around:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2014387#post2014387

Downside: You need a big shop.
Upside: They come free with an SR71 Blackbird.

 

Hey Dave, It's great to hear you're making some good progress!

You can pick up engine stands pretty reasonable these days if you don't have one from Summit or Jegs.
For my extra Nailheads I modified some angle iron carts to fit, but you could make one up pretty cheap, or just get the 2x6's out if you have some laying around. The wheels are going to be the biggest expense either way.
Sorry for the lousy pics, but these are how mine worked out. Rear bellhousing supported on each side by some 2x3 stock I had, front suported by flat stock in the oil pan lip to keep the engine from moving front to back.

 

I use the cheapo car dollies from HF. You can get a set of 2 on sale for like 40 bucks. They **** for rolling a car around but are great for engines and transmissions.

 

I use those also, they're great for all kind of $hit like that you have to move...rear ends, seats, tires, old refrig...at least that's whats on them in my garage! haha

 

Any pic's of these HF Car Dollies?

 

Here are a few I have sitting on them:

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32052

 

They use to have them on sale all the time for $39.95 a pair. Don't know if they still do or not but I'd wait and see.

 

I bought a cheap HF furniture dolly for $19. Oak construction, with an open center. It survived being in the back of a big U-haul truck from Florida to Georgia with a '56 nailhead and Dynaflow hanging off the back of it. Didn't so much as groan.

You'll pay more than that for four decent casters. They go on sale all the time, too, and now I see they have a small size as well for less money. I've got two in the shop, and they're ideal for moving an engine easily.

-Brad

 

These are cheaper. Whack off the tubes wherever you need to make them fit.

 

Thanks to all who responded. I think a version of zman's wooden cradle on Leadsledmerc's HF dolly does the trick for me. Don't want to chip the paint on my fresh nailhead.

Here's a shot of my deuce roadster waiting for it. Original '66 Skylark GS bellhousing, Tremec 5-speed and Winters QC. Should be nice when finished!

 

It's looking good, Dave. How about sharing a few more pics with us????

 

I would like to see more pictures myself. Front brakes look good.

 

Nice build. Also, there is nuthin' nicer than a wooden-floored shop.

 

Horse barn? Looks like a nice shop.

 

Motor looks great, Deuce looks great too. Can't wait to see it come together.

 

Couple of 2x4's (free if s****) and 4 solid casters ($100 or less for a set of really good ones) from the hardware store and you will be done in about 2 hours or less total. I have made 3 over the years, each slightly slightly improved and tweaked for the particular motor. But, really quick, easy and cheap to make and strong too.

edit: When I did mine, I made the posts match how the motor mounts were so that is matched that. Mine were Studebaker motors, but obviously you can do the same for the Buicks. I wasn't too precise with the mounting measurements being not that critical and with wood and all. I just measured pretty quick, chopped up the pieces and screwed it all together firmly and put the wheels on and then drop the motor down on it and done. The wood is pretty strong, but a bit soft and forgiving to prevent scratches to paint, etc.

 

Mine move my big Olds around the garage just fine. Paid $99 for the set of 4 (on sale).

Maybe it's your garage floor?

 

I think the point is trying to take the weight load off the oil pan to prevent any damage to it. How do you do that with just the car dollies? Seems like they would require just sitting the motor down on them and then maybe damaging the oil pan which is what he is trying to prevent and the exact reason I made the carts the way I did as well.

 

Here's my fresh Nailhead in the wooden "sled" I built. Yes, it is a carriage house tack room. Nice place to build a hot rod except the floor is wood. Have to roll it outside every time to do the welding.

 

A friend of mine makes these......

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243457

 

I bought a set of these and they are the bomb.