Engine stand

HAs anyone evr had problems with putting a straight six on an engine stand? Mine seems to be to top heavy, and to long, any suggestions?

 

The center of gravity can be eye-balled when bolting the arms on, you usually try to get the pivot as high as possible if it will be rotated with the head on. Once that is removed the whole scenario changes.

Another thing; the cheaper the engine stand, the lighter and scarier they usually are. Some people modify them to improve things, the most common being to put a spreader on the front so it can have four wheels. This helps stability a lot.

 

a straight six may be too long and have to much overhang on the front wheels and cause instability. whatever engine stand you use , make sure it has 4 casters with a wide base...those small cheap ones with 3 casters are too tippy

 

Could I add some longer legs, or bigger wheels in front to kind of lean it back a little? I don't know if this would work but Im willing to give it a try, I would like to be able to get my engine up where I can work on it and paint it.

 

Pic's may help us give you the best advice.
My stand only had one wheel at the front so I kinder split the front and took the one wheel out and added a Tee piece with a pair of castor wheel to add a little more balance.
It may also be the quality of you stand that is just not upto the task.
Some folks have this trouble with the extra weight of big blocks or diesel engines.

 

That MAY work, but instead of going through all that, get a four caster stand that has a wide stance, like the others have said.

It's no fun to work on an engine on a marginal and unsafe stand. It's not worth the risk to yourself or your motor to have it fall.

Mike

 

Here's my engine stand I picked up not to long ago at a local auction. I think it was built for diesel's but should hold up any motor.

 

I have 6x2 handmade log style intake awith six Holley 94's for a nailhead they were posted last friday in the H.A.M.B cl***ifieds

 

My stand has four casters, it is a foldable stand, I bought it because i thought it was a good quality stand that would be wide and long enough to hold the long *******. I appreciate the input and Ill try to post some pics!

 

Think about getting a plate cut that allows you to mount the engine sideways instead of off the bell housing end.
With one end bolting to the mount position and a right angle at the other so you can use two bell housing tabs,with a round tube to fit into the stands pivot . Then you can work on the block safely and torque bolts and so on with out worrying if it will tip over.

 

Oh ****... unless you are talking about one hell of a heave engine,

Your stand will work, just need to get it centered REASONABLY well..

It you cant find center, try flipping the plate with the slots the other way and try again...

On most stands these slots will vary from "top" and "bottom" slots in order to allow a little more attachment flexibility.

I have my 341 Lincoln on a cheap stand in my garage, it was a challenge getting it to go on because of the super wide bell patern, nowhere near balanced, takes two uf us to roll it up with the heads on,,,

I can not imagine your 6 being anywhere near as heavy, OR as top heavy..